2008 California Election Forum

As Christians, helping the poor is a Biblical mandate.

That's why individuals and churches are the largest and most generous people in the world with their time, resources and money.

That's individuals, not government.

Political candidates often talk about helping the poor with government aid, not through the private sector. But their policies have the unintended consequence of hurting the poor.

That's because government can't create wealth. It can only redistribute wealth.

What creates wealth? What raises the standard of living faster for the poor—and everyone else?

Capitalism. Free enterprise. The market economy.

Government taxation and welfare redistribution programs create distortions in the economy. It lowers productivity, creativity and business growth. It's filled with waste, abuse and inefficiency.

Just look at the Department of Motor Vehicles—or any other such bureaucracies.

Fortunately, nations worldwide are slowly moving away from government-run enterprises, regulations and high taxes.

Even France is trying to free itself of socialism. China, too. And many other nations.

Capitalism has dramatically raised the standard of living in the U.S., helping lower the number of impoverished and making our low poverty level the envy of the world.

And the poverty levels in the rest of the world? In communist nations like Cuba and North Korea, severe poverty continues. And in socialist nations such as Africa and South America, poverty continues to grow.

But look what capitalism has helped do, despite government taxes and regulation retarding economic growth:

• In 1981, 40% of the worlds population lived on less than $1 a day. Today, that is only 25% adjusted for inflation. It's estimated it will be cut in half by 2015.

Only government economic interference with taxes, regulation and control can reverse this trend.

Be careful about politicians and their advocacy of government programs to solve poverty.

Only more economic freedom can accelerate economic growth and lift people out of poverty.

The leadership of the California Nurses Association has again shown its liberal extremism with the endorsement of Michael Moore's latest film Sicko.

The movie is effective propaganda with lots of emotion, but it's horribly inaccurate in its representation of the facts and comes to a faulty conclusion.

According to Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of the CNA, "Michael Moore has demonstrated compassion and courage in a film that, true to his career, doesn't bend to expediency...it points a finger at the source of the crisis, a profit-driven insurance industry whose biggest accomplishment is buying over U.S. Congress to prevent real reform."

Worse, she commended Moore for promoting universal healthcare coverage like the failed systems in Canada, England and Cuba.

Our system has its faults, including the high cost and overuse of many procedures and services.

These faults are mostly caused by the government. We don't need more inefficiency creating more problems.

There are many real solutions that won't delay the quality of care we now have. For example, we need to reform tax, medical, and Medicaid payment policies so we can have more competition on the basis of quality and cost effectiveness.

I'm glad to report Judge Martin Jenkins tossed out Jerry Brown's frivolous suit against the auto industry.

Brown sought to hold six automotive companies responsible for global warming.

This was a huge blow to Brown's environmental crusade. The judge said it was the legislature that makes the law, not judges, for issues like this.

Bottom line: What a waste of tax payer's money and the state lawyer's time for this ridiculous, expensive, irresponsible lawsuit.

Unions have been among the biggest sources of money, telemarketers and volunteers for liberal candidates.

In fact, they are the most powerful special-interest group today.

Now the Los Angeles County Labor Federation, representing 850,000 members, is warning state, county and local politicians to follow their dictations or lose the election.

Maria Durazo, the executive secretary, made the threat in light of the upcoming election.

Something is wrong when a group having so much power if it can elect politicans who will increase taxes for its own self-interest.

Last issue, I mentioned the budget deficit for California would be about $10 billion. Wrong. The governor's office now says it will be over $14 billion and growing.

We need to cut waste, bureaucracy and spending now!

To add insult to injury, our liberal state senators and assemblymen are getting a pay raise—despite their poor performance.

• 1995 Legislator Salary: $75,600
• 2007-2008 Legislator Salary: $116,208

This does not count their outrageous diems, state cars and large staffs.

While the state goes broke, the highest-paid legislators in the U.S. get a pay rise. What's wrong with this picture?