Individual Liberty — Individual Responsibility

For those we lost, We will not forget 09/11/2001

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
— The Continental Congress, July 4, 1776

“The task of statesmanship has always been the re-definition of these rights in terms of a changing and growing social order.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt (Commonwealth Club Address, 1932)

“Roosevelt was wrong! The principles laid down in the Declaration of Independence are the principles of individual liberty. Our unalienable rights, given to us by God are given to us as individuals. Our rights do not come from society or the government, and they cannot be redefined by politicians. The nature of these rights carries with it the implication of individual responsibility, without which we surrender them.”
— Perri Nelson, November 6, 2008

<< Good news - bad news -- OTA Wednesday | Main | Nature about to be penalized for violating endangered species act >>

Socialism is democracy?

Published Wed, Jan 31 2007 2:55 PM
Technorati Tags: News and Politics

From the Associated Press via the Seattle Times:

CARACAS, Venezuela -- A Congress wholly loyal to President Hugo Chavez met at a downtown plaza today to give the Venezuelan leader authority to enact sweeping measures by presidential decree.

Hundreds of Chavez supporters wearing red -- the color of Venezuela's ruling party -- gathered the plaza, waving signs reading "Socialism is democracy!" as lawmakers read out the proposed bill giving the president special powers for 18 months to transform 11 broadly defined areas, including the economy, energy and defense.

Socialism is democracy? I thought that democracy meant giving people a choice, and letting them choose. No wonder so many communist and socialist nations use the words "Peoples" or "Democratic" in their names.

A final draft of the law shows Chavez will also be allowed to dictate unspecified measures to transform state institutions; reform banking, tax, insurance and financial regulations; decide on security and defense matters such as gun regulations and military organization; and "adapt" legislation to ensure "the equal distribution of wealth" as part of a new "social and economic model."

What's "new" about socialism? Venezuela is on the fast track to becoming yet another communist dictatorship. Who want's to be that 18 months will turn into "President for life"?

National Assembly President Cilia Flores said the special powers will enable Chavez to enact new laws that "will benefit the people, those who were excluded their whole lives. They are laws for inclusion and social justice."

In other words, the National Assembly is abdicating its powers to Chavez. When the executive branch enacts the law there's no reason for the legislative branch. With the track record of socialist dictatorships, you'd think the world would learn that they're a bad thing.

A few years ago, the left was saying that the people of Afghanistan and Iraq weren't "ready" for democracy. The left was proved wrong.

Sadly, it looks like the people of Venezuela aren't ready for it either. Or rather, they're ready for the left's new definition of democracy: socialism.

Trackposted to Right Pundits, Outside the Beltway, third world county, Faultline USA, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, stikNstein... has no mercy, Right Truth, Common Folk Using Common Sense, Stuck On Stupid, Cao's Blog, The Bullwinkle Blog, Maggie's Notebook | Conservative Blog, Jo's Cafe, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.