We Americans would do well to remember the struggles of our forefathers. Our nation was established on the premise that the government works for the people and not the other way around. The Pilgrims were the first Americans to try socialized control of the citizenry. Their “Mayflower Compact” did not survive the first winter ashore. Privatization of lands, dwellings, and commerce was required for them to survive. All of the major players in our revolutionary era sought the freedom of the individual. Naturally, much like now, they disagreed on many issues. Hamilton and Jay desired a strong central government and expressed as much in the Federalist Papers. Jefferson, and later Madison, championed the individual and their “individual rights” which no government could usurp or oppress. We all now know these as our “Bill of Rights”. Our established form of republican democracy requires an active citizenry. Individually, we all are responsible for what we achieve or, fail to realize. Only limited government will help us realize this. We all are equal in opportunity of chance and will over time become socially separated on a series of interconnected occurrences. If you doubt me, think about the following questions. Are all people equal in effort and or lack thereof? Are all people equal in intelligence? Are all people equal in courage? Are all people equal in fear? Are some of us more willing to “risk it all” than others of us? Are all of us equally optimistic or, are some of us more pessimistic than our peers? Are all of us problem solvers or, are some of us complainers? By now you should get my point and realize that about the only time we are equal is when we first leave the womb. After that, life circumstances, personality, and the influence of government will socially, intellectually, and economically divide us. No government, no matter how well meaning, can substitute for personal discipline. Any individual who feels that he or she is due governmental assistance as their birthright demeans themselves and limits their horizon to permanent mediocrity. Will I ever be financially wealthy? Maybe, or maybe not, however; the true question is whether or not I will be able to accrue the wealth of personal realization? A vast resource of wealth lies within each of us and yet, we waste all of our energies in our attempt to accumulate things. Maybe, if all of us spent more time being happy instead of trying to get happy, our lives would become more enriched and the nation would soon follow suit.
Our government, controlled almost solely by the democrats, is seeking to change who we are. Socialized medicine, enforced economic equality through taxes, and massive governmental programs designed to control behavior patterns are currently on the agenda. The buzzword is “crisis”. They are using the citizenry’s fears to throw all of these long desired socialistic programs into action and then call it “stimulating” the economy. I’ll borrow a line from the film “The Outlaw Josey Wales”, and say, “Don’t pee down my back and tell me it’s raining”. My argument stems not from who is office rather; my concern lies with who we are as a nation. I do not support the efforts of our President or our legislative branch. I believe their plans could lead to a devastating loss of our national identity. Much like those before me, I fear the tyranny of the majority. In a letter to James Madison on March 15, 1789, Thomas Jefferson wrote,
“The executive power in our Government is not the only, perhaps not even theIs the era of tyranny upon us? Hopefully not, but our populace’s silence and willingness to accept governmental control of our lives scares me. Ralph Waldo Emerson continues, even after death, to be one of our nation’s most eminent philosophers and in 1841 he penned an essay titled, “Politics”. In this essay he wrote the following:
principal, object of my solicitude. The tyranny of the Legislature is really the
danger most to be feared, and will continue to be so for many years to come. The
tyranny of the executive power will come in its turn, but at a more distant period.”
“Hence the less government we have the better,--the fewer laws, and the lessAll I ask is to be left alone. If I suffer from inequality of opportunity, I’ll let the government know however; I will do so only after all of my efforts to right my own ship have led to naught. I don’t expect the government to assume anything for me. More importantly, I expect the government to never enact laws or policies based on short lived current events or economic cycles. Knee jerk reactions to cyclical events can lead to calamity for all. It is time for all of us to take responsibility for ourselves and stop placing the blame on others such as, your boss, a political party, or a President. I alone am in charge of my vessel and I intend to steer her clear of any obstructions. After all, President Obama proves my point. Though born out of wedlock from an interracial couple and raised by white grandparents, President Obama still managed to persevere and is to this day, a self made man. His success encapsulates my point. We are who we choose to be based on self effort and self discipline.
confided power. The antidote to this abuse of formal Government is; the influence of private character, the growth of the Individual, the appearance of the principle to supersede the proxy; the appearance of the wise man; of whom the existing government is, it must be owned, but a shabby imitation.”
De Oppresso Liber
