Thanks to Zach Wisniewski, for giving the blogosphere a valuable piece of history in the development of the Republican Party. This is part of a letter President Eisenhower sent his brother, Edgar, in 1954.
"This is what I mean by my constant insistence upon "moderation" in government. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
So it makes sense that Ron Johnson affirmed a commitment to preserving social security and medicare just yesterday. Supporting practical programs that prevent the risks associated with retirement accounts tied to the stock market should be the conservative approach to government.
But, as Zach points out, support for common-sense safety nets in the GOP is the exception, rather than the rule. And even Johnson believes that increased subsidies for those who can't afford health care is the "greatest assault on freedom of his lifetime." He must have been born yesterday.
