Liberals are not exactly known for grasping reality. Often, their propensity for emotionalism over rationalism, for feelings over facts, impedes reality and its harsh truths. Liberals also cling to vague, illusory visions of fairness, social justice, income caps and forcing the rich to pay "their share" (what that share is, no one ever seems to know). In their distorted minds, equal rights are not what's important; equal outcomes are.
Then again, there are liberals who may decide to abandon one of their key long-held beliefs while retaining the remainder of their liberalism, because that one key area has, shall we say, bitten them on the arse. (Remember that old saying, "Reality Bites"?)
I've written in the past about one such liberal, Davis Guggenheim, whose excellent documentary, "Waiting for Superman," is a harsh indictment of miserable urban public schools and hidebound teachers' unions. He thought he was a staunch supporter of public schools and did not think he'd send his own children to private schools. But he learned he could not in good conscience put his children through that idealistic vision.
In recent days we've learned about more liberals -- folks who gave generously to the Obama for President campaign in 2008 -- who now are complaining bitterly about the administrations' flagrantly anti-business policies.
Let's start with Las Vegas casino owner/operator Steve Winn, who reiterated what many on the conservative side have been saying for nearly three years: The heavy-handed regulations, obscene deficit spending and threats of higher income taxes, among other polices, are dampening prospective investment and preventing growth. Entrepreneurs and investors are sitting on their money until they have some sign things will get better; until their fears of uncertainty are calmed.
The late great Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computer, apparently was also disgusted and disappointed with the administration's anti-business polices. An excerpt from his biography written by the accomplished and respected author Walter Isaacson, describes Jobs meeting with Obama about a year into the president's term and warning him, "You're headed for a one-term presidency" if the administration didn't begin advocating more business-friendly policies.
It is somewhat ironic that heavy-handed government may have rescued Apple Computer from its death bed back in 1997. While the Clinton Department of Justice was going after Bill Gates and Microsoft for alleged anti-trust practices, Microsoft agreed to invest $150 million in Apple and develop future applications such as the Internet Explorer browser for Mac computers. At the time, Apple shares were selling for a measly $12 per share, and many people speculated Gates wanted to revive Apple simply to bolster part of the competition in hopes of getting Uncle Sam off his back.
Which leads us to Google and its CEO, Eric Schmidt, who testified against charges by the Senate Antitrust Committee that Google is a monopolist. The know-nothing Senate regulators, whose liberal bias causes them to be obsessed with "fairness" (one of the holy grails of liberalism), suggested Google replace its algorithm with a panel of experts to ensure "fair" search results. This is downright preposterous and embarrassing to liberals and liberalism. These folks are beyond clueless and unaware how foolish they look. Schmidt, an Obama supporter in 2008, now believes the politicians are interested in Silicon Valley's money, but not in promoting innovation or entrepreneurship. You don't say.
Better to learn important lessons late than not at all. Many who were enchanted by Obama and naively supported him back in 2008 are now feeling like the jilted lover. And as Obama and his minions will learn a year from now, payback is hell.
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