[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H1386-H1387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     LIBERALS VERSUS CONSERVATIVES

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I often hear from liberals that the 
labels ``liberal'' and ``conservative'' do not mean much anymore. I 
think that is total nonsense.
  One way to distinguish between liberals and conservatives is to look 
at how a liberal views taxes versus how a conservative does.
  A liberal will do everything in his power to make it difficult for 
others to become rich. A conservative will do everything in his power 
to help others become rich.

[[Page H1387]]

  A liberal will vilify the rich. A conservative recognizes the 
benefits to society that the rich provide and the benefits of having a 
society where people strive to become rich.
  A liberal believes, apparently, that the rich acquire their wealth at 
the expense of the poor. A conservative knows that Bill Gates and 
Michael Jordan achieve riches because they produce things that other 
people value.
  Our choice is to put obstacles in the way of those striving to become 
rich, or take away people's incentive to pursue that same course.
  For this American holder of public office who is proud to call 
himself a conservative, it is not a difficult choice.

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