Notable Quotes - Ronald Reagan - Granite Grok

Notable Quotes – Ronald Reagan

From Ronaldus Maximus (1964 – A Time for Choosing):

Are you willing to spend time studying the issues, making yourself aware, and then conveying that information to family and friends? Will you resist the temptation to get a government handout for your community? Realize that the doctor’s fight against socialized medicine is your fight. We can’t socialize the doctors without socializing the patients. Recognize that government invasion of public power is eventually an assault upon your own business. If some among you fear taking a stand because you are afraid of reprisals from customers, clients, or even government, recognize that you are just feeding the crocodile hoping he’ll eat you last.

-Ronald Reagan

44 years ago today; these words have turned out to be prescient, haven’t they?  They show that human nature does not change – "something for nothing" is neither free or cheap.  It fosters a mentality that it is socially acceptable, even looked for, to live and prosper from the work of others.  It doesn’t matter if the public welfare is directed to an individual or a community; when it comes as a "natural state of doing basis" vs "help in a time of need", no good can come from it.

And of course, this election will be the greatest decision point by this country on this issue.  Just remember – right now, services and goods are rationed by price but at least moderated by free markets (and that market would be cheaper at a higher level of quality if government would stop distorting it). 

Instead, if we go down the alluring path of socialized medicine, services and goods will continue to be rationed by price but add to that the bureaucracy similar to that of your DMV….

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