The document summarizes the flaws with both conservative and liberal extremes when applied to systems of government. It argues that neither a minimal centralized government approach favored by conservatives nor a maximal socialist approach favored by some liberals have ever proven effective when implemented in real world governments. According to the author, this is because systems that deny the basic human drives of fear and greed cannot properly control or motivate society. The most effective solutions are those that do the most good for citizens rather than being most popular or ideological, and are fair and efficient rather than purely conservative or liberal. The conclusion is that some form of smart government is needed rather than one that is either too big or small.

1. Why the Right is Wrong
It is true the fewer parts something has, the easier it is to fix. Thomas
Jefferson championed this concept at the birth of our nation in his
fanciful drafting of the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution
of the United States. This visionary doctrine in many ways
represented the original intent of many of the colonies that banded
together and united as one force to repel the tyrannical British. Most
colonies wanted to transition from colony to statehood. State, by
definition is a sovereign nation. For instance many constituents of
the continental congresses would not recognize Georgia as the same
“country” as perhaps Pennsylvania or Maryland. Thomas Jefferson
would refer to his beloved Virginia as the country he was from. The
idea of politically uniting these separate entities at first for defense
and later for commerce was initially a very radical sentiment and was
constantly met with resistance. In the end the dreams of Jefferson
and his original United States proved unrealistic and difficult to
manage. Many of the new states would never have been able to
flourish if it wasn’t for outside assistance. Crippling debt, violations of
international treaties, and few rebellions (or if you lose they’re called
civil wars), proved too much for a government that seemed as if all
parts did not feel responsible for the other 12 parts. For over 12
years the Articles of Confederation proved to be a terribly ineffective
method of government. If the United States were going to survive,
pay its debts, and defend against imperialistic European campaigns,
it needed to truly be “united” and regulated by an agreed upon central
authority. For this reason, on March 4th 1789 the founders replaced
the Articles of Confederation with U.S. Constitution. The chief goal of
this was to establish a much stronger and badly needed national
government. The conservative reverie of an America under a “States
Rights” doctrine has already been applied, failed and rejected by the
very men who crafted this nation from reason and debate.

2. Yes, it is true that the fewer parts something has, the easier it is to fix.
The conservative usage of this analogy is to apply it wholly to
government. The conservative strategy, is to breakdown our current
system and replace it with as few parts as can be used. A novel
notion, but history has shown with matters of power and authority so
follows abuse and corruption.
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power
corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost
always bad men." – Lord Acton
Whether in the tight-circle monarchies of Europe, the plantation
owners of the antebellum South, the barons of the Industrial Age, or
the Wall Street tycoons of modern times; all prove what inevitably
happens in all cases where a privileged few control the many.
Never in all of human history, has such a system worked for the
benefit of the majority it served. So it should stand to reason that
such a system as it applies to government in which the fewest
possible control the matters of the most will result, as it always has, in
abusive and corrupt leadership that pushes and promotes its own
interest before that of the governed.
“The truth is that all men having power ought
to be mistrusted.” - James Madison
The word democracy comes from the Greek words demos (which
means “people”) and kratos (which means “power”). The more power
the people have, the more democratic the nation. A democracy only
works if it is justly a nation of the people, by the people, for the
people.
But the Left ain’t totally Right.

3. Socialism in its original Marxist form made sense on paper as well but
no fully socialist or communist system of government has ever
worked (well) in history either when it was applied in real life policy.
Political theory on either side of the spectrum of conservative and
liberal ideology can appear an outstanding solution, if not a “cure-all”
to the problems of government. The plain truth of the matter is
neither extreme has ever proved an effective way to govern. But why
is this? Why have the bases of political polarity never worked when
implemented?
All of human nature and action is dictated by two prevalent themes or
parameters, the pursuit of pleasure and the prevention of pain, or in
simpler terms Fear & Greed. As a student of finance at Ole Miss this
was taught as the driver of all financial markets. In truth, the same
two forces of fear and greed are the origin of all human choice. We
therefore cannot be controlled be any system, which denies either
one of the forces (Fear & Greed) to drive our decisions whether
independent or as a society. The solutions that fix the most problems
are by definition the ones that do the most for the populous not
necessarily the ones that are most popular. Furthering this argument,
the solutions that fix the most problems are the most fair and efficient
not liberal or conservative. We need government, that is certain,
though not big or small, but smart.
-­‐
DUNBAR
MERILL,
AUTHOR:
“CRAZY
SH*T
REPUBLICANS
SAY”