Andy Rooney's Liberal Views of the World.

Recently, Andy Rooney passed away, after 33 years of commentary on "60 Minutes." He was an admitted liberal. The 11/8/11 Investor's Business Daily had a piece by Brent Baker, who provided a few excerpts from Rooney's commentaries. What follows are a few quotes with my own commentary.

1. "The original communist philosophy may have been wrong, but they didn't plan it as a totalitarian system...Communist governments have been dominated by men, not Marxist ideals." The "communist idea of creating a society in which everyone does his best for the good of everyone is appealing and fundamentally a more uplifting idea than capitalism...It seems sad and sort of a spiritual defeat for us all that an economic system based on doing it for No. 1 is more successful than one based on a noble idea."

What can one say? The left is made up of perennial dreamers who cannot accept the real world. As I have said before, capitalism in this country has created more wealth for more people than any country in the history of the world. But that's not good enough. The left needs utopia. Of course, utopia has never existed, nor will it ever. Who but the left believes that everyone wants to do his best for the good of everyone?

Americans work hard to do their best for themselves and their families. Because this country allows for personal success, Americans then donate more of their time (volunteerism) and money (charity) than virtually all other nations. But if people think they are working for a "common good," then the motivation level decreases sharply. Such a "common good" means the money is transferred to a central government, which then disburses (or redistributes) that money to everyone equally. And then people realize there is no reason to work hard, as the government will take that money and give it to those who may not work so hard. Furthermore, when the government takes care of everyone's needs, the ideas of volunteerism and charity will diminish, as it has in Europe. As Prager says, "the bigger the government, the smaller the citizen."

Those on the left (as was Rooney) continue to put their faith in Big Government. This is rather ironic as Rooney noted that "communist governments have been dominated by men, not Marxist ideals." Well, guess what - democracies are dominated by men also. Our founders, unlike those on the left, understood the frailities of man, as well as the lust for power. That is why they drafted a Constitution with as many checks and balances as possible. But when the Constitution is disrespected by our leaders, and ignored in the Courts, then we are left with a government of men only. And, as Rooney noted, that does not usually work out so well.

2. After 9/11: "Some people who hated Americans set out to kill a lot of us, and they succeeded...We're trying to protect ourselves with more weapons. We have to do it, I guess, but it might be better if we figured out how to behave as a nation in a way that wouldn't make so many people in the world want to kill us." Wrong and extremely naive.

So many people people do not want to kill us - just the islamofascists. In fact, people still come here from all over the world for a better life. However, here are two ways you can behave so they will no longer hate you: 1.Convert to Islam and live under Sharia law, or 2. Die. I think that pretty much covers it.

That does not mean that everything this country has done or will do will always be right. But save for the English Empire, which ultimately helped bring democracy to the four corners of the globe, I think one would find it difficult to name another country other than the USA that has done more good for the world. We have defended freedom, and have used our power to provide financial aid to the poorest of countries, and to help with natural and man-made disasters. (Yes, I know we have also supported dictators; and have allowed our aid to be funneled to dictators' private accounts. Yes, I know we had slavery. But read above about "utopia" and then tell me what country has done a better job.)

3. "I don't understand why we think it's OK for us to have a nuclear weapon, but it isn't OK for some other countries to have any. I don't think any country should have nuclear weapons. And that includes ours..." All in favor of the Ayatollahs having nukes, raise your hands.

Again, this comment reflects another naive, liberal belief that all countries, all cultures, all value systems are equal. Moral equivalency. It is hard to believe that adults can still hold such positions. But they did make fun of Reagan for referring to the Soviet Union as the "evil" empire. They did make fun of Bush II for referring to an axis of "evil." Such notions are so antiquated. Just ask those sophisticated Europeans; you know, the ones who seek to appease every islamofascist dictator in the world.

Anyway, I just hate it when the criminals do not have the same firepower as the police. It's just so unfair!