HALT: Halting Arkansas Liberals with Truth

Back in 2004 at a democratic fundraiser, Senator Hillary Clinton told several hundred supporters – some of whom had ponied up as much as $10,000 to attend – to expect to lose some of the tax cuts passed by President Bush if Democrats win the White House and control of Congress.

“Many of you are well enough off that … the tax cuts may have helped you,” Sen. Clinton said. “We’re saying that for America to get back on track, we’re probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We’re going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.”

In April of 2010 President Obama went off the teleprompter in his speech to a Quincy, Illinois audience about Wall Street reform and noted, “I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money.”

In Milton Friedman’s series FREE TO CHOOSE there is an episode called, “Created Equal.” Basically Friedman says that we have equality before God because we are human beings with dignity. Also in the USA we all have equality of rights under the law. However, there are those who want to try to make the equality of outcome an issue and that has always been met with disastrous consequences.

This is how the late comedian Steve Allen put it in the introduction to the 30 minute episode by Milton Friedman:

Hello there, as they used to say in television. I am Steve Allen. If you don’t know that, it is not going to be a big deal anyway. Millions of people are willing to spend money to be entertained. You spend a few dollars on a record, a theater concert ticket, and Michael Jackson becomes a millionaire. I think that is a nice arrangement for you as well as for Michael Jackson, and for me too. Of course, you also have some special talents, whatever the job. If you do it well, you make life better for yourself, your family, and your neighbors.

With a free market, our income is dependent on how much training we might have had, how well we do our job, and the scarcity of what we have to offer. Lucky for me there weren’t too many other Steve Allens around. But equal opportunity __ that is the American dream. That is a market economy as Milton Friedman explained earlier in the series.

Over the years I have asked Milton for advice in understanding a number of aspects involved in economics and politics. He is a great teacher and, of course, a defender of freedom and individual rights. On the other hand, there are people who think Michael Jackson and others who earn astronomical incomes, should be prevented from doing so. They think it would be better off if income/wealth were shared, more or less, evenly. As a bare, abstract idea, there is something appealing about that. Michael obviously doesn’t need to earn fifty or one hundred million a year, and there are certainly those who have practically no money at all. So, as I say, there have been philosophers over the centuries who have tried to diminish poverty by limiting the income at the top end of the scale. The problem with that admittedly charming idea is that it has never worked.

The Pilgrims tried a form of socialism over 300 years ago. Unfortunately for their fair minded plans, they prospered only after they were allowed to keep for themselves all the food they grew, and to use it or sell it as they saw fit.

Now to turn back the clock to the early days of the communist revolution in Russia, the basic aim again was the share the wealth. But again it didn’t work. It had to be enforced with harsh laws, machine guns and barbed wire. In terms of pure economics, it was a failure. The end result was near poverty for all.

So what human kind has been so long struggling to achieve is a fair system that will permit those with special gifts of abilities to accumulate a good deal of money without, at the same time, turning a blind eye to the sufferings of the poor. No system can work if there isn’t an accumulation of wealth. It just happens that the free market system is better in that regard that the alternatives. In the ongoing debate on this issue, it is by no means necessary to argue that the free market system is perfect. It isn’t. It is simply better than the other alternatives because it is the system that provides us many more choices, certainly much more freedom, and continued prosperity.

(Steve Allen in this 9 minute video introduces Milton Friedman’s episode “Created Equal”)

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I would like to profile some State Legislators and I wanted to start off with my good friend Ann Clemmer who represents Bryant so well. Jill and I have sent our 4 kids to Bryant schools. Ann has sent her three daughters through the Bryant Schools  and I have had a chance to watch her up close and she is a lady of her word. (Below taken from Ann Clemmer’s facebook page)

State Representative Ann Clemmer District 29
First elected 2008 and re-elected 2010.

Hometown:

Bryant

Political Views:

Conservative

Religious Views:

Christian

Activities:

Gardening, reading, watching Bryant Hornet Sports,

Interests:

politics and faith issues and the family I am blessed to be a part of.

Favorite Music:

pop and rock oldies, but I listen to country, and current pop, christian music.

Favorite Movies:

When Harry Met Sally, Schindler’s List, Remember the Titans, Cinderella Man, Lord of the Rings Trilogy,

Favorite Books:

Angela’s Ashes, ‘Tis, Teacher Man,

Favorite TV Shows:

That 70s Show, Gilmore Girls, West Wing, Everybody Loves Raymond

Favorite Quotations:

“all that is necessary for evil to exist is for good men to do nothing” Edmund Burke
“to whom much is given, much is required” Luke 12:48

About Me:

After all these years of teaching government, I finally decided to run for office. I can no longer sit on the sidelines and offer commentary, without stepping up to offer myself to the voters as a candidate for office. I’m a wife to a wonderful husband, mother of three great and almost grown daughters. I was very happy with my life before deciding to enter politics as a candidate, but especially with term limits in the state legislature, more qualified people need to get out of their comfort zones to make our state a better place for the next generation.

Work Info

Employer:

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Position:

Instructor

Time Period:

August 1992 to present

Location:

Little Rock, AR

Description:

I am a member of a fantastic department where going into the office is a treat everyday. I am sad to be losing a dear colleague to a school closer to his home. We will miss you next year, Bill.

Education Info

Grad School:

• Arkansas State ’80
• Master of Arts, Political Science

College:

• Arkansas State ’79
• Political Science

High School:

• Rivercrest High School