We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.So this is how the Declaration of Independence begins. Both liberal and conservatives reference these document frequently but there are some key points that need to be observed here. Notice the first statement "...all men are created equal...". I think most agree that all people, regardless of sex, race, religion, are all CREATED equal. What the important thing to see here is that it does not say that they live their lives equally, that they die equally. This follows immediately with the statement of their unalienable rights. These are the Life (you have the right to live), to Liberty (freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control), and the PURSUIT of happiness (the freedom to be happy). Notice it doesn't guarantee happiness, but rather that YOU have the right to PURSUE it. This is the concept that I think is lost on the liberal point of view. The government's responsibility is to protect your freedom to live, to be free of government control, and to allow you to pursue happiness (success).
There is no guarantee that the government will 'level the playing field' or force the wealthy to 'pay their "fair" share'. In fact, the modern US government does the opposite of these founding principles. When you are financially successful in this country the government punishes you for it. Requiring you to pay not just more than Joe Worthless but to pay a greater PERCENTAGE. What would be truly fair would be for everyone to pay the same percentage. This is the concept of the flat tax and it is a tax reform system I support. Another fair way are consumption based systems, wealthier people spend more so when I they buy things they pay more taxes. This is the system I support the most because it encourages financial success.
As a spiritual man I do believe in safety net programs. However I very strongly feel that these programs should be designed for a segment of our society called the 'deserving poor'. There are people in this society for whatever reason that are unable to achieve success. They are the disabled and in the cases I am talking about no matter how hard they try they will never be able to achieve success. These people we should take care of. People who are able to work, and able to be successful with no other limitation then their own laziness, these people need enough help to bounce back up and try again and nothing more. Most successful businessmen don't achieve success in their first business venture. They take a risk, they lose, and then get up and try again. THAT is the American way. Once we adjust our thoughts and minds to helping those who need help and stop helping those who don't we will understand what the purpose of these systems should be. A drunkard who can't keep a job doesn't need a welfare check. A hard working single parent who has run into some bad luck and needs a little help to get back up on their feet does. If you CHOOSE to fail in this life, we should let you. I have no sympathy for the able bodied who refuse to better themselves. There are so many opportunities to be successful in this country, there is no excuse.
YOU are responsible for proving for yourself. If you didn't plan ahead to save what you need to retire then you planned to work your entire life. Retirement is not a RIGHT it is a choice you make when you've made sufficient resources in your life to where you are no longer required to work to support yourself. I'm tired of listening to the concept that government should take care of elderly who failed in life to prepare for their futures. I live my life expecting to rely only on the resources I have saved in my life time. I expect to hold private medical insurance when I am able to retire. I do not expect or even WANT the government to take care of me. I am a man and I am responsible for taking care of my family. When I retire it's because I will have earned the right to do so, not because I have reached the age the government has dictated I am able to start draining the financial resources of this great nation. Medicare/Medicaid, social security...these systems were initially intended to take care of those who CAN NOT take care of themselves. It was never intended to take care of those who WILL NOT!
I sickens me when I hear the left talk about 'fair'. It is not the role of our government to serve as a grand equalizer, to 'spread the wealth around', or to take from successful. Our government's limited responsibility is only to protect those unalienable rights, to protect our boarders, and to STAY THE HELL OUT OF OUR LIVES. Let me pursue my idea of happiness/success and stop punishing me for it. Those social leeches who participate in life only by draining others need to be allowed to fail. /rantoff
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