Oren M. Spiegler – 5/14/08

This page was last updated on May 15, 2008.

Personal responsibility is dead; Oren M. Spiegler; Beaver County Times; May 14, 2008.

Mr. Spiegler is such a prolific letter writer, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review gave him a little tribute back in 2003. Google “Oren M. Spiegler” and you’ll get more hits than you know what to do with. Unfortunately, prolific is not a synonym for competent. Mr. Spiegler claims to be a Republican.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“As one whose formative years were the late 1950s and early 1960s, I could not have imagined the systematic dismantling of the cherished tenets of our nation that I am witnessing today.

“A bipartisan band of pickpockets, which shamefully includes our purportedly conservative president and both parties’ major presidential candidates, has expressed some level of support for a massive mortgage bailout for borrowers who wanted something for nothing and the irresponsible lending institutions that were more than happy to give it to them, believing that they would not ever see the day in which the escalation of home prices ebbed or adjustable rate mortgage interest rates increased.”

[RWC] President Bush is not and never has been a “conservative president.” Just as he was when governor of Texas, Mr. Bush is simply a Republican who supports some conservative positions and some liberal positions. I’ve described Mr. Bush as a Rockefeller Republican. This is the same as most of today’s elected Republicans.

“Both parties are treating the mortgage crisis as if some unanticipated natural disaster has struck rather than recognizing the reality of reckless lending and borrowing practices having come to roost.

“I suppose I should not be surprised that big-government liberal Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Barney Frank is leading the charge to absolve individuals and firms of the consequences for bad decisions, but I am disgusted that the GOP is tagging along, choosing political expediency over principle.

“Do the Republicans stand for anything today? Is there any differentiation from the big-government agenda of their friends on the opposite side of the aisle?”

[RWC] Where has Mr. Spiegler been? This has been going on for years.

“On the mortgage bailout debacle, there is essentially one party, one train of thought: that individuals who risk financial hardship that is of their own making should be able to mooch from their hardworking, middle-class, financially-beleaguered neighbors.

“It is profoundly sad to witness the death of personal responsibility and the fortification of an ever grander welfare-entitlement state.”

[RWC] I agree with most of what Mr. Spiegler wrote above. Here’s the primary reason I critiqued this letter. In previous letters, Mr. Spiegler completely ignored the concept of “personal responsibility” in pushing for laws against smoking on private property. This is what happens when you base your positions on feelings instead of principles.