Jack Kemp espoused a very positive message. His ideas were empowering and inclusive since he believed that all people had the ability to be lifted up to improve their economic wellbeing. As a product of a middle-class background, he could identify with the concerns of the common man and had a strong conviction that economic liberty was just as important for the poor as the more affluent. In fact, it is through economic opportunity that the poor have the ability to improve their station in life.
He believed in the American dream, which he lived. As a well-known quarterback of the champion Buffalo Bills, he became an unlikely intellectual in the conservative movement. He was intimately aware of teamwork and developed a respect for people of different ethnic backgrounds. All of these positive attributes enabled him to become a Republican member of the House of Representatives in an unlikely working class district in Buffalo New York.
His economic philosophy was predicated on the belief that excessive taxation created disincentives to work and invest. He believed that government’s role was to help people help themselves. This approach is reminiscent of the adage that you can help people more by teaching them how to fish than by providing fish. His policy innovations reflected his philosophy, which included enterprise zones. These were designated areas that would be given tax advantages to attract business and stimulate economic growth. Also, he created public-housing vouchers, a concept designed to provide desirable housing for the disadvantaged. In addition, he sponsored a free-trade pact for all North America, and supported immigration; he believed these policies would make America stronger and more vibrant.
His belief in the power of the individual and his enthusiastic zeal for pro-growth measures to effectuate this power attracted the support of Ronald Reagan. Reagan embraced the Kemp-Roth tax cuts that became the foundation of the “Reagan Revolution” that according to the Wall Street Journal resulted in “the most successful domestic policy achievement of the modern era”.
Unfortunately, we do not seem to have many pro-growth polices in place today. The current administration has embraced a more Keynesian approach to massive government spending. Jack Kemp successfully repudiated the classical Keynesian policies of his day. We certainly could use more Jack Kemp pro-growth principles to improve our current economic crisis.
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Interesting bit of trivia. My parents were knew Jack Kemp and you are correct he was a good man. My parents met Jack when he was with the Buffalo Bills. My Mom hung out with his wife all day at the hotel my parents were staying at. My Father was with the Secret Service at the time and staying at the hotel while in training in Buffalo. I don't remember how they all met but Jack and several of his teammates were regular people with normal people values. Small world, huh?
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