What ever happened to the old America? You know, the one most of us grew up in during the 20th century. I am old enough to have experienced a little of it, yet young enough to still remember. Many of you know what I am talking about but for those of you that don't or are too young and missed out, let me share with you a little about what it used to be like in America. When most of us were proud of our country (despite it's flaws) and not just because our spouse was running for president.
I was raised by parents that were born in the mid-1920's, between two of the largest, most destructive and deadly wars that man has ever known. My father entered WWII by enlisting in the Navy, lying about his age at the time so he could go to war. The second world war pulled us out of a depression with massive defense spending on military items of every description. This was a time when our existence as a country was threatened and countries around the world were falling to fascist regimes. Even then, with the obvious evil perpetrated by the Nazi Party, there were those here in America that strongly opposed any involvement in a war that was none of our business.
It was during these times, I believe, that my father's character and life principles were developed. He learned that some things were more valuable than your physical comfort, finances and life. These were defining principles that led him through life's journey and helped him to make the right choices, even when it was perhaps the hardest choice to make. Although I tried hard at times to escape this influence and choose a path of less resistance and more temporal pleasures, these principles were passed on to me and have become the foundation for my adult life. I thank God that this is the strong foundation that was built for me, and many others, by a hard-working, patriotic generation of Americans.
America has been a place where individuals have been limited only by themselves. Our system of free enterprise and individual freedoms, guaranteed by the Constitution, has provided the best environment ever known to man for reaching dreams, goals and visions. A person lacking the funds for a secondary education can visit free public libraries and educate themselves on a multitude of subjects. Those born in poor economic conditions can work and save to start their own small business. The idea of America has always been (if you don't believe it, read the writings of the founding fathers) a weak central government that does not interfere with the lives of those it was created to serve.
What has me confused is how we have arrived at where we are as a nation today. The politics of class envy is taught to our young at supposed institutions of higher learning. Those in power use the selfish desires of the populace to further their own agenda. Why do some of us feel that it is our inherent right to be given things we did not work for? It is like a demented Robin Hood story with a theme of take from the rich to give to the poor. We have politicians that tell us everyone has the right to a nice home, two cars, free secondary education, free childcare, free healthcare and HD Television. When did our right to pursue happiness translate into the right to have what we have not earned?
I fear that America has fallen asleep. We are missing the conservative moral values and principles that used to guide us to work at being the best and most productive members of society. We are quickly turning into a hedonistic society where the pursuit of comfort and pleasure is replacing what was once a desire to exercise discipline, self-control and to achieve. We have forgotten that adversity is what develops character and motivates us to work for the betterment of ourselves and others. Our educators have been negligent to teach our history, as it really happened, and to remind us of the great men that have been grown from the poorest of conditions.
If America is to survive and once again be that shining light of freedom and God's grace that all the world looks to, we must examine ourselves. We must get back to the foundation of truth and freedom that was laid for us nearly 250 years ago. We can no longer be consumed by self-interests, but must work for what is best for our country. This is the greatest country on the face of the earth and we alone can make it better. We must adopt policies that encourage our citizens to be productive, hard-working and caring. If we don't shake off our complacency soon, I am afraid it will be too late and we will fade from our former greatness into mediocrity and forced servant hood to the state.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Government Intervention - Remedy or the Reason?
The current financial crisis in America is 'exhibit A' in the deliberation over whether or not government should be involved in the market place. Our government has grown from a weak central government charged mainly with defense of our homeland and our individual rights, into a ugly, inefficient behemoth trying to control all areas of our lives. At the turn of the century (20th) our federal government operated on a budget of close to $1 million. Now it siphons off more than two trillion from a productive economy in an effort to control everyone and everything while seeking to eliminate poverty, a task which even Jesus indicated cannot be done ("For you always have the poor with you", Matt 26:11).
Government dabbling in social engineering has created a huge welfare society that destroys families and keeps the poor and uneducated subservient to Uncle Sam. Do I think that we should simply ignore the poor and less fortunate in our society? No, this would be unethical and go against the commandments of my religion. Do I think that the government should be burdened with redistribution of wealth to those unable or unwilling to take care of themselves? Again my answer would be no. Prior to the intervention of Big Government in our lives the poor and less fortunate were ministered to by the churches and other non-profit organizations, and they did so with very little overhead and much volunteer help.
If the folks in Washington, D.C. really want to help the poor why don't they create a tax policy that offers more of a benefit to those that donate to charity? The American people have traditionally been a very giving people, if we capitalize on this by making it mutually beneficial to both the giver and the recipient we can meet these needs without unnecessary interference from Washington. I believe most reputable charities operate more efficiently than the government (remember the wonderful success of Social Security and Medicare not to mention $150 toilet seats and such), and it also take away some of the control the politicians have over our lives. Isn't this after all, one reason so many fled the old world for the new over the past 400 years?
Government dabbling in social engineering has created a huge welfare society that destroys families and keeps the poor and uneducated subservient to Uncle Sam. Do I think that we should simply ignore the poor and less fortunate in our society? No, this would be unethical and go against the commandments of my religion. Do I think that the government should be burdened with redistribution of wealth to those unable or unwilling to take care of themselves? Again my answer would be no. Prior to the intervention of Big Government in our lives the poor and less fortunate were ministered to by the churches and other non-profit organizations, and they did so with very little overhead and much volunteer help.
If the folks in Washington, D.C. really want to help the poor why don't they create a tax policy that offers more of a benefit to those that donate to charity? The American people have traditionally been a very giving people, if we capitalize on this by making it mutually beneficial to both the giver and the recipient we can meet these needs without unnecessary interference from Washington. I believe most reputable charities operate more efficiently than the government (remember the wonderful success of Social Security and Medicare not to mention $150 toilet seats and such), and it also take away some of the control the politicians have over our lives. Isn't this after all, one reason so many fled the old world for the new over the past 400 years?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
It Just Doesn't Work...
"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need". I am surprised lately at how many Americans think that this is a great idea we should entertain. The quote, in case some of you attended public school like me, is from Karl Marx. The idea is that everyone should share equally in the prosperity of the community, and in the wonderful land of Utopia created by Thomas More, maybe it would work. This however is an imperfect world filled with flawed and imperfect people.
The problem with the philosophy is that it punishes the industrious and rewards the shiftless. I think that we can all agree that there some among us that work very hard, and regardless of their motives for their work, they achieve great things. There are others that avoid work at all costs. Some would not even go through the trouble to seek hand-outs if their very existence did not depend on it. In America the idea that each person has the freedom to pursue their dreams and desires is the foundation upon which we build.
Lately I have been hearing individuals communicate their desire for a system that will take from those that have worked hard and reaped the rewards of their labor, and give it to others that have not earned it. The entitlement mentality many possess is a threat to our freedom and ultimately to our economic well being. We live in a country that offers us the freedom to pursue our desires. Our freedom gives us the right to strive for these things, not to have them. We will only achieve to the level we are willing to invest our ability, work ethic and persistence. The lessons learned from working, and many times failing, to achieve our goals is what molds us into people of character. Living off the work of others does nothing to build character, teach us perseverance, or bolster our sense of self worth.
For those that play the game of class-envy the result is always the same, the socialist and communist countries of the world have taught us this. Senator Obama continues the tradition of liberalism by espousing a tax policy that will punish the successful, the employers, the innovators in our country and increase the role of Big Government. Redistribution of wealth (which is what Obama admits his goal is) does not, has not and never will stimulate an economy or motivate individuals to work. The proven way to stimulate the economy and increase tax revenues to the state is through tax reductions. This was successfully proven twice in the last 50 years, once by JFK and again by Ronald Reagan. If, on the other hand, we are looking for a plan to "spread the poverty", squelch productivity, stagnate the economy and discourage individual achievement... the Obama plan would be it.
The problem with the philosophy is that it punishes the industrious and rewards the shiftless. I think that we can all agree that there some among us that work very hard, and regardless of their motives for their work, they achieve great things. There are others that avoid work at all costs. Some would not even go through the trouble to seek hand-outs if their very existence did not depend on it. In America the idea that each person has the freedom to pursue their dreams and desires is the foundation upon which we build.
Lately I have been hearing individuals communicate their desire for a system that will take from those that have worked hard and reaped the rewards of their labor, and give it to others that have not earned it. The entitlement mentality many possess is a threat to our freedom and ultimately to our economic well being. We live in a country that offers us the freedom to pursue our desires. Our freedom gives us the right to strive for these things, not to have them. We will only achieve to the level we are willing to invest our ability, work ethic and persistence. The lessons learned from working, and many times failing, to achieve our goals is what molds us into people of character. Living off the work of others does nothing to build character, teach us perseverance, or bolster our sense of self worth.
For those that play the game of class-envy the result is always the same, the socialist and communist countries of the world have taught us this. Senator Obama continues the tradition of liberalism by espousing a tax policy that will punish the successful, the employers, the innovators in our country and increase the role of Big Government. Redistribution of wealth (which is what Obama admits his goal is) does not, has not and never will stimulate an economy or motivate individuals to work. The proven way to stimulate the economy and increase tax revenues to the state is through tax reductions. This was successfully proven twice in the last 50 years, once by JFK and again by Ronald Reagan. If, on the other hand, we are looking for a plan to "spread the poverty", squelch productivity, stagnate the economy and discourage individual achievement... the Obama plan would be it.
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