A constant problem which may contribute to the
potential faltering of a free society could be if the
population is too comfortable. I think perpetual comfort
for some people is detrimental. Comfort is an enemy. It
breeds complacency. It breeds stagnation. In the United
States of America historically speaking, human beings
have never been as comfortable as they are here in
America. Not a bad thing and I am glad to be a U.S.
Citizen. To the high achiever, this comfort allows them
to focus and achieve an even more fruitful life. On the
other hand, to the fence sitter, comfort is a reason to
think everything is fine and they may see no need to
improve themselves but will still complain about not
having everything someone else has.
Many people do not care about preserving freedom
or taking risks to better themselves. Most Americans
including me have no way to comprehend what it is like
to live without the freedom we have always known.
Some do not realize what they are giving up by relying
on others or the government to take care of them. They
do not realize how detrimental it is for them to wait to
see what happens or for something good to happen to
them. They do not realize how special and good the
society they live in is because they have little interest in
things which do not immediately benefit them. When
people are fence sitters they do not realize how well they
have it because they do not engage with enough focus to
make the personal comparisons and see how they fit in.
They do not take the step which brings into light the one
small additional piece of information which can make
the big picture more understandable.
The success freedom has provided Americans as a
whole is unrivaled to any in human history. The freedom
to do as we wish in pursuit of our own desires and goals
has afforded luxuries upon us regarding our lifestyle no
other country has ever enjoyed. Our freedom begets us
even more freedom when we are allowed to save and
utilize the benefits of our labor later in life when the
body is in need of retirement. We may choose to pool
with others in the quest for growth of our money by
providing such capital to others in need so they may
make the same achievements. This is the beauty of
Capitalism and I will discuss this more later.
Generations of success and desire to create or
provide a better life especially after World War II has
made life essentially a cake walk when compared to that
of the 19th century. Extreme success when compared to
the 1800’s means the ability to feed, clothe, and shelter
one’s family without the reliance of others. I am not
referring to the extreme rich who existed as they always
have throughout history. I refer to the common man
described and discussed so often today as middle class
America. These Americans now live with a lifestyle
never seen throughout past societies. The everyday
luxuries we enjoy today and have always known become
the basic expectations for every following generation.
We are now at a place where the next generation may
not be able to enjoy a greater lifestyle and I believe it
comes a great deal from an overly invasive government
policy but also our inability to understand what it took to
create this American lifestyle we enjoy.
A sense of entitlement especially over the past forty
years has eroded the work ethic and industrious nature
necessary to maintain and protect our way of life. When
those values are not understood and taught as the driving
force of successful Americans, a desire for the quick fix
may cause an unhappy populace to forgo the very
freedoms necessary for them to succeed. The more
cornered they feel, the more dangerous an avenue they
may be likely to choose. I fear we are at this crossroads
now and without tremendous effort to explain and show
how most people can succeed; our problem will only
grow eventually to a point of no return.
We must explain why America is what it is, how it
came about, and why it is so different than any other
country in the world, why this is good, and not
something needing a fundamental transformation. The
fact is if a majority does not understand the values and
ideals which made America the greatest successful
experiment in government and recognition of freedom,
we shall surely lose said freedom. To lose the greatest
opportunity ever to exist, that of being born a free citizen
of the United States of America, all one has to do is
nothing. A body and mind at rest tends to stay at rest.
We must strive to be forever moving forward, learning,
and being involved in our governance lest we leave
decisions to those who may not act in our best interest.
We must as citizens take a personal oath and be
aware of our duty to preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitution of the United States. Cracks in the
principled foundation of the Constitution cannot be
allowed to form or expand. Finally when it is realized
we have not lived up to our duty we must strive even
harder to remedy the damages that may have occurred.
We the People have not been diligent in this respect and
we need to admit and correct it.
America and the American way of life have changed
drastically in the way we have lived over the past two
hundred years. We have such different daily tasks and
the way we accomplish the tasks to meet basic needs has
been made easier in so many ways, those who first came
to America would never have imagined. This makes us
more prosperous. I define prosperity in this context as
having more free time as well as resources to pursue
other activities outside of providing basic necessities.
Today, we do not have to think about or deal with
gathering food, cleaning and washing due to modern
conveniences and technology. We do not have to worry
as individuals about our neighbor next door going to war
with us and laying siege to our home, I am very glad to
say.
This will obviously influence human nature and lead
to our thought process geared away from meeting basic
necessities to more enjoyable activities. Although this
makes for an easier life it can inevitably lead to
stagnation of the mind. Our lives get filled with many
activities which rob us of time but do not provide any
material benefit to us other than entertainment. If this is
our focus will we become a mass of people who like the
Roman mob were interested in nothing more than bread
and circuses? Is America too successful for those who
are not do-ers? Does overall prosperity breed
indifference in those who are fence-sitters? What do we
need to do to make sure we are not wasting our
prosperity on activities which do not improve ourselves
and our minds? Indifference and inaction are not traits
which made America great but they could be traits that
negatively influence our society.
The Roman leaders knew they could make the
population happy and compliant by simply giving them
enough food and entertainment to occupy their time. The
focus of these minimal needs and wants leads to the end
of civilizations as was the case in the ancient Roman
Republic. Eventually Rome fell and was over run by the
barbarians from the north. I believe we are approaching
the same problems in that a society which does not
actively focus on the increase of knowledge and
understanding of reality and basic moral principles in its
people - is doomed to mediocrity at its core.
America is so great and so prosperous people have
the luxury of not paying attention to what goes on
outside their immediate family or bubble of influence.
Our population is now too large and we must do even
more now as do-ers to make up for the fence sitter who
will never take action to preserve our freedoms but will
only act if promised an immediate payback.
Being too comfortable also contributes to many of
us not paying too much attention to what our legislators
do to us. Most of us have no real concept of what
hardship really is or could be unless you are old enough
to remember World War II or served in that war. Only
those in their eighties now can clearly remember those
days or actually saw real hardship. From the baby
boomer generation on there has been a boom in the
United States and most of us have benefited. I think part
of the issue today stems from the disbelief real hardship
the likes unseen since the Great Depression is a situation
which cannot be repeated in the America of today. The
Depression is merely pictures on TV seen by those who
do not take the time to really understand the meaning of
those pictures or more important, have any clue as to
why it did happen.
Unfortunately it can happen again and may if we do
not take control of our government to prevent the always
unanticipated fallout from too much government
intervention in the private affairs of the people. Some
will never believe days such as those in the Depression
can again return to America until they actually do. Then
it is too late for reflection. I for one do not want to learn
that costly lesson first hand but prefer to learn from
history and our mistakes rather than be doomed to not
only repeat them but even worse, to live them first hand.
The cost of that lesson is too high for me and my family
and the main reason for my writing of this book.
American ideals and freedoms are the exception in
the long history of human beings. This is the one time in
history where people were not ruled by a dictator or
group but were recognized as having natural rights
bestowed by their creator, and free to do as they will. We
are still that exception, but it takes work to protect it.
The Constitution is the tool but we must have virtuous
and strong leaders to utilize it. We must do a better job.
We the people are the rightful masters of both
Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the
Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the
Constitution.
-Abraham Lincoln
I think we can easily agree Mr. Lincoln was a smart
man and his statement here is correct if you believe in
the Founding Fathers and the Constitution. The question
is now: Is our Constitution being perverted? I say yes, it
is obvious but my follow up question is:
Why do we allow it?
Another major reason why I think the internal drive
of many is on average less than it was in the past is now,
so many think they are entitled to unearned greatness.
Now this is a concept I learned from James Taggert, a
character in Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged. When I
really understood what it meant, it was a revelation in
my understanding of how too many people in society
really think and how detrimental it can be to a society.
When someone believes they should be revered,
included, consulted with, and rewarded for doing
absolutely nothing but showing up to earn such
adulation, it appalls me and goes far against my way of
thinking and I believe the American spirit. When this
ugly trait in someone shows up, I cannot bare to see it.
Just as bad as the expectations of greatness for
oneself are those who shower such admiration on those
who do not earn it. For by doing this they are reinforcing
their own beliefs that praise is something to give when
positive results do not materialize or even before any
actions are actually taken. This subject struck me and
made me feel the need to write briefly about it because
October 9, 2009 was the day we found out the Nobel
Peace Prize was awarded to Barack Obama. This act
strikes me directly as an act to promote unearned
greatness by someone outside our country on our latest
president. The decision was said to be based on his hope
for a better future and nuclear disarmament. So, the
Nobel Prize is awarded for hope? So recognition and
praise are bestowed on someone because they intend to
make things better by doing things they approve of?
Nine months in office is enough time to decide if
someone may have good intentions and should be
rewarded according to the Nobel committee. This is not
an American ideal and I guess it fits because it was
awarded by Sweden, a very socialistic country.
America’s success is based on people getting things
done.
The awarding of the Nobel Prize to Barack Obama
goes against the ideals and values which make up the
American way or spirit. The American ideal is to be
proud of what you achieved and the reward you attained
for following through to make the accomplishment, big
or small. We do not value with praise and tribute what
someone may have in mind to do. We value what was
done, what was created, the feat which was attained
through hard work and determination. Although letting
people know what you intend to do, which a good leader
will, it is getting it done that really matters in the United
States of America. Until then, it is nothing but
immeasurable hype valued only as long as such rhetoric
can be remembered.
If we get to a point where the only expectations of
those in America is have an intention to succeed, the
results will falter and the excuse of -well you can not say
I was not trying- will become even more prevalent than
it is today. It is the difference in saying you want to
succeed and actually doing it which sets America apart
from the rest of the world, and why it is the exception.
If I go to work everyday hoping I get something
done but never do, will my boss reward me for my good
intentions? Hell no, I’ll be out on my rear fairly quickly
and you know what? I should be! If I cannot earn the
paycheck I receive by doing work which benefits my
organization, why should they keep me?
The mentality of entitlement to anything and
everything regardless of what was done to earn it really
means this type of person has no respect for your effort,
or your rights to your property. They will take it if they
can get away with it and justify it with their good
intentions.
What kind of country do we live in where doing and
achieving something is not important, only the intent to
achieve? I get a vision of a commune of people sitting
around in a circle talking about what needs to happen,
how things ought to be, how they feel about things, and
what they intend to do tomorrow. When tomorrow
comes they talk some more about what did not happen
today and how important it is to do it. Meanwhile, no
one is gathering food, repairing shelter, and feeding kids
because they are talking about the best way to do these
important things. Eventually one of the elders in the
discussions said he was hungry and asked for some food
so he could continue talking. It was then realized there
was none. No one had planted anything the prior season
because what kind of food to grow was still being
discussed. They all died of starvation and deservedly so.
The End.
It was the assumption there would always be
someone else to provide food, which killed them. No one
had done anything because if they had without approval,
they would have been corrected or punished by the
leaders. Also what food they may have produced
illegally would have been taken as well to distribute as
the leaders saw fit. So I conclude, in a damned if you do
and a damned if you don’t world, people would rather be
damned if they don’t.
This U.S. Citizen
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