TORRANCE TRIBUNE June 5, 2014 Page 7 One Man’s Opinion Another Man’s Opinion By Gerry Chong I have always admired people who could turn a phrase in a few words and speak volumes in the process. Two such men were Frederic Bastiat and Herbert Stein. Never heard of them, you say? Here are thumbnail sketches: in 1849, the French economist Frederic Bastiat wrote that there are only two ways a person could better himself: “Productivity or Plunder.” Looking for the Torrance Tribune? You can find us at all the following locations as well as our Web site: www.heraldpublications.com Want a subscription? For $50 a year, we will mail a newspaper to your home. Just mail us a check. We will use the address on the check for your subscription address, unless instructions state otherwise. Mail the check to Herald Publications, 312 E. Imperial Ave., El Segundo, 90245. Please add “Torrance Subscription” in the memo line. 1-Naba Japanese Restaurant 20920 Hawthorne Blvd. American Tire 22940 Hawthorne Blvd. Anza Pacific Barber Salon 4330 Pacific Coast Highway Arco 23510 Crenshaw Blvd. Arico Hallmark 3856 Sepulveda Blvd. Artesian Car Wash 17500 Prairie Ave. Barnes & Noble 21500 Hawthorne Blvd. Benihana 21327 Hawthorne Blvd. Billy’s Deli & Cafe 5160 W. 190th St. Bottle Shop 2087 Torrance Blvd. Buffalo Fire Department 1261 Cabrillo Ave. Chamber Of Commerce 3400 Torrance Blvd. Chase Bank 2549 P.C.H., Torrance Chateau Liquor 4545 W. Sepulveda Blvd. Chinese Shanghai Restaurant 2880 P.C.H., Torrance Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 21300B Hawthorne Blvd. Cop-A-Tan 24231 Crenshaw Blvd. Courtyard Torrance 1925 190th St. Cousin Vinny’s Cafe 5150 W. 190th St. Creative Cuts Int’l. 21217 Hawthorne Blvd. Crest Restaurant and Bar 1625 Cabrillo Ave. CVS 1303 Sepulveda Blvd. Dee Hardison Gym 2400 Jefferson St. Del Amo Car Wash 20505 Hawthorne Blvd. Del Amo Professional Pharmacy 21320 Hawthorne Blvd. Dino’s Burgers 1975 Torrance Blvd. El Camino College 16007 Crenshaw Blvd. El Pollo Inka 23705 Hawthorne Blvd. Fox Drug of Torrance 1327 El Prado Ave. Frank’s Liquor 1601 Cabrillo Ave. Froots 21219 Hawthorne Blvd. Griffith Adult Center 2291 Washington Ave. Hamilton Adult Center 2606 W. 182nd St. Hof’s Hut 23635 Crenshaw Blvd. Infiniti South Bay 3233 P.C.H., Torrance Jack’s Pizza 5007 P.C.H., Torrance Ken’s Market 901 Inglewood Ave., Redondo Bch L. A. Fitness 3550 W. Carson St #404 La Cocina 4438 182nd St., Redondo Bch. Lingley Chevron Extra Mile 23420 Crenshaw Blvd. Little Company Of Mary Hospital 4101 Torrance Blvd. Little Company Of Mary Medical Cntr 4201 Torrance Blvd. Manee Thai Massage 24020 Vista Montana #A Massey’s House of Flowers 25929 S. Western Blvd. Miyako Hybrid Hotel 21381 S. Western Ave. Old Torrance Coffee & Tea 1413 Marcelina Ave. Pacific Porsche 2900 P.C.H., Torrance Palos Verdes Bowl 24600 Crenshaw Blvd. PCH Smiles 2740 Pacific Coast Hwy. Pediatric Therapy Network 1815 W. 213th St., Suite 100 Power Volvo 3010 P.C.H., Torrance Ralphs 1413 Hawthorne Blvd. Ralphs 5035 P.C.H., Torrance Rascal’s Teriyaki Grill 5111 Torrance Blvd. Residence Inn 3701 Torrance Blvd. Seashore Chinese 5137 Calle Mayor Seafood Town Chinese Resturant 22922 Hawthorne Blvd. Shakey’s Pizza 5105 Torrance Blvd., Torrance Shorewood Realty 1009 Torrance Blvd. Snax Restaurant 4535 Sepulveda Blvd. South Bay BMW 18800 Hawthorne Blvd. South Bay Pain Docs 2557-A Pacific Coast Hwy. South Coast Retina Center 2601 Airport Dr., Suite 210 South End Racquet & Health Club 2800 Skypark Dr. Southeast Torrance Library 23115 Arlington Ave. Southwood Dry Cleaners 22232 Palos Verdes Blvd. Spires Restaurant 1750 Sepulveda Blvd Starbuck’s Coffee 5005 P.C.H., Torrance Staybridge Suites Hotel 19901 Prairie Ave. Street Faire Antiques, 1317 Sartori Ave. T.R.G. Real Estate Group 3480 Torrance Blvd. The Depot 1250 Cabrillo Ave. The Little Gym 21203 Hawthorne Blvd. Tony Roma’s 24301 Crenshaw Blvd. Torrance Bakery 1341 El Prado Ave. Torrance City Hall 3031 Torrance Blvd. Torrance Cultural Arts Center 3320 Civic Center Torrance Historical Society 1345 Post Ave. Torrance Library 3301 Torrance Blvd. Torrance Library 4805 Emerald St. Torrance Police Dept. 3300 Civic Center Torrance Police Dept. 3624 Artesia Blvd. Torrance Produce Market & Deli 1303 El Prado Ave. Torrance Recreation Center 3341 Torrance Blvd. Tortilla Cantina 1225 El Prado Ave. Toyota North America 19001 S. Western Ave. Tucker’s Market 3690 Newton St. Vince’s Spaghetti 23609 Hawthorne Blvd. Volunteer Center 1230 Cravens Ave. Wahoo’s Fish Taco 3556 Torrance Blvd. Walgreens 2690 P.C.H., Torrance Walgreens 4142 P.C.H., Torrance Walgreens 2976 W. Sepulveda Blvd. Walgreens 2321 Hawthorne Blvd, Redondo Beach Walgreens 22930 S. Western Ave. Walmart Neighborhood Market 19340 Hawthorne Blvd. West End Raquet & Health 4343 Spencer St. Western Museum of Flight 3315 Airport Drive ‘Y’ Not Burgers 22940 Hawthorne Blvd Yamabuki Restaurant 23863 Hawthorne Blvd. YMCA Torrance-South Bay 2900 E. Sepulveda Blvd. On an individual basis, if one man took from another that which he had produced, it would be a criminal and immoral act. But on a collective basis, that criminal act is the foundation of Liberal thought. But having more than a criminal foundation, the philosophy has two corollary consequences: it is collectively enslaving and individually degrading. There is no question that every society is a complex milieu that defies a clear sense of order. The challenge for every individual is to understand himself and make a place within this complex stew. Conservatives laud and promote individual achievement, while Liberals denigrate human capacity by contending that it is beyond the ability of individuals to find their place. Liberals contend that if one is a woman, Black, Hispanic, Gay, Asian, Muslim, government employee, or a member of any group other than white, male, and Christian, the game is rigged and cannot be won. Thus, the government must set up a reverse-discrimination set of rules designed to enhance opportunities for selected groups only. The irony is that Liberals have created new categories of discrimination. Rationally, the process of taking from the top discourages industry, while simultaneously providing benefits for not working as a disincentive to work. Consequently, a system that disincentivizes work by both top and bottom cannot possibly serve the best interests of the nation. By Bastiat’s or any rational person’s definition, such a condition is comedic “plunder.” And now we come to Herbert Stein’s warning, as paraphrased by FOX News: “Anything that can’t continue, won’t.” The financial cost of liberalism cannot continue. Exhibit one is the LBJ War on Poverty. Over its life, the government has spent $22 trillion in entitlements, yet the percentage of the population living in poverty today is nearly the same as when this economic war began. As one wag said, we waged a war on poverty, and poverty won. Today’s Administration doubled down on the war, spending so much money our national debt has exploded by 70% over less than six years. Yet, we have 46 million living in poverty, 49 million living off food stamps, and 11 million unemployed. Even as the President crows over the 9 million jobs created, a closer look reveals that there has little recovery in the higher end jobs that were lost after the last recession, while the majority of the jobs gained were in low paying, entry level positions. As a result, the average family income has declined during this Liberal driven recovery. Bastiat and Stein, in their condensed eloquence have given us a foundation and perspective from which to vote in the coming elections. Use it wisely. • Speaker Boehner Should Be More Serious About His Job By Cristian Vasquez In the world of politics, it’s common to see odd alliances as well as unexpected rivalries. For a few years now, Speaker of the House John Boehner has been clashing with fellow Republicans. These Tea Party foes have been a headache for the Speaker, who has had to juggle attacking the Democrats while deflecting attacks from this small group of Republicans. As a result, Boehner is now teaming up with some of his friends in order to make sure that Tea-Party-aligned Republicans don’t have an opportunity to hurt his chances at being the Speaker next year. Given the animosity that members of the GOP have demonstrated toward the Democrats it is easy to assume that Boehner would have no problem obtaining support from fellow conservatives. Sadly, that isn’t the case in the world of politics. Politico.com is reporting that Boehner and his friends are “discussing tactics such as trying to change GOP Conference rules to punish members who do not support the party’s nominee during a floor vote.” Part of what that means is that any lawmaker who opposes the party’s choice for speaker could lose committee assignments, among other perks. The report also states that Speaker Boehner’s friends have already removed some Republicans from a committee for straying too far from the party’s platform. As if it wasn’t frustrating enough to watch the country’s two major parties fling mud at each other as they throw childlike temper tantrums in what they call political discourse; now we have to watch the internal bickering. In all honesty, this isn’t exclusive to the GOP for Democrats are guilty of such asinine behavior as well. As a matter of fact, presidential primaries can be said are the blueprints for such behavior. But I digress. As I have said in the past, Washington fails everyone when the people elected to office get more caught up fundraising and campaigning and serving. What Speaker Boehner and his buddies are doing to Tea Party Republicans falls into this category of wasted time. Rather than focusing on addressing the concerns of constituents and fixing the endless amounts of issues that afflict the country, these lawmakers are too busy trying determine who can be part of the cool kids’ club. Having Tea Party members blacklisted for expressing ideas that don’t reflect the GOP platform is absurd. Several GOP members constantly take jabs at the media for being too liberal and at the President for being a Socialist; yet, here they are telling people within their own party that they can’t participate because they think differently. I don’t agree with the Tea Party on much other than that we are taxed way too much. However, they shouldn’t be victims of this Boehner witch-hunt simply because they will not vote how he and the party desires. If Boehner wants to keep his job, maybe he should try serving the people who vote for him rather than organizing a mob to eliminate a group of politicians that he considers a threat. • “As a result, the average family income has declined during this Liberal driven recovery.”
Torrance 06_05_14
To see the actual publication please follow the link above