The Evolution of Political Thought

Woodrow Wilson, a progressive Democrat and 28^th President of the US once said, “Liberty has never come from Government.  Liberty has always come for the subjects of it.  This history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it.”

He also said, “The government, which was designed for the people, has got into the hands of the bosses and their employers, the special interests.  An invisible empire has been set up above the forms of democracy.”

As a good Democrat he also is quoted as saying, “I have long enjoyed the friendship and companionship of Republicans because I am by instinct a teacher, and would like to teach them something.”

So here we are almost 100 years later, you could say the Republicans have finally come to see the wisdom of Wilson’s words, and what are the Democrat’s saying now?

Hmmmmm,

“If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help... Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business - you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen.”  President Barrack Obama

And “There is probably a perverse pride in my administration... that we were going to do the right thing, even if short-term it was unpopular. And I think anybody who's occupied this office has to remember that success is determined by an intersection in policy and politics and that you can't be neglecting of marketing and P.R. and public opinion.”

Government should be transparent.  Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing.  Information maintained by the Federal Government is a national asset. My Administration will take appropriate action, consistent with law and policy, to disclose information rapidly in forms that the public can readily find and use. Executive departments and agencies should harness new technologies to put information about their operations and decisions online and readily available to the public. Executive departments and agencies should also solicit public feedback to identify information of greatest use to the public.  White House Policy Memorandum signed by President Barrack Obama.  

Note: I would just like to note that transparency apparently does not include answering Congressional Inquiries on things like Fast and Furious and the 9/11 attacks in Libya.

And finally, on government, “Unfortunately, you've grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity that's at the root of all our problems. Some of these same voices also do their best to gum up the works. They'll warn that tyranny always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices. Because what they suggest is that our brave, and creative, and unique experiment in self-rule is somehow just a sham with which we can't be trusted.” 

Again I would just like to point out as the President he promised greater transparency and I don’t see the administration fulfilling that promise, or the promise not to raise taxes on the middle class, or to reduce the federal deficit, or take care of veterans returning from war, so you must forgive me for being just a bit skeptical on the whole trust thing...