Our recent survey that showed “Free Market Capitalism” was favored by 59 percent to 16 percent over “Big Government Socialism” came as a shock to some in the establishment. Many were convinced socialism was gaining favor, and we had to spend our time apologizing for capitalism as it declined. …As Gen. George S. Patton told his troops: “Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. Now, I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war.” Good radical activists might scoff at Patton as an obsolete example of right-wing thinking, but most Americans will resonate with his theme. This is why there is such anger about failing and leaving Americans behind in Afghanistan. …Big Government Socialism fails these cultural tests. It emphasizes subsidizing dependence, giving money to people who haven’t earned it, propping up politically connected interests (even if they always fail), favoring bureaucracies over small business, and discriminating against successful people. This alienates most Americans and is counter to their sense of how life should be lived.
