Medved’s new book seeks to dispel liberal myths
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published Jan. 7, 2009

Michael Medved (West Life file photo by Kevin Kelley)

Conservative radio talk show host Michael Medved recently made two visits to Westlake within two months.

His most recent trip came Dec. 17 to sign copies of his newest book, “The 10 Big Lies About America: Combating Destructive Distortions About Our Nation.” at Borders at the Promenade at Crocker Park

Medved, who hosts a show on WHK 1420 AM weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m., participated in a pre-election conservative rally Oct. 29 at La Centre Conference and Banquet Facility. The event, which also included fellow radio talkers Dennis Prager and Hugh Hewitt, was sponsored by TownHall.com, a conservative Web site owned by WHK owner Salem Communications.

Medved’s “10 Big Lies” attacks “myths,” such as the view that the Founding Fathers intended America to be a secular nation and that big business hurts the average American.

Medved began his Borders appearance by explaining that he begins every show by saying “And another great day in this greatest nation on God’s green earth.” He said he began using that phrase not thinking anyone could object.

“How can there be any reasonable controversy over the fact that the United States of America is indeed the greatest nation on God’s green earth?” Medved asked. “We are!”

Yet he began getting objections from some callers who cited, among other things, America’s treatment of native Indians and alleged imperialism in foreign affairs.

In contrast, Medved argues that every day should be Thanksgiving for Americans. It’s better for Americans today to feel grateful than guilty, he said.

“There are a lot of wonderful places on Planet Earth,” Medved said. “But we live as the most privileged generation in the most privileged corner of this planet ever.”

During a question-and-answer session, Medved countered the view that the global capitalist economy is zero-sum, that is, that for every gain there is an equivalent loss. This is best understood at the neighborhood level, he said.

“If you are running a business on a street of shops, and all of a sudden there’s one shop that’s very successful, it doesn’t hurt you if you’re next door,” Medved said. “It brings more traffic. It increases the general wealth of the area. By the same token, any creation of wealth anywhere in the world helps the world.”

The key philosophical difference between the left and the right, Medved said, is this: For the left, the key question is how the proverbial pie is cut up and distributed. The right is concerned with baking a bigger pie.

“Socialism doesn’t work because it’s obsessed with dividing wealth,” Medved said. “Capitalism works because it’s obsessed with creating wealth.”

During the current economic downturn, the government should cut spending, but cut taxes even more, Medved said.

“Cutting both is tremendously important,” he said. “Why? Because the private economy is more productive and more reliable than the public economy. It just is, and it is everywhere.”

Known for his encyclopedic knowledge of history, Medved said he memorized the U.S. presidents before he was 5 and the presidential cabinets and justices of the U.S. Supreme Court by junior high school.

“I was a very geeky kid,” Medved explained. In high school, he sought to impress girls through his prowess on competitive quiz teams. Then in college, he appeared on TV’s “College Bowl” for the Yale team.

On the Web:

• Michael Medved Official Web site
• WHK Radio Web site

Previous West Life articles:

• Lieberman: McCain's experience,
  policies make him the better candidate (Oct. 30, 2008)