The Des Moines Register has a daily column called “Your 2 Cents’ Worth” which I always find quite thought-provoking. Basically is “editorial light” because readers send in their comments in a few concise sentences instead of writing an essay about their feelings.
One of the entries today really caught my eye and sums up quite succinctly how I feel about our current political and economic environment.
“The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of someone else’s money.”
Wow – how prophetic – and how true.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the U-turn our country has taken from free enterprise to socialism. The current issues of “Newsweek” claims it began in the last 8 years under Bush 43 – and I concur that he certainly helped escalate us in that direction.
But looking back even further, I reflect on the 60′s when LBJ created the Great Society which expanded our welfare state and moved our society into an entitlement mentality.
Over the last 40+ years we’ve raised a society of citizens who seem to think nothing of walking away from a home if they are upside down but never once thought they needed to share when they made an exorbitant profit. Many people seem to think “the government” (aka THE TAXPAYERS) should be at their beck and call to bail them out of any jam be it financial or societal. Fewer people want to suck it up and feel any pain and create their own solution.
What happened to Personal Responsibility?
Now we have mortgaged our country until my granddaughters are nearing retirement age – which in their case may be 75+ years away.
Enough of my ranting. It is what it is. The Democrats (-7) have spoken in the House and with little thought to the long-term consequences, the Stimulus Bill of 2009 is about to become reality.
We all need to pray for our country.
Now it’s time to head over to Ralph’s new house and work for my dinner tonight.
In the meantime – Happy VD! That’s Valentine’s Day in case you’re wondering.
And Happy Birthday to my dad who taught me that Personal Responsibility is NOT optional.
I think Margaret Thatcher is the one who coined that phrase about running out of other people’s money.
As far as I’m concerned, you are preaching to the choir with this post!
I’m rereading Atlas Shrugged . . . it is almost too real the second time around.
Hope to see you soon.