Sense in the Strangest Places

Occasionally, one finds common sense in the strangest places. George McGovern, for instance, would not generally rank high on any conservative’s totem of places to turn for wisdom.

But there it is, in black and white.

McGovern writes today under the very conservative-sounding headline "Freedom Means Responsibility". His premise: that government should leave the people alone to decide how best to regulate their own affairs. If Bill Buckley weren’t dead, one might almost think he ghosted the article.

McGovern first notes his longstanding – and sagacious – opposition to "one size fits all" governmentally imposed regulations on business. (Although he didn’t mention it, one wonders how he would react to expensive foolishness like paid family leave.) He proceeds, lamenting the increasing tendency of paternalistic government to impose rules and regulations to protect people from themselves.

He notes, for example, that while subprime abuse existed, the vast majority of folks who secured such loans were unqualified for "prime" rates and, hence, benefitted from the program, obtaining loans not otherwise available.

He castigates states for insisting upon solid gold health insurance policies rather than permitting interstate shopping for coverage and rates the individual consumers desire and can afford.

He even finds time to condemn efforts to limit "payday lending", noting that, while expensive, paying the fees associated with such a loan is preferable to making a late credit card payment or bouncing checks.

Indeed, he writes:

"I've come to realize that protecting freedom of choice in our everyday lives is essential to maintaining a healthy civil society.

"Why do we think we are helping adult consumers by taking away their options? We don't take away cars because we don't like some people speeding. We allow state lotteries despite knowing some people are betting their grocery money. Everyone is exposed to economic risks of some kind. But we don't operate mindlessly in trying to smooth out every theoretical wrinkle in life.

"The nature of freedom of choice is that some people will misuse their responsibility and hurt themselves in the process. We should do our best to educate them, but without diminishing choice for everyone else."

Just so.

Kinda makes one wonder about the wisdom of those "Nixon" pins back in 1972. Instead of wisdom, like that published today, we got wage and price controls.

In each case, the erstwhile Senator hits the mark precisely, nowhere more accurately than with respect to health insurance. With costs skyrocketing, policies become increasingly unaffordable to employers and individuals, producing ever more uninsured. As McGovern notes, government should not restrict choice to a Mercedes or no car at all. Let the people decide what coverage they need and can afford. Instead, NJ insists of piling on mandates – coverage that people MUST purchase – and, then, the Left expresses concern at the increasing number of non-poor uninsured. Let people buy they policy they want, as opposed to the policy the Legislature believes they should have, and the number of uninsured will drop.

While I rather suspect that many of McGovern’s sillier views have not moderated in the last 35 years, it’s difficult to argue with him in his defense of freedom. Would that more members of his Party felt as passionate about freedom – and responsibility – as McGovern.