Tuesdays is the day the Signal runs the “Democratic Voices” column. Local Democrats get the weekly talking points from MoveOn.Org and then write their article. Usually it is a rant against President Bush and how he destroyed this country. Tuesday was Bruce McFarland’s turn and as usual his idea of a reasoned discussion is to insult anyone who doesn’t agree with him and his liberal cronies.

So if you attended one of the TEA parties on April 15 you are a well off, well fed, white person; misguided and ignorant, FOX news zombies, spoiled rotten and the cause of suffering of the less well off because all of us “rich” people sucked all the money we could out the financial institutions. Then he says “We need to work together with the president to get us out of this horrible recession.” Gee after being insulted like that I’m ready to sign up!

However Bruce does ask some questions of the people who were at the TEA parties that I would like to answer.

Question 1: Where were you when the Bush administration orchestrated and oversaw the destruction of the financial markets? Probably the same place you were Bruce; enjoying the fruits of the seven years of prosperity under Bush. Oh, and foolishly listening to Barney Frank and Chris Dodd telling us that Fannie and Freddie were sound and that the American people had nothing to worry about. (Barney said this at a congressional hearing during which the Bush administration was warning us about the excesses of Freddie and Fannie and asking Frank’s committee to do something about it. You could look it up Bruce but that might be too hard for you.)

Question 2: Did you complain when Bush gave tax breaks to the rich? Actually no, since the tax breaks were across the board and not just for the “rich”. The idea that the tax breaks were only for the rich is a fallacy perpetuated by the MoveOn.org gang and the Democratic Party. Again you could look it up.

Question 3: Did you complain when Bush’s Secretary of the Treasury told Congress that the world’s financial markets would collapse unless we bailed out financial institutions? Actually yes I did. I believe in a free market and if a company cannot compete in the marketplace it should have been allowed to go under, just like Circuit City and Linen’s and Things. If the product being sold or offered to the public is good enough another company will take its place.

Now some questions for Bruce.

Number 1: Are you happy with Obama’s plan to take over private businesses in this country; i.e. capping salaries of CEO’s, telling banks and financial institutions how to run their companies and telling the auto companies what cars to make? Actually don’t bother to answer that I already know your answer.

Number 2: About 50% of the people in this country pay no taxes at all (and actually get money back from Uncle Sam). Since paying taxes is our patriotic duty (just ask you and Joe Biden) do you favor everyone paying something, even if it only a small amount? If not we have an awful lot of unpatriotic people in this country.

Number 3: Did you complain when Obama’s Treasury Secretary told Congress that the world’s financial markets would collapse unless we bailed out financial institutions?

Number 4: Did you take advantage of the “tax breaks for the rich”. As I tell people; the tax code specifies a minimum amount that you must pay if you owe tax. Any citizen can send in more then the minimum. So Bruce if you only paid what you owed then you are a hypocrite.

The title of Bruce’s column was “America: Love it or Leave It” which offened me. He is co-opting a perfectly good red neck phrase and using it incorrectly. Everyone knows it’s meant for Bruce and his friends. 

For eight years the Democrats constant refrain was “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism”. Now if you actually have the temerity to question “The One” you are a unpatriotic hate monger. Guess that the Boulevard of Patriotism runs only one way.

Simon Weston- Commentary

Simon Weston is a resident of Stevenson Ranch. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.