“If an uncompromising stand is to be smeared as “extremism,” then that smear is directed at any devotion to values, any loyalty to principles, any profound conviction, any consistency, any steadfastness, any passion, any dedication to an unbreached, inviolate truth — any man of integrity.” ~ Ayn Rand, (“‘Extremism’ or The Art of Smearing”, Chapter 17 of Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal)
If Pigs In Lipstick Could Only Fly
When those of you with strong, rationally based principles are attacked as being extremists, consider the quote above. Then, go forth and defend yourself. The mistakes that most conservatives make when confronted with charges of extremism is to run away. But, then again, many of those who do the running are the pragmatists who accept compromise of principle as a fundamental truth or those who dismiss reason in lieu of faith.
A good example of one who compromises principle occurred in the case of Sarah Palin before she was selected by the ultimate unprincipled pragmatist, Senator Juan McCain, as his Vice Presidential choice. She is an alleged defender of small government, free markets, low taxes and secure property rights; yet, she extorted big oil for billions by charging windfall profits without defining what a windfall is, or by proving that they did something that required punishment (the seizing of their profits – property – by government pushing aside every free market principle for money):
“…Alaska collected an estimated $6 billion from the new tax during the fiscal year that ended June 30, according to the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. That helped push the state’s total oil revenue — from new and existing taxes, as well as royalties — to more than $10 billion, double the amount received last year.”
What the vacuous Sarah Palin did prove is that when one can’t succeed by working within the rules (free market/low tax principles), then abuse power and change the rules in a fashion similar to that exemplified by President Barak Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid with the health care reform “debate” that required a change in name to health insurance reform and a total disregard for the will of the people and basic constitutional principles to pass. Aside from being distant cousins, it seems that Sarah Palin and President Obama share similar viewpoints when it comes to holding fast to principle when it comes to free markets and property rights.
In fact, she is more closely aligned with former President Jimmy Carter, America’s leading anti-semite and a proponent of socialistic policies:
“It was a bad idea in the 1980s, and it is an even worse idea today,” says an American Petroleum Institute statement on windfall taxes.”‘
Windfall profits taxes is just one of several positions that directly contradict Mrs. Palin’s stated belief and trust in free markets, low taxes, property rights and small government. I wonder how she has explained this indiscretion to the TEA party that holds her in such high esteem.
For those interested in more on windfall profits taxes and their impact on the general economy, jobs and revenue collection, click here to read a very interesting article.
