You Can Be Fiscally Conservative and Also a Good Person Senator Wardner
TOM STROMME/Tribune Senate majority leader Sen. Rich Wardner (R-Dickinson), center, outlines a proposed formula change bill to provide necessary funding support for western North Dakota communities at a press conference in the state capitol in Bismarck on 9-24 afternoon. In back are Rep. David Rust (R-Tioga), left, and Sen. Bill Bowman (R-Bowman).
Long-time state lawmaker Bill Bowman has announced his retirement citing health concerns. His parody Twitter account, which was quite popular in state political circles, is sad:
That’s a wrap folks! Thank you to the real Bill Bowman for giving us here at @notBillBowman an icon, a true North Dakota hero. We wish the real Bill Bowman good health and a great retirement.
North Dakota is better because of the Bill #Bowman4Eva
— Bill Bowman (@notBillBowman) January 24, 2018
Anyway, in reading the news of Senator Bowman’s retirement, these comments from Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, as quoted in the Bismarck Tribune, caught my eye:
Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner described Bowman as a “hard worker” who was “always looking out for the average people.”
“He’s a people man. He wanted to make sure that things were done right and fair,” Wardner said. “He was very fiscally conservative but he had a heart of gold.”
The use of the past tense is a little weird – the man is retiring, Senator Wardner, he isn’t dead – but what is obviously frustrating is that thing about having a heart of gold despite being fiscally conservative.
As if being fiscally conservative were somehow a hardhearted fiscal position?
Our friends on the left work very hard to perpetuate that unfortunate and untrue stereotype. Do we on the right need to indulge it as well?
Being fiscally responsible is no more mean or cruel than a parent who limits the amount of sugar their child can eat is mean or cruel.
There is nothing altruistic about profligacy.
