Monday, March 27, 2006

10G for Me & Thee

Charles Murray has "A Plan To Reduce The Welfare State." For some reason, this plan involves giving every American exactly ten thousand dollars a year. No more, no less. Of course, we will tax ourselves to give ourselves this money.

I am put in mind of a quote attributed to Isabel Paterson: "If you hear some bad collectivistic notions, chances are that they came from liberals. But if you hear or read something outrageously, god-awfully collectivistic, you may be sure that the author is a conservative."

As a rule, our current welfare state is conceived as a patchwork of safety nets and forced-insurance plans. It is not currently conceived as society owing you a living. In my view, this is its saving grace.

Putting aside the collectivist grounds,
Don't you think 10,000 sounds
Suspiciously round?

This number came from where?
Out of thin air?

I have a plan to make it rounder yet.
Zero is all that anyone will get.

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