POLITICS HISTORY
AND FAITH A R T I C L E B Y B R I A N G A N G E S
There ’ s no perfect answer here . This model is just a gauge so that you can properly locate yourself and others on the scale in the ideologies of the left-wing and the right-wing . But we all fit somewhere on the left-right scaleLet ’ s say , for instance , that America in the 1970 ’ s was done the middle centrist . Question : Did the size , scope , and budget of the Federal Government shrink or expand under Presidents Nixon ( R ), Ford ( R ), Carter ( D ), Reagan ( R ), Bush ( 41 ) ( R ), Clinton ( D ), Bush ( 43 ) ( R ), and Obama ( D )?
The Federal Government increased in size , scope and budget with each administration regardless of party affiliation . So elements of both parties advocated for bigger government ; they just did so in different ways . Establishment Democrats increased the size , scope , and budget of Government through social entitlement programs , more Governmental department controls and regulations , and economic central planning . Establishment Republicans increased the size , scope , and budget of Government through corporatism , expanded military conflicts , and corporate welfare . But the common denominator is that the establishment wings of both parties are for bigger Government , i . e ., left of center .
Why is this important ? Because establishment Republicans and Democrats love bigger Government , and everyone needs to give some honest and objective thought to the reality that you can ’ t have bigger Government and more individual liberty at the same time . What we must understand is that Government control and individual liberty is a zero-sum game . In other words , if individual liberty is taken away from the people , that power reverts to the Government . If Government control is taken away , that power reverts to the people . Liberty and Government control don ’ t just vanish into thin air . They simply continue on as implemented , or they exchange owners . So I ask the rhetorical question , “ Where should more of the power lie , with the people or with the Government ?”
When the founding documents of this nation were created , the Federalists were people like George Washington , Alexander Hamilton and James Madison , and they advocated for a more powerful Federal Government . The Anti-Federalists were people like Samuel Adams , George Mason and Patrick Henry , and they advocated for a weaker Federal Government , but more powerful States . In the compromise , they came up with the U . S . Bill of Rights and the U . S . Constitution .
Today , I believe it is safe to say that many , if not most Democrats and Republicans and their constituents are actually left of center on the inverse number line scale , because they favor some form of bigger Government ; yet the two parties are oddly at each other ’ s throats in political debates as if one group ’ s ideological view is diametrically opposed to the other group . It ’ s a phony debate based in emotion and not the facts . But I will give the Democrats credit for at least admitting that they are left wing and advocates of bigger Government . The Republicans would more credible if they did likewise and campaign as left-wingers , not as moderates or conservatives . Remember , the size and scope of Government doesn ' t get smaller when these Republicans are in power . Herein lies the confusion that exists in American politics and I will briefly explain it with two simple analogies .