Why Capitalism is Compassionate

Here are some figures which illustrate why conservative politics is actually more compassionate towards the poor than socialism is.

When the Howard government started in 1996, it inherited from the previous Labor governments:

* $7.6 billion "black hole" in the budget
* $96 billion national debt
* 8.2% unemployment
* 17% interest rates

By the time the Howard government finished in 2008, it had created:

* budget surpluses of up to $25 billion - every budget
* paid off the government debt
* $ 90 billion government surplus
* including $51 billion Future Fund
* the Future Fund would soon have $200 billion in it, if the Liberals were still in government
* 855,000 new jobs were created
* unemployment dropped to 4.1%
* 5.95% interest
* inflation within 2-3%
* saw the elimination of many taxes

Since Labor got back into government in 2008, they've managed to:

* turn a $ 90 billion surplus into a $125 billion debt
* $48 billion interest alone will be paid on the debt in the next four years
* Treasury projects the debt will reach $1 trillion in nine years
* the cost of living is increasing
* enormous new taxes are being discussed

Under the Howard government, the poor benefited. Why? Because more people found jobs. And because more people found jobs, the government's revenue through taxation increased, even though the Howard government reduced taxes. The government was therefore able to fund more services to the poor. And life was easier because inflation and interest rates were lower.

The Howard government was able to help in huge ways: like giving $1 billion to Indonesia after their tsunami.

But in a few short years under Labor, unemployment increased because of Labor's anti-business policies. Therefore the government's revenue goes down, so it has to increase taxes. This is a disinsentive to business, and causes businesses to employ even fewer people. It results in recession. So the government has to borrow, and pay interest on its borrowings. It keeps spiralling downwards until the public get tired of it and vote to put the Liberals back in government.

Socialism doesn't help the poor.

Capitalism lifts the poor.

If you have to outlaw any abuse of freedom that might occur, then outlaw the specific abuse - but by not interfering with the overall freedom of property and business, everyone's prosperity in the nation increases together - including that of the poor.

Blessed?