The Age of Entitlements

Having just finished reading Glenn Beck's recent bestselling book - "HOW TO STOP SMALL MINDS AND BIG GOVERNMENTS - ARGUING WITH IDIOTS"-  several themes became apparent.  One of them is worth sharing right now.

The sense of "entitlement."

 This theme is very timely, considering  a vote on Obamacare is looming on the horizon.   (Well, maybe not really a vote if the Dems decide to ignore the Constitution and evoke the"Slaughter Rule" to make this mess become a reality).   This huge entitlement bill, allowing the government greater power than ever before,  unfortunately reflects the mindset of many Americans.  Americans who want the government to take care of them.

Sure, the majority of us with any common sense are against this obvious government take over of health care.  And this bill has very  little to do with "health" or "care,"  but more to do with seizing power.  Growing the government.  Making people more dependent upon the government.  Obama and his followers - in all their arrogance -  believe that they know what is best for all of us.  And many people in our country are quite content to let them have their way.  It is a sorry scene to witness, but many of the same people in favor of Obamacare love the idea of government taking care of people.  Providing for their every want and need, without ever having to lift a finger in return. 

When did this sense of "entitlement" gain ground?  It didn't happen overnight.  It slowly crept it's way into our society.  Decades ago, the sense of "entitlement" began by the so-called "progressives" (code word for "liberals" or "socialists").   In all honesty, there is nothing "progressive" about this movement.  The progressives want people to become complacent, needy on others.  So the progressives can be in charge - of everything.  A social program here, a social program there.  And soon enough, people are looking to the government for help with just about everything.  The government is intruding on our lives in more ways than ever.  Making people look to the government for guidance, assistance, handouts.   

Did anyone ever think we'd come to the point where the government in America is telling us what light bulbs we must buy?  What gas we must purchase?  What words we can or cannot say anymore?  That we cannot purchase foods made from certain "trans-fats?"  Or smokers cannot smoke in privately-owned  businesses like bars or restaurants?  Bikers must wear helmets.  People in automobiles must wear seat belts.  You cannot buy cold medicine without a photo ID  (but in Wisconsin, you can vote without one!)  There are laws against talking on a cell phone while driving (common sense isn't enough).   That if one loses their job, they can expect to be paid to do nothing for up to two years?   Little safety messages are everywhere, cuz people are just too stupid to figure things out on their own.  Witness the infamous McDonald's coffee drinker - who put a hot cup of coffee in her lap at a drive-thru.  The coffee spilled.  She got burned.  She sued and won.  McDonalds and other establishments have been required to warn people that coffee is...hot!!!  It could burn you!!!  And recently in Milwaukee, a rash of "co-sleeping" baby deaths have occurred.  (Usually because an adult has been drinking and accidentally kills the child while passed out.)  Yet, the issue of bad parenting isn't addressed.  No.  Our entire society instead has to be warned that co-sleeping is dangerous!  Just like hot coffee put in your lap while driving is a no-no!   Duh.   Have we become so stupid and complacent that we need the government to warn us about everything?  Are common sense and personal responsibility disappearing from our culture?   In it's place, we are seeing more encroachments by Uncle Sam into every aspect of our life every day.  Excess rules and regulations and hand-outs.  Did you know that since 1995, there have been 51,000 NEW regulations put into law?    Rather than just a nanny state, we are becoming an entire nanny nation.

Getting back to Beck's book... 

One of the highlights and eye-openers concerned President Grover Cleveland.  Not knowing much about Grover Cleveland, Beck pointed out many amazing things about the past president.  Grover Cleveland did not believe that the government must always come to the aid of everyone.  (What a concept!)  Cleveland felt, and was proven correct years ago, that when people were in trouble or needy, they could rely on each other for help. Not the government of the United States.  Beck uses an example of Cleveland addressing a bill passed by Congress (which the president vetoed): 

"In 1887, Congress passed a bill appropriating money to Texas farmers who were suffering through a catastrophic drought.  (These days, that funding would not only be authorized, it would probably  be done so under an emergency program that gave more money to the farmers than they ever dreamed of.  But not in 1887.)  Not with Grover Cleveland as president.  Here is how Cleveland responded to Congress' request: 

"I feel obliged to withhold my approval of the plan, as proposed by this bill, to indulge a benevolent and charitable sentiment through the appropriation of public funds for that purpose.  I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the General Government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit.  A prevalent tendency to disregard the limited mission of this power and duty should, I think, be steadfastly resisted, to the end that the lesson should be constantly enforced that though the people support the Government the Government should not support the people."

(WOW!!!  Feel free to re-read that passage if it shocks you.... then read on:)

"The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow citizens in misfortune.  This has been repeatedly and quite lately demonstrated.  Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the Government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of common brotherhood."

President Cleveland vetoed many requests from people looking for federal handouts.  Cleveland was so correct and foreshadowed the crisis our country is currently facing!  A crisis in which many in our nation have become dependent upon the government for their very lives.  People feel they are entitled to many things these days.  Health care insurance is being called a "right."  That is not true.    Health care is NOT a right - and it really isn't a privilege.  It's actually a responsibility.  The government of the United States doesn't owe every American the entitlement of health care - especially when it means taking from others to make it happen.  Our founders were very specific as to what our rights are:  the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  That's it.  That doesn't mean a "right" to someone to provide you with health care.  What's next?  A "right" to a car?  A "right" to a cell phone (oops!  that's already being tried in some states!)?  

And the right to life means that you - as an individual - have the right to earn your keep.  The right to provide for yourself food and clothing and shelter.  It doesn't mean you have the right to take food, clothing, and shelter from your neighbor, nor should you expect the government to provide it, either.  You have the right to work and keep the results of your work.  Our nation guarantees the rights to action - to work for what you want.  It doesn't guarantee you that everything you may need or want will be given to you with no effort on your part.

 Remember, the government doesn't generate or create wealth.  The workers do.  And eventually the well will run dry when the government goes to the well one time too many.  Then what?  Socialism?  Communism?  Utter chaos?  Is that what we want? Some in our country do.  That, to me, is frightening.  Here's another clip from Beck's book that ties into the theme of this blog:

"You know you're a socialist when....

The French president  is less interested in redistributing wealth than the American one.

President Sarkozy, March 2009:  "I was not elected to raise taxes but to reconcile France with the workplace and the factory."

President Obama, February 2009:  "The past eight years have discredited once and for all the philosophy of trickle-down economics - that tax breaks, income gains, and wealth creation among the wealthy eventually will work their way down to the middle class.  In it's place, we need economic opportunity to trickle up." 

How do "trickle up" economics work, Mr. Obama?  We all know your answer:  "Spread the wealth."   

Under the guise of "compassion,"  we are giving away our freedoms.  We are losing our rights as individuals in favor of the collective.  Obama wants to "spread the wealth."  Many in our society want Obama to "spread the wealth."   Heath care is just one more step in this direction of government control.  

And just what does the government run efficiently and profitably?  Nothing.  Look at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Amtrak.  Social Security.  Medicare.  The Postal Service.  The public school systems.The list goes on. All the useless agencies and administrations and programs that do nothing but perpetuate societal problems.   From Beck's book: 

Whenever you hear someone say that the government should run health care, or our banks...or well, anything, then just read them this list:

*  Up to 12 different agencies are responsible for administering more than 35 food safety laws.

*  There are 541 clean air, water, and waste programs spread out over 29 agencies

*  40 different programs aimed primarily at job training are administered by at least 7 different federal agencies

*  50 different programs to aid the homeless are administered by at least 8 different federal agencies

*  9 different agencies operate 27 teen pregnancy programs and 11 agencies administer at least 90 early-childhood programs 

And some Americans actually want our government running health care?  Why?

Our country was not founded upon the belief of "entitlements" - that for some strange reason, others owe us something.  Rather, America was founded upon the beliefs that we are individuals - capable of doing great things and being personally responsible for our own well-being.  The government was created to ensure our rights.  Real rights - not the phony baloney ones that liberals keep pulling out of thin air.  Until we get back to that notion, our country will continue to inch closer towards a total nanny state.  Obama and Co. will become the head of the family.  Who wants that?  Thankfully, not the majority of Americans right now.  That is why Obamacare is such a danger to our country.  It is pushing America towards even more dependency on government.  We must not allow that to happen.  We must start to consider the very word "entitlement" as a  bad thing, not something to aspire to.