American Votes For Sale
This exchange, which I posted about yesterday, between Mitt Romney and a heckler in Illinois has stuck with me. According to the heckler, she’s heard enough of this “freedom” stuff from Republicans and wants to know when she’s going to get her “free” contraception.
This, I think, is a microcosm for what’s wrong with the American electorate.
There are people who think that contraception, mandated or subsidized by the government, is actually free. They don’t think there are any costs to taxpayers, or price increases to insurance customers when insurance companies are forced to provide something gratis. They seem uninterested in the idea that everything costs somebody something.
There are also people who have essentially put their vote up for sale to whichever politician gives them the most stuff, whether it’s “free contraception” paid for by other people or “free health care” paid for by other people or some government subsidized loans for your industry.
This is nothing new, of course. We’ve been doing it for a while, but I’m not sure it was ever as blatant as it is now.
We don’t want a leader who will keep us free to pursue life, liberty and happiness. We want a leader who will give us happiness on a silver platter. And maybe that’s why we’re all so mad at the government. They can’t give us what we want.
Tags: election 2012, mitt romney
