With Mike Morrell: The Effects of Progressivism Part 1

SAN BERNARDINO >> Over the past several years, leaders such as our president and governor have worked to impose a progressive agenda across the nation and, here, in California. While their assurances to voters are often painted in the most optimistic light, it is critical that we consider the implications of this ideology, which puts more faith in the wisdom of government rather than the individual. The Declaration of Independence speaks to the laws of nature put in place by nature’s God, which means there are certain “self-evident truths” economically, politically and morally. Financially, individuals cannot spend beyond their means and they know it. The same principle applies to governments, but many have chosen to ignore this fact. One of the most visible examples of the failure of progressivism is modern-day Greece. The socialist country is falling apart due to unsustainable big government programs that cannot deliver on their commitments to the people, nearly half of whom are either on welfare or receive overly generous public pensions. Hit with a financial crisis, their banks almost went broke. People could only withdraw small portions of their money because the government feared if more was taken out, the whole country would collapse. Now they are being bailed out by their European neighbors. Self-proclaimed progressives promote an economy in which they believe debt can help you prosper by leveraging our future, but the facts do not bear out. Consider that the State Treasurer has estimated California’s state and local debt at $1.5 trillion. Unfunded public pension liabilities in the California Public Employees’ Retirement System tack on additional debt estimated at anywhere between $400 billion and $1 trillion. Today, if the government had to pay out all those retirement promises, they would be short hundreds of billions of dollars. The current system is just that – promised, but not funded. The debt is enough to bring our economy down even further in the event of another recession. It is unfair to pensioners, taxpayers and future generations. In order to resolve this problem, the government could raise taxes, which is a plank in progressive thought. But historically, as taxes go up (and as we have seen in California), businesses flee to other more tax-friendly states like Arizona, Nevada, and Texas taking good-paying jobs with them. The problem is not solved. Nonpartisan entities like the Legislative Analyst’s Office make regular recommendations for cutting unnecessary costs. One such proposal would eliminate 3,500 extra positions at Cal Trans saving taxpayers $500 million annually. Next, taxpayers should also be empowered to keep a closer eye on their money. Four times I have authored legislation to require that any time a bill is introduced, its text should be publicly available online at least 72 hours before a vote of the legislature. Yet these proposals have all been rejected by progressives. Voters need to hold these big spenders accountable for how they spend our money. While government spending is necessary for many things like infrastructure, public safety, and education, it also continues to grow big social programs. At the same time, after 50 years and $20 trillion invested in the War on Poverty, the poverty rate has gone to 15 percent. Even though California is only 12 percent of the nation’s population, it accounts for 34 percent of the nation’s welfare load and it keeps expanding. The state budget also includes $142 million in new fees to fund free unlimited texting and cellphone minutes and another $23 million went to cash cards for recently released drug felons – something you and I must pay for. Progressivism focuses on providing a false sense of financial security, at the expense of further debt and economic instability for us and future generations. We have a duty to leave our children a better future with many of the same chances we had. Better yet, we should strive to lift up those in need, our fellow citizens, by creating opportunity that promotes hope and optimism, improves education, and builds strong families, putting the well-being of individuals over the institution of government. Senator Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga, represents the 23rd District in the State Senate which includes portions of Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties.