Little commitment to small government

Republicans have once again shown how paper thin their commitment to small government is. All but 12 House Republicans voted to extend unemployment benefits to 99 weeks on Nov. 5, including all Illinois House Republicans such as Judy Biggert.

Ninety-nine weeks. The government, with the full support of "small-government" Republicans, has decided that they are going to support low-income living almost indefinitely. As solid economic thought teaches, when the government gives people the opportunity to be paid for nearly two years of unemployment, you're going to get growing unemployment numbers.

The fact is, we cannot afford this. It is a shame that so many people who want to work simply cannot find a job. But Democrats and Republicans alike should place the blame for this right where it belongs: on the federal government. They created this massive recession. The only way for us to recover is a return to free-market principles, a dismantling of the warfare/welfare state, and a full scale audit of the Federal Reserve (which 70 percent of Americans support).

One of the most important factors of a capitalist society is our willingness to let people fail and realize that government cannot and should not take care of everyone, cradle to grave. If we would stop bailing people out and remove the regulations that caused our current problem, we could liquidate the bad debt and start on a sustainable path for recovery.

Would it be a rough period? Absolutely. But it is necessary if we want to really recover and remain a free and prosperous state instead of a European-socialist state. In the end, we would emerge stronger and with a greater understanding of the terrible things that can happen when the government, whether Democratic or Republican, gets in the way of the market.

Rob Esposito

Lisle