AT&T has a series of commercials called “Just OK is Not OK.” In one, a hapless mover declares “they don’t give 2 ½ stars to just anyone.” The gist is that we should never accept mediocrity.
Each morning when I board the Metro at Rockville, I am greeted by a sign declaring “Back To Good.” I swear. Look it up; it’s on their website. They are really spending (our) money to declare themselves as “good.”
Only in the land of liberal Democrats is “good” a level of service to be marketed. If you think about it, this may be the entire theme of the 2020 presidential election — President Trump, touting excellence vs. two dozen democratic hopefuls that are selling “good.”
“The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.” — Winston Churchill
From a practical standpoint, Democrats have been selling that for decades. They have been using glitz, star power and the full weight of popular culture to sell America beige.
Why? Simple, in their minds, it is all about fairness. For instance, why should some people have platinum health insurance plans and other Medicaid? As a matter of fairness, private insurance should be eliminated in favor of Medicare for all. No exceptional healthcare. Just beige.
The extremely low-profit margins “good” medicine yields the provider of health care makes single-payer systems less hospitable to innovation in healthcare products and services and in the organization of healthcare delivery, areas in which the United States currently excels.
But you will be loathed to find a Democrat presidential hopefull that would accept anything more than just good healthcare. None are campaigning on excellent care or the availability of “best in class” of anything.
A favorite saying of Ronald Reagan was, “A rising tide lifts all boats” It’s very true. Why do you think most poor people in this country have refrigerators, microwaves, and televisions that we think of as necessities even though those items are considered to be luxuries in much of the world?
For all of the talk from the Obama years of going after the one percenters, think about this; if you make $34,000 a year after taxes, you are part of the worldwide one percent — and Americans make up half of the total one percenters on the planet.
In the beige world of Democratic presidential hopefuls, working hard for better circumstances for you and your family is not a virtue. Some people complain about the people who get rewarded in a free market.
“Why should a bank CEO make so much more than a teller at the same bank?” Which Democrat presidential candidate would suggest that you’re free to move on to somewhere that better rewards your talents and ambition?
I’ve just painted the declared Democratic presidential candidates with a broad stroke. There is little difference in them from a policy perspective, a few nuances, but not enough to make one stand head and shoulders above the rest.
They all want to run against President Trump. They all surround themselves with Trump haters who continually assure them that a vast majority of Americans hate the president and his policies.
For President Trump, good is NOT good enough. Undeniable facts witness that. American Exceptionalism is based on excellence and the competitive spirit the President exudes.
In fact, Trumps “America First” populist strategy is the fast-moving stream that is raising all economic boats. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. If Trump gets a trade deal with the Chinese, he will guarantee his own re-election.
If people are working, if legal minorities are working. If wages are rising, wages for everyone, women, minorities, who will vote against that? Who hates excellence? How could GOOD be good enough? America wants to be GREAT, again.
