Michael Medved hosts a nationally syndicated daily radio talk show on which these editorials were aired. You can visit his website at www.michaelmedved.com.
Marriage may be a private arrangement, but it has huge public impact. Children from married households — and the couples themselves — commit less crime, enjoy better health and earn more money than their single counterparts. A new study by the Center for the American Experiment reviews worldwide data showing that life expectancy of married people is significantly longer than single or divorced individuals.
Government promotes many behaviors for the sake of health, from quitting cigarettes to wearing seatbelts, so it’s appropriate to support the healthiest behavior of all: getting — and staying — married.
Why Feel Good About Government Theft?
Sammy Sosa, popular slugger for the Chicago Cubs, recently struck out with a bundle of cash in Venezuela. But while on his way to a restaurant, Slammin’ Sammy reportedly left 20,000 dollars in a plastic bag in the lobby of the Caracas Hilton. Realizing his mistake, Sosa rushed back in. But the cash was gone — and the security cameras were broken.
It’s easy to feel bad for someone — even a rich athlete — who makes a foolish mistake. But what if the Venezualan government — a corrupt socialist government, after all — had instead decided to claim the loot in some millionaire’s tax? That raises another question: Why are we so comfortable when governments deliberately seize obscene portions of private wealth through taxes? And are we sure bureaucrats use money any wiser than the individual who found Sosa’s cash?
We’ve grown so used to punishing taxes that we forget that they often amount to a form of legalized theft.
Substance Must Be More Than Skin Deep
The presidential candidacy of North Carolina’s Democratic Senator John Edwards highlights the empty superficiality of contemporary politics. Edwards has only held public office of any sort for three years — and he’d be a joke of a presidential contender were it not for his movie star good looks.
In an era of TV and emotionalism, we seem to insist on uncommonly handsome candidates — which was the case with both Bush and Gore. In fact, our last six presidents in a row — Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and the younger Bush — were all at one time considered exceptionally good-looking. Ford was a former male model, and Reagan, of course, was a Hollywood star!
Forty-six years ago, two ordinary looking guys — Adlai Stevenson and Dwight Eisenhower — could battle for the presidency. But that kind of match-up is nearly unthinkable today. By emphasizing a candidate’s face rather than his substance, we seriously damage the political system.