Even the Soviets Learned...

Some days, you read a story that just blows your mind. I came across such a story this morning concerning none other than Russian PM Vladimir Putin.

You know, the former KGB officer, fanatic angler, and strong leader feared to be bringing the old Soviet rule back?

He's issuing a warning to us. No, we won't be seeing ICBMs raining down on us, at least not from him. He is warning us not to go down the socialist path.

Now that, friends, is irony at its finest.

Here's what he's warning us about:

Russian Prime Minister Vladamir Putin has said the US should take a lesson from the pages of Russian history and not exercise “excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state’s omnipotence”.

“In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state’s role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated.”

Now, some could reasonably argue that Putin isn't a source we should be listening to. However, he's lived under a totalitarian socialist rule, and he's also lived (and might I add, succeeded) under a free-market capitalist Russia. And even he, a former officer in the socialist state, is saying that the state is NOT the answer to our problems.

Putin contunues with this:

Putin also echoed the words of conservative maverick Ron Paul when he said, “we must assess the real situation and write off all hopeless debts and ‘bad’ assets. True, this will be an extremely painful and unpleasant process. Far from everyone can accept such measures, fearing for their capitalization, bonuses, or reputation. However, we would ‘conserve’ and prolong the crisis, unless we clean up our balance sheets.”

This is, just as the article states, in line with conservative principles. In America, we have the right to pursue happiness. We are not guaranteed success - we are supposed to be free to succeed to our potential, and we are also free to fail miserably. This is a land of opportunity, not a land where the nanny state comes sweeping in to save everyone who fails.

Our own government officials would do well to listen. They would do well to study our history and our origins and remember what exactly America stands for, not what they want it to be.

F.D. for Two Joe Schmoes

Crossposted on Grizzly Groundswell