There’s no difference if me or someone else says it

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There’s an adage for writers that admonishes us to become better writers by reading, or at least, it came from my favorite writer.

The other side of that coin is that in order to become a better writer, one needs but to write. A lot.

I do write quite a bit, but in reading I find several things: that my ideas are shared by quite a few people, especially learned folks; and that sometimes, other writers can codify ideas more succinctly that I can. That can be frustrating but also illuminating.

Regarding some of the things I’ve written about, I’ve found a few quips and quotes that resonate with me, and hopefully, they will with you.

• “If I were rich, I would have a plaque made up, and sent to every judge in America, bearing a statement made by Adam Smith more than two and a half centuries ago: ‘Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.’” — Thomas Sowell

The noted economist has enjoyed a sort of resurgence in popularity lately, since what he has been saying about politics, race relations and the country have been spot on. I recommend looking him up.

• “The answer to a government that’s too big is to stop feeding its growth.” — Ronald Reagan

Time and again, the “Great Communicator” has pointed out, as I have, that government really isn’t the answer to everything, and the way we fight that is by starving the beast. The second way is to replace the broken bits, such as the people who make up the bureaucracy.

• “If our country is to survive and prosper, we must summon the courage to condemn and reject the liberal agenda, and we had better do it soon.” — Walter E. Williams

Another noted economist and writer has seen, much like Margaret Thatcher, that the problem with liberal politics is that liberals always will run out of other people’s money.

• “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” — Emerson

The philosopher of yore put this very succinctly that we’re creatures of faith and hope, and that we forget that sometimes.

• “If you want to see the poor remain poor, generation after generation, just keep the standards low in their schools and make excuses for their academic shortcomings and personal misbehavior. But please don’t congratulate yourself on your compassion.” — Thomas Sowell

I’ve always believed that if you expect more from people, especially children, that they will rise to the occasion and be all the better for it. When you lower standards and expectations, you’ll get that, too.

When I played baseball as a younger feller, I found myself improving my play when I played teams that were stronger and better than mine. I learned that then, and kids can learn that and more as well if we push a little more.

• “The frustrating thing is that those who are attacking religion claim they are doing it in the name of tolerance, freedom and open-mindedness. Question: Isn’t the real truth that they are intolerant of religion? They refuse to tolerate its importance in our lives.” – Ronald Reagan

That intolerance has led to quite a few laws and beliefs that government, and ultimately the governed, don’t really need religion, and then try to place the government as the arbiter of morality — essentially the new, real religion. Which then leads to this quote from another very good writer you may have heard of:

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies.” — C.S. Lewis

The concept album “2112” by Rush, based on “Anthem” by Ayn Rand, showed how freedom actually was nothing of the sort when left to the devices of anyone else. You’re responsible for your freedom, and if you’re not, it will be taken away.

• “If a private enterprise is a failure, it closes down — unless it can get a government subsidy to keep it going. If a government enterprise fails, it is expanded. I challenge you to find exceptions.” — Milton Friedman

A very unsung and underappreciated economist, Friedman precisely shows how government becomes an entrenched bureaucracy, precisely by following these listed quotes. You will do what you’re told by well-meaning people who know what’s best for everyone.

Better to become captains of your own destiny.

 

Tony Farkas is editor of the San Jacinto News-Times and the Trinity County News-Standard. He writes opinion articles and his views don’t necessarily reflect those of this newspaper. He can be reached at tony@polkcountypublishing.com.