My NH State Senator, Kathleen Sgambati, shows she believes more in “Collectivism” than “Individual Freedom”

Quotes from a piece by Shira Shoenberg in the Concord Monitor. 

First, the words of Jeb Bradley, of whom I am proud to say that the ‘Grok supported in his run for Congress and then for NH State Senate.  Why?  Because he shows here that when things really matter, he does what all true-blue red-blooded Americans should ask "What did our Founders think and what did they say?"

You know, that phrase that strikes fear and loathing into every Progressive’s heart: "Original Intent".

The setting: discussion on NH Senate Bill 505 which Democrat Margaret "MaggieCare" Hassan introduced – effectively subverting each hospital in NH’s ability to run its own affairs by subjecting their pricing to yet ANOTHER Government Board – AND tax those same hospitals for "the privilege" of having it done to them.  Jeb introduced an amendment (which Steve profiled here)  that would allow ALL NH Citizens the same right that the crafters of Obamacare gave themselves – excuse them from the Federal mandate of having to buy health insurance.

What a novel idea – allowing us serfs the same privilege as the noble Political Class!

So, what does Jeb actually say?

“The sponsors believe we should be on the correct side of the issue of personal freedom, personal liberties and personal responsibilities,” Bradley said. “The question Americans are asking is, is it the
proper role of federal government to mandate that we purchase health insurance?”

…“Did the founders ever imagine the proper role of government was to intrude so far into our private lives, take control of our personal liberties?” Bradley asked. “If federal government can do that, what’s next?”

American Exceptionalism – a nation built on the radical idea that all men are free, and can only stay free by implementing a limited government that protects Individual Freedoms and Rights. That was the goal and that was the original purpose of Government by those that founded this Nation.

You know folks, I know I have been sounding like a broken record lately here on the ‘Grok POUNDING that message over and over.  As simple a concept as that is, it is one of the most power ideas ever dreamed into life.  It has given us riches beyond anyone in history’s comprehension – that we are free to pursue happiness without entanglement from an overbearing government. But that simple, powerful concept is under extreme duress – because politicians have not been mindful of it in the last few years and decades.  The current movement now wishes to make it subservient to "the need of the common good" – the socialist ideal. 

Proponents of the latter may well scoff at that label, but that is what they are doing: the suppression of the Individual’s Freedom for the aims and goals of the State.

Having lost sight that Individual Rights were to be elevated above the "common good" and above Government, the whole underpinning of how this Nation was created is now at risk.  And we all know what happens to the building when its foundation has crumbled. Progressivism came along and decided that the Founders’ Vision was a wrongheaded idea – instead, GOVERNMENT controlling our lives was the only way to GIVE us happiness – and in a way that is "their way or jail the highway" as far as healthcare is concerned.

Kathy Sgambati?  No so much on the Freedom side.  Nope, she believes, like all Progressives, that Government needs to manage our lives.  That, by definition, is Progressivism

“Everybody in the chamber respects personal freedoms and individual rights,” said Sen. Kathleen Sgambati, a Tilton Democrat.

You know, I’m scratching my head here; I SWEAR that there is a word missing there….oh, another itch…on my arm….oh, now it’s on my butt….BUTT!  THAT’S IT – no, silly, the word that was missing:

BUT

OK, we may now proceed (I feel EVAH so much better now that we found her BUT):

[BUT] “We’re also trying to ensure that all citizens in the state have the protection they need. It’s unclear to me how you can possibly have all the benefits of coverage without everyone being under the tent.”

OK, time to get serious for a moment. This is the start of Tyranny – the "collective" vs the individual viewpoint..  The Soft Despotism that not only the Founders warned us of but that Dr. Paul Rahe, in current times, is doing. It is mandating what society as a whole must do in for the need of the collective.  Instead of the persuasion of individual to individual to ask for help in helping others, instead of joining with other citizens in a voluntary manner to then reach out to assist others, they resort to government fiat.  They believe that they have the right to the use of the power of Government to accomplish their social goals, for the Progressives believe that Individuals will not and cannot do what they believe to be right.

This is one of the major reasons why the TEA Party movement is gaining strength.  For you see, every time that politicians, even the good intentioned ones, try to have Government do something FOR us, they really are doing something TO us.  The good intention is to help – the Unintended Consequence which they REFUSE to acknowledge is that in order to do that, somebody else has to lose something.

In the case of healthcare, it is money from additional taxes – coerced charity over which we have no control.  It also, as ObamaCare and MaggieCare start rolling down the tracks, will be the loss of jobs – money lost again not from the taking of taxes but from money that can never be earned because of the lost opportunity created by government fiats and regulations.  Progressive politicians keep falling into the trap that the believe that their new regulations will not matter much because people will continue their same lifestyles.  The problem is that people, especially biz owners and managers, live their lives dynamically and will change how they react which will invalidate many of the assumptions under which politicians made for their legislation.

The worst cost, with Kathy Sgambati’s vision for this State and for each of us as individuals, is that individuals controlling their own decisions is to not allow it.  Our individual freedom, by her own statement, is to be less than that of "collective we".  She places the aims of Government over the lives of its citizens instead of being the "floor" which supports our liberty.  She, therefore, is fine with the loss of our freedom to chose for ourselves what is best for us and how to best help our fellow citizens and neighbors.  We both lose the Founders vision and our sense of charity. After all, she and Government know best for what is good for us instead of allowing us, as adults,  to choose for ourselves.  We are but a herd to be managed.

OK, back to amusing again: You know what Kathy Sgambati’s newest and favorite phrase may well be? 

"I’m from the Government and I’m he
re with your medicine.  Oh, by the way, here’s my best friend, Mr. IRS (shhh-we parked his horse out back)".

 

Progressivism = incremental socialism

From the Nanny State to the Bully State