Letter to the Editor (of the L.A. Times)
Posted by Rob Longenecker on September 1st, 2009
31 August 2009
Editor, Los Angeles Times
Dear Editor:
You join legions of others in describing Ted Kennedy as having been “compassionate” (”Ted Kennedy, America’s conscience,” August 30). Aware that I’ll come across as low-brow – as unable to appreciate the transformative magic of politics – I must ask: What’s compassionate about spending other people’s money and minding other people’s business?
Suppose Mr. Kennedy were my neighbor. One day he arrives at my door with a handful of other neighbors (all carrying concealed weapons) and demands some of my money and tells me that he’ll regulate what I eat, drink, and smoke. “And I’ll stop your teenage son from being employed if no employer offers him a wage at least as high as one that my friends here and I determine is appropriate.”
I gaze at him aghast. “Oh, don’t worry. Because my undying dream is to help others, I’ll spend the money that I take from you in ways that will help you. But I’ll also spend much of it helping people on the other side of the tracks. And any restrictions that I impose on your behavior are ones that, you can be sure, spring only from my compassion for you and others.”
Should I regard neighbor Kennedy as great and compassionate – as a gallant champion of the interests of others? Or should I regard him as an arrogant bully, as fraudulent as he is dangerous?
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Professor of Economics
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
September 1st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Ted Kennedy, compassionate? It was a good letter, but immediately makes me wonder if Mary Jo Kopechne’s family would share the same sentiments in describing Teddy as “compassionate.” I doubt it.
September 14th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Ted was soooo compassionate that he wanted to select the senatorial successor from Massachusetts just in case the people of that great state weren’t capable of selecting one for themselves.
I wonder if he plans on sharing his glory with the Almighty?