Editor’s Note: Daily Caller High is a group of young writers cutting their teeth in the world of political punditry. This week, the authors’ reflect on events of the past few weeks.
Less Government, More Solutions
by Brandon Kiser
So you say you want a value added tax? Fine, let’s have that discussion. A value added tax, or VAT for short, is a compelling concept. Throughout the stages of producing a good various fees and taxes are put onto the production costs. After production, the company that manufactured the product will pass those costs onto you, the consumer. I’m thinking the same thing you are: that sucks. The last thing we need, especially still in a recession, is a tax that affects every consuming soul in the country.
In his latest column, however, George Will comes up with a novel idea. If a VAT is to even be considered, repealing the sixteenth amendment and thus the income tax must also be on the table. To liberals, that’s likely a hard pill to swallow – but it’s the cold, hard truth. Why? Because the deficit is set to soar even further (especially among entitlements) and allow the government to cast a VAT as panicked “solution.” We know better.
Instead of increasing taxes in sneaky ways, (what else would you expect from government?) we need to consider real solutions. A VAT could work in theory but only if we dashed the IRS. Our best bets, however, lie in true reform – notably the fair tax or a flat tax.
Real solutions, now there’s novel idea.
The pro-abortion Logic – or lack thereof
by Jackie Seal
There is a new ad campaign taking over the NY Subway system and it has one feminist pretty upset. It’s a campaign started by a San Diego group called “Abortion Changes You.” The author seems to be pretty torn up about it and “challenged” the group by going after their “logic” and got all over them for being “anti-women.” I’m always blown away by the notion of feminists that pro-lifers are somehow anti-women because they don’t want to see a woman chose to kill her baby. The issue isn’t about the woman’s “right to choose.” It’s about the human being growing inside of her.
At the end of her post she went on to say that yes, abortion changes you. In these two ways; “yes, abortion change you – it makes you not pregnant anymore!” and “Also, you know what else changes you? Being FORCED to carry a pregnancy to term against your will!” It’s hard not to jump over all the idiocy issued in those two statements. This whole idea that women are being “forced to carry a pregnancy to term against her will” makes no sense at all. There is no logic in that statement. If the woman doesn’t want to be pregnant she should take the necessary steps to prevent becoming pregnant in the first place.
It comes down to the liberal idea that you can live your life without living with the consequences. In this case, that consequence happens to be the blessing of a child, which is in no way a consequence. I wrote a post about this on my own blog and received a comment from a woman who said, “Just because one knows that they can become pregnant after having sex, does not mean they are required to carry the pregnancy to term.” That statement tells you all you need to know about the philosophy of pro-choice feminists. It’s absolutely astonishing and sad that women are totally comfortable ending the life of a child because of a mistake they made. Why punish a living, breathing child for a mistake you’ve made?
Passion for Freedom
by Lyda Loudon
What does the Tea Party movement mean to you? I see it as the American people’s way of fighting back and uniting to send a message to our government that says, “we’re holding you responsible.”
What is the stereotypical conservative? We are seeing all kinds of faces in this movement. Mothers are saying, “I’m not leaving this financial and cultural burden on my children.” Grandparents are upset because the freedom that makes America great – that their generation worked to preserve – is diminishing. Kids and teens are saying, “I bet you thought I wouldn’t notice what you were doing to my country.”
We have people from all ethnicities, all backgrounds, and all walks of life uniting to take our country back and hold our government responsible. As much as the media and the hard left wants to dismiss the movement as being made up of a “bunch of angry white men,” the reality is that there is unity behind a principle that crosses traditional cultural boundaries. Conservative activists are increasingly finding like-minded “friends” in social media. Many immigrants came to the US for the very liberty that is being eroded by the current political powers. They know that America is the last great beacon of freedom, and they are willing to question and to speak up when necessary.
I believe people of color are tired of being put in a box. A box labeled, “people that automatically subscribe to liberal indoctrination.” Many black people hate the thought of bigger government, because they already had to fight for their freedom and respect once. They don’t want to have to fight for freedom from the government again.
I hope you are part of the new conservative momentum. I am! I hope that the next time you are at a tea party rally, you will pause to notice the colors around you. We are all united in our passion for freedom. We love *our* America. And that is why we are here – all of us.
Brandon Kiser is a Kentucky high school student. He writes as an assistant editor for 73wire.com, blogs at the American Kiser, and can be found on Twitter @BrandonKiser. Jackie Seal is a high school senior who blogs at Red, White and Conservative and can be found on Twitter at @JackieSeal. Ian Pringle is an 18-year-old conservative. He blogs at 17 Pages and can be found on Twitter as @Pard68. Lyda Loudon is a 14-year-old conservative. She writes for Big Journalism, and co-founded both The Future Speaks, and the Tea Party Youth.