William Lawrence for Congress

William Lawrence won the Democratic Primary for Michigan's 7th Congressional District. Looking at the first items in William Lawrence's "Platform": 

1. Lower the cost of living. Everything is getting too expensive and Mid-Michigan families like us are feeling the crunch. We need to:

• Protect social security by taxing the wealthy
• Build affordable housing & end corporate landlord price-gouging
• Guarantee healthcare for all
• Stabilize prices & markets

Tax the wealthy

It is interesting that the first way he proposes to lower the cost-of-living is to raise taxes. Most people who were paying attention in Second Grade math class realize that if you add or increase taxes then prices go up.

Another point is that the tax-and-spend crowd have a very flexible definition of "wealthy". It is always $10,000 more dollars a year than the average guy in the crowd. As a matter of expediency and a rapacious appetite for revenue, the family consisting of an electrician and an aide at the local school (two incomes) will be labeled as "wealthy" in the final draft of any legislation and be taxed at a punishing rate. So will the retiree who is forced to liquidate part of his 401-k or IRA to make needed house repairs or pay medical bills.

Build affordable housing

Government does not "build" housing. Contractors do. 

Government almost always stop construction. They slows it down through the permitting and inspection requirements. Mandatory features make houses increasingly expensive. Petty bureaucrats make contractors play endless games of Mother-may-I as their interpretations of the laws becomes more restrictive and expensive and more focused on CYA.

Guarantee healthcare for all

Frankly, we have guaranteed healthcare. If you walk into an Emergency Room you will get care. Even if you cannot pay. Even if you cannot speak a word of English.

So I am mystified by what Lawrence means unless he is offering addicts a endless supply of prescription opioids that are paid-for by the productively employed. Oh, and maybe he intends to have the taxpayer provide free sex-change surgeries, hormones and counseling to the gender-confused. 

Stabilize prices and markets

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Setting prices increases demand while simultaneously destroying supply. Rent control is a prime example.

Since the relationship between price control and supply-destruction has been documented hundreds of times, then Lawrence is either very stupid or he is not interested in helping people but is actually very interested in control.

Via price controls, entire industries can be smashed and favored competitors made to flourish. Fully Electric Vehicles, anybody? Hey, let's save the planet by destroying farmers who raise beef.

You cannot say this is a strawman argument because these are exactly the things that The New Green Deal pushed.