The American Spectator : Barney Does Brussels: Why It Matters

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Barney Does Brussels: Why It Matters

By Jeffrey Lord on 2.17.09 @ 6:08AM

An Australian fire, a Dutch MP, Barney Frank and Maxine Waters.

(Page 2 of 2)

There was widespread applause when Nillumbik Mayor Bo Bendtsen said changes were likely to be made about the council's policy surrounding native vegetation.

But his response was not good enough for Mr Spooner: "It's too late now mate. We've lost families, we've lost people."

Last, but not least, let's move on to the story of Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders. Here's the story in brief as reported by the Guardian (UK):

Geert Wilders, the rightwing Dutch politician accused of Islamophobia, was today refused entry to the UK after arriving at Heathrow airport in London.

Wilders was due to show his 17-minute film Fitna, which criticises the Qur'an as a "fascist book," at the House of Lords today. But on Tuesday he received a letter from the Home Office refusing him entry because his opinions "threaten community harmony and therefore public safety."

Now let's just stand back a moment here and take a good long look at what we are seeing.

First, it needs to be said that Members of Congress should get out in the world. That caring for the environment is a good thing. That bigotry is never a good thing. Yet in each and every one of these cases we see something that should scare the living bejeebers out of you.

Congressmen Frank and Waters have spent considerable time lately using their government power to go after private businessmen for abusing taxpayer dollars. Their pal Congressman Sherman has specifically hammered both the bankers and the carmakers hauled before their committee for the act of simply owning and using jets for, presumably, business purposes. Nowhere that I have heard have the bankers and carmakers been charged with using the company jets for obvious playtime stuff like, well, Ms. Waters. She, you see, followed her trip to Brussels with Barney with -- in the same week -- another government trip to the warm climes of Trinidad and Tobago. With her husband along.

Were the travels of Barney and Maxine reported as some sort of earthshaking scandal? Are you kidding? Hey, just another day at the trough with the taxpayers footing the bill. Why was it no big deal? Because, you see, Barney and Maxine and their congressional pals work for the government! There is no such thing as an abuse of taxpayers money if this is the government.

If then-Merrill Lynch chairman John Thain spends a million bucks of the firm's money pre-bailout to redecorate the office in the middle of tough times, the guy is an idiot who should be fired. (Actually, even he realizes he was an idiot and he was fired...but that is or should have been between Thain and his bosses. which is to say a board of directors and shareholders. Our opinion doesn't count -- nor should it.) Thain was a piker when compared to the government boys and girls who, thanks to the "Title VI, Financial Services and General Government" section of the "stimulus" bill, are set to get "not less than $6,000,000,000 (which) shall be used for construction, repair, and alteration of Federal buildings." Alteration. That's government-speak for redecorate. (A hat tip to the Wall Street Journal's Dan Henninger.)

In other words, if some private sector guy is insensitive enough to blow a million bucks of his company's money in a display of bad judgment at a bad time for the economy, off with his head. But $6 billion for the federal government version of the same thing? Noooooooooo problem. Let's get those new drapes for the Commerce Department! The government shall not be trifled with!

Which, with infinitely more tragic results, is the story with our Australian friends. In obeisance to the gods of environmentalism, Australians are waking up to the realization that some 200 people are now dead because the government (catch that word "government" again) was not to be trifled with. Common sense? Cutting down "native vegetation"? What, are you crazy? The government said no, and that's final. Or was, at least, until a little mass death grabbed everybody's attention.

Last but certainly not least is the unsettling case of the Dutch MP and would-be filmmaker Mr.

Wilders. Let's put aside Wilders' film on Islamofascism, since (presumably) most of us have not seen it. Let's posit that Mr. Wilders is, say, a Dutch version of America's David Duke or Al Sharpton. Mr. Duke is in deserved obscurity precisely because the American people have a Constitution that lets them take him or leave him -- and they left him. Ditto Reverend Sharpton. Yes he gets PR, yes he agitates on the radio. But President Al? The good Rev has, with his own effort, turned himself into a joke in most quarters. Yet even where he is not taken seriously, no one of any substance is disputing his right to rant. Not so over there in Britain, where our good cousins in a fit of government-gone-even wilder have barred MP Wilders at the proverbial gate.

What is going on here in these several incidents is, as has been noted with increasing alarm (finally) in conservative precincts -- the deification of government. You can fly the government equivalent of corporate jets, replete with plush seats, government stewards and movies at your seat while you appetize -- and no one blinks. Ruin the economy with your government power as did Congressman Frank and company? Don't worry, we'll all look the other way. No pesky hearings or prosecutions for those guys! You can redecorate $6 billion worth of government offices or build whole new ones and no one is supposed to care. But woe betide he or she if they dare to use Australian common sense that shrieks "cut the damn grass" or tries to visit Britain with a film questioning the violence of others. The government will have none of that, mate. Community harmony and all of that.

In an era of instant communications, the global left is making what eventually will be a huge mistake.

The rest of us are not asleep.

Page: < 12

topics:
Government Intrusion, Government Waste, Barney Frank

About the Author

Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director and author. He writes from Pennsylvania at jlpa1@aol.com.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (27) | Leave a comment

bobmontgomery| 2.17.09 @ 6:25AM

In an era of instant communications, the global left is passing legislation, issuing executive orders and coordinating with it's overseas bretheren faster than those of you who are waking up can react. Forty years of the New Age conditioned the public to accept socialism, no matter how much they pretend to be outraged when individual outrages are shown to them. They may cling to their guns and their religion, but when necessary, will they use them?

Pecos Pete| 2.17.09 @ 7:34AM

Bob: "They may cling to their guns and their religion, but when necessary, will they use them?"

Good question. Religion and guns.

Religion is being reduced as a moral imperative on a daily basis in the USA. If it feels good, do it. Sounds like a stimulus plan.

Gun ownership is rising, but will owners use their guns? New Orleans sort of proved differently as most gun owners watched the police confiscate their guns. Not too promising.

Melvin| 2.17.09 @ 8:26AM

Very good point Pecos Pete. Like with anything else, different time different political mood. At the time New Orleans had just been run over by a major hurricane, communications with the outside world was limited or nonexistent.
Many New Orleans residents saw law enforcement pull up and naturally figured that they were to help with disaster relief. The New Orleans firearms issue can be an major discussion all unto itself, but now we are dealing with corruption and political hooliganism on a national and states level.
Will legally armed citizens draw a line in the street and take actually potshots and law enforcement personnel? That question is like wondering if we are going to win the lottery.
We must keep in mind that it the kindling is being prepared by a corrupt government for an angry America, and it could only take one incident to turn that kindling into a raging brushfire that would set off a shot to be heard around the world.
When a person says revolution, Americans tend to think of some third world dictatorship some where, thousands of miles away, but here, in what the world considers the most civilized country in the word?
It all boils down to Americans be so damn frustrated with government and capitalism because both have taken advantage of the taxpayer.
This issue is coming to a head my dear friends and it is going to explode and be for a time very ugly, and I sincerely hope that freedom prevails because if not, the results will be unimaginable.
All we have to remember is the words uttered by a Democrat supporter, "We won."

owyheewine| 2.17.09 @ 9:23AM

Anyone but me notice how much Brad Sherman resembles Dilbert's pointy haired boss?
Enough said.

Sheryl| 2.17.09 @ 9:42AM

Sadly, the rest of us ARE asleep, I think, and that is why this goes on currently and will continue until we are no longer asleep. We can sleep in peace for now, though--"the government" is watching out for us.
God help us all.

Hal G. P. Colebatch| 2.17.09 @ 9:42AM

As an Australian I can confirm this is correct - the Australian bushfires were made far more deadly than they would otherwise have been because extremist "Green" ideology prevented sensible clearing or light, controlled burning earlier. The "Greens", needless to say, are a city-based party of trendy lefties.

Simulacre| 2.17.09 @ 10:04AM

Transnational Progressives on the loose...maybe one day, (a greater majority of) people will take the threat they pose seriously -before we end up with a one world fascist government state.

james johnson| 2.17.09 @ 10:05AM

Who has a right to the fruits of another's labor?

Socialism is slavery

I will not submit!

Dr. Albert Gortenbull| 2.17.09 @ 10:36AM

Nazi, communist, and anarchist vulchers are circling the weakened bodies of quasi-socialist states that are in danger of economic collapses. Keep your guns in a safe location and stock up on ammo. Respectfully, Gortenbull

Nick in Virginia| 2.17.09 @ 10:47AM

"...In obeisance to the gods of environmentalism, Australians are waking up to the realization that some 200 people are now dead ..."

No, this can't be true. I've already read several Aussie journalist who used the wildfires as proof that Global Warming is killing us and the planet (no consideration of arson or poor timber management was ever mentioned by them).

Marc Jeric| 2.17.09 @ 10:57AM

When the stories of terror, mass murder in Gulags, and utter poverty finally reached the West, our revolutionary marxists became "environmentalists" sometime in the 1970's. Since then the mass murders caused by them are reaching the Stalin and Mao numbers. Just the elimination of DDT, which has since been shown a) to be degradable, and b) not to have caused any discomfort to any fish or bird, let alone a human being, produced 110 million dead in Africa alone by malaria and sleeping sickness.

chonicler0| 2.17.09 @ 10:59AM

Regarding: “Will legally armed citizens draw a line in the street and take [actual] potshots [at] law enforcement personnel?

That is not the right question. The only way to turn the tide away from socialism is to win the hearts and minds of a majority of voters. Taking to the streets with our guns is the surest way to turn the public against the freedoms for which our founding fathers bleed.

Look at how easily big government has used fear of our current economic situation to swiftly execute the biggest power grab in our history. Just imagine what they could frighten the masses into allowing if some of us took to the streets with guns. Out of fear for safety, big government would not only take our guns they would kill us where we stand. Anyone remember “Four Dead in Ohio” – I do not mean the song. How about Waco, Ruby Ridge?

The “pen” is still mightier than the sword. Our glorious revolution broke the yoke of British rule at an incalculable loss of life. I am grateful for and honor their sacrifice. Considerably less blood was shed in India to throw off the same yoke.

Do not misunderstand me; I would defend with my life the right to bare arms, but that argument has already been won at the highest court in the land. Those in opposition to that right would love to see us take to the streets – it would open up for debate an argument we have already won. Never give your enemy a weapon they can use against you – especially won that would disarm us.

Gandhi’s movement won freedom in India because he convinced his people to hit Britain where it hurts the most – the pocketbook. Big government’s pocketbook ultimately must be filled with taxes. We are moving to a kind of America where half of the citizens will contribute little or nothing to the “public burden” our “leaders” have imposed upon the other half. To the wealthy, that is not as big a deal as it is for you and me. They can leave America and live anywhere. For those who love America more than they love their money we have but one path that will save America.

We have the constitutional right to remove a government that fails to do the will of the people. Right now big government can claim it is doing the will of the people, and until the people see this leftward shift is not the best course to follow there is little we can do to stop a run away train. But this ride to socialism has derailed in every country that has tried it (think USSR) and it is only a matter of time before it runs out of steam here.

Meanwhile do all you can to enlighten your neighbors as to the lessons history offers. And, if one day in the future, we find the burden of taxes to oppressive to bear and our government refuses to change course then we hit them were it hurts the most. Uncle Sam can put you in jail if you fail to pay taxes. But suppose ten million Americans refuse to pay taxes – will they put all 10 million in jail, how about 20 million? The future belongs to those who are organized (you can quote me). And before any real direction change can be accomplished we have a lot of organizing to do. Learn all you can about the internet, social networking tools, peer-to-peer collaborative efforts. Read “The Wisdom of Crowds”, “The Wealth of Networks”, “Here Comes Everybody” and other books about how the internet has changed everything. If we have to fight that will be the “pen” that is mightier than the sword of oppression.
.

Thomas| 2.17.09 @ 11:46AM

Free speech, government benevolence and common sense. Where have they gone? Politicians and other government administrators crave one thing, power. Their entire life's work is devoted to the acquisition and maintenance of their own power. And they will do anything to achieve that goal.

As to the question of will firearms owners in America us their weapons against the government? Who knows. That is the point of the Second Amendment. It keeps politicians relatively honest while giving the citizenry the means to defend themselves from despotic rule. Outside of the occasional hoplophobe, there are only two groups of people who fear an armed citizenry; criminals and politicians [though the distinction is becoming less clear everyday]. The mere fact that there so many firearms in private hands is daunting to despotic politicians. This is changing, though.

The current liberal politicians in Washington are insane. They have been emboldened by the election of Barack Obama and their increased representation in Congress. They are further emboldened by their passage of the totally pork-laden non-stimulus bill over the objections of the bulk of their constituents who can read and write. They have now entered the realm of despotic rule and not much is going to stop their advance. Look for limitations of speech to arise quickly. The stealth fairness doctrine is the second step. The first was the total control of the mainstream media by liberals. Additional curbs on free speech and communication will not be far behind [goodbye conservative internet blogs]. Control of private firearms comes next, probably through ammunition taxes and gun "registration". Then look for the institution of a quasi-military organization to "protect" the homeland from internal threats. These will be your gun grabbers, if it is still necessary.

The "pen" will not stop this process. Ultimately, the politicians will overreach and turn public opinion almost totally against them. But, until then, the downward slide into totalitarianism will continue. Where it stops, nobody knows.

DSAMMIS| 2.17.09 @ 12:45PM

Confrontation between gun toting citizens and the government isn't a winning stategy. I still keep my pitchfork in plain view.

Thomas| 2.17.09 @ 1:02PM

"Confrontation between gun toting citizens and the government isn't a winning strategy. I still keep my pitchfork in plain view."

Correct, but "There comes a time in the course of human events..."etc.

Louis Jenkins| 2.17.09 @ 5:32PM

Insane, they're all insane. Folks, the government no longer fears the armed citizenry or the voters, otherwise they would not act in the manner that they do. They hold us in contempt, refer to us as "fly over" country pumpkins, and spend, spend, spend tax dollars, and print more when the pot is empty. Bush, or Obama, pick your poison, as the nation is bankrupt. Protest, no matter if peaceful or violent, will be met with total government strength. Protests of the 60s are past. Dogs and tear gas are ancient history. Even if you peacefully protest, lthen go home, look up before you depart. You're on candid camera. Your debit card, your cell phone, even your car with GPS, can be tracked. Your movements are known, and your home address is available. Chances are this blog is being monitored. If you hear a noise at 4 am at your door, it sure won't be the Avon Lady. We are being backed into a corner, and there are no safe choices. We're like the turtle that has had its head lopped off. We just don't know that we're dead. And since we're already dead is there anything left to perish?

ruth| 2.17.09 @ 7:11PM

Now that all of the problems have been presented, does anybody have any solutions? Thanks. And I don't think I'm that damned turtle. Not yet.

Hal G. P. Colebatch| 2.17.09 @ 7:57PM

Australian blogger Tim Blair has a story of people in Victoria being fined by the "Green" local council for having moved rocks into "unnatural positions." They moved the rocks at the request of fire-fighting authorities so that fire-fighting vehicless could get onto their properties. As Blair comments: "These people are insane."

Melvin| 2.17.09 @ 9:12PM

chonicler0 and Thomas, huzzah, outstanding posts. Definitely have points to reflect on which direction we must choose.

Alan Healy| 2.17.09 @ 9:31PM

It is worth noting that Geert Wilders is not being kept out of the UK because he might stir up hatred against our Muslim friends . It is the violence that Muslims may direct towards him and everyone else that has prompted our government's capitulation .

ruth| 2.17.09 @ 11:25PM

Well, Alan, I guess that's a little better. The great Winston must be spinning in his grave right now.

Russell Seitz| 2.18.09 @ 3:43AM

Hal Colbach seems indisposed to mention that Australian Aboriginal tribal councils are paid some millions annually to continue their immemorial practice of lighting fires annually to prevent fuel build-up in the bush.

Though much given to celebrating downside extremes of weather , as when it snows in the Snowy Mountains, he has kept his peace in your pages as the worst Australian drought since the 30's has set the stage for the Barbie of the Gods.

Last time I was in Melbourne , it was 43 F.

Last week it was over 43 C for three days running .

Hal G. P. Colebatch| 2.18.09 @ 7:05AM

Huh? I am "much given to celebrating downside extremes of weather"? When and where exactly did I do that, pray?

This guy is delusional.

ruth| 2.18.09 @ 2:29PM

Bad speller, too.

Hal G. P. Colebatch| 2.18.09 @ 8:21PM

Extract from a story in the Sydney Daily Telegraph (via Tim Blair's website):

"A DECISION to cancel almost half the burn-offs planned for NSW bushfire zones has put thousands of lives and properties in danger.

"Frustrated volunteer firefighters yesterday lashed out at bureaucrats and greenies for preventing them from protecting communities.

"In one outrageous case, a woman was told by the State Government her fire escape route would remain an overgrown mess because it was a corridor for native flora and fauna.

"More than 2100 hazard reduction operations planned by the Rural Fire Service were abandoned last year, the organisation's annual report reveals.

"Deputy Captain George Bennett said firefighters were so frustrated by bureaucratic hurdles they were finding legal ways to complete small burns "undercover" on private property.

"He said it took some brigades 12 months to gain approval for hazard reductions. The RFS admitted one burn-off on Mona Vale Rd in Sydney recently took several years to be approved ..."

ruth| 2.18.09 @ 11:00PM

Mr. Colebatch, unfortunately for us, this idiocy has been going on in California for years, and we have had the firestorms to prove it. I loathe the stupidity of liberals