This commentary originally appeared in the Austin American-Statesman on January 4, 2016.
President Barack Obama’s seven years of advancing liberalism demonstrate that he is adept in the use of identity politics to discredit those who disagree with him. Want to shut down the government and let everyone fend for themselves? That’s not who we are. Oppose health care for the needy? That’s not who we are. Shut down colleges with differing views? That’s not who we are.
Of course, this line of attack begs the question: Just who are we then? Or more to the point, who does the president and others on the left want us to be? If we move past the rhetoric and look at their actions, it becomes clear that the left’s vision is one in which we become those who support rampant growth in the size and scope of government, the abolition of the private-sector health care market, and the end of free speech on university campuses. And that is just for starters.
But this isn’t who Americans have been throughout most of our history. Instead, we have been those who believe that God endowed us with certain unalienable rights, including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” We have been those who have pursued the American Dream by building a culture of freedom and a robust free market that has produced prosperity unparalleled in human history — all the way to up its latest iteration, the Texas Model.
To explore who we have been and who we might become — depending on which worldview prevails — this week the Texas Public Policy Foundation is hosting a forum on the top policy issues of the day at our 14th annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature.
Few things highlight the contrast between these worldviews more than the liberal axiom that since government can properly do a few things then it should do all things. When conservatives take exception to this, we usually get hit with a fresh dose of identity politics: “We … understand that America is not about what can be done for us; it’s about what can be done by us, together, as one nation, as one people.” In other words, Americans must submit to forced taxation and coerced compassion to help whatever special interest is next in line.
But does the “one government” approach really help people?
To help answer this question, this week we’ll discuss whether private-sector jobs — with a healthy dose of charity — are more successful than welfare or job programs in helping the poor. The evidence points strongly in favor of Texas’ focus on jobs rather than welfare; our state has the second-lowest, race-adjusted poverty level among the 12 largest states. Likewise, we will examine how Texas’ relative lack of government housing subsidies and development regulations has actually increased the availability of affordable housing.
Also on tap will be a discussion of how to help Texas K-12 public students — the majority of whom are minorities and from low-income families — afford college. Texas’ affordable baccalaureate program is showing that cutting costs in higher education is much more effective than government loans and grants in helping students deal with runaway tuition.
Speaking of public school students, it is matter of faith among the left that government-controlled schools are the only appropriate way to provide for the general diffusion of knowledge required for a healthy and prosperous society. However, our experts will review how other states have improved education through educational freedom with public and private schools alike guided by consumer choice.
Who are we? The president tells us that we are the people who helped someone in California get health care, a factory worker in Toledo get back on the line building cars, and a college student pay her tuition. But this picture of compassion doesn’t square very well with the strong-armed coalition of big government, big labor, big business, and the cultural and academic elite that imposes its liberal agenda on the American people at the expense of liberty.
The debate over liberty is one worth having. It is a debate the foundation will engage not just during the next few days but, for many years to come.
Peacock is the vice president for research and director for the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. He may be followed on Twitter at @BillPeacock3.