When you look at your country, who do you see?

To me, last night’s State of the Union Address represented the same kind of drivel that I’ve come to expect from all of our politicians for years. Obama went right to the boasting and political pandering that has defined national politics since I first started paying attention to it decades ago.

The centerpiece of Obama’s pandering is the idea that Americans need the government to take care of them. To the people in Washington, it’s no longer a government of, by, and for the people but a government above, around, and in front of the people.

That thought leads me to the thing that has been bothering me about this election cycle since it began way back after Obama was elected in 2008: why do we spend so much time worrying about presidents and Congresses and national politics at all? Shouldn’t those things pale in comparison to what each of us are doing as individuals wherever we are?

Last night, Obama said, “I’m a Democrat. But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed: That Government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more.” The problem is that what he believes the people cannot do better themselves and what I think have nothing to do with each other at all.

If Obama believed those words the way I do, he would do exactly two things: first, he would demand that Congress include the Constitutional justification for every law it passes. If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t go into law. Second, he would demand that Congress begin systematically dismantling the federal government until it returns to the size and scope of powers enumerated in the Constitution and its amendments.

But, Obama doesn’t believe in that at all. No, instead he believes in a government of the government, by the government, and for the government. In his view, the people need to be taken care of. They need to be ruled.

And the reason he can get away with that idea is because of you. It’s because you’re so worried about electing a president who can fix your problems instead of you fixing them yourself. It’s because you’re so worried about what’s going on in Washington that you’re not worried about what’s going on down the street. It’s because you’ve decided that the idea of being taken care of sounds kind of nice, and if you’re honest with yourself, that’s what you’re paying attention to and voting for.

So, look around you. Who do you see? Do you see a nation full of exceptional individuals who should all be given the maximum opportunity to succeed by the merits of their own work? Do you see opportunities to help others and, by doing so, help yourself? Do you see a future that lies in your hands and a destiny you determine?

Or do you see a bunch of things you want someone else to do because you don’t feel like doing it?

The sad part is that, as our government systematically dismantles our liberty in order to make us all safe and comfortable, it guarantees our demise. The history of great nations tells us that is true. And, the ones who will survive and flourish in whatever comes after that demise are the ones who take matters into their own hands.

Now, look in the mirror. Who do you see? Do you see a person ready for whatever comes next?

If not, do something about it.

DLH

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5 Responses to When you look at your country, who do you see?

  1. djhitz says:

    When you ask the question, “Who do I see?” I usually see (and hear) a select few around me who go to work or not and try to make it in a land where everything is not frree and gets more expensive by the, moment. Not all of those people have this attitude about dealing with the high cost of living by saying, “Just deal with it.” My fear is that eventually my monthly bills will go so high that buying food and gas (our major staples) will become impossible. If this ever happens. I will not be able to seek help. I make too much money. My income is so tight with this. It’s almost impossible to finace, a major car fix. Buying anything for the house (of any substantial value) is nearly impossible. I’m not going to go into credit debt to get, “”THINGS””!!”
    So you are telling me to do something about it. Take matters into my own hands? I’m not being taken care of. I’m darn well ready for what comes next but how can you truly be ready? For a major injury or some sort of hospitaliztion. A job termination. A large zoning fine, Identity theft, Burglary, murder, fire, etc.
    What exactly do you have in mind when you make this statement?
    I work plenty. I work with these proverbial, “people down the street”.
    Obama might be trying to socilaize our government and I won’t vote for him. I didn’t vote for him in ’08 even though, the Republican runners were, poorly fabricated. I won’t vote for him in ’12 even thought the Republican hopeful is a, wealthy, big business philanthropist but unless, a competent, well financed, Firebird surfaces before, May (and I don’t mean, Trump). Throwing your vote away on an independent choice will not suffice.
    The Obama administration must be stopped in it’s tracks on January 19th, 2013.
    I’m so tired of the, “My way or the highway!” being stuck arrogantly in my face.
    Mine and my wife’s father were, World War II veterans. Our nation’s liberty (better word then freedom) was won by souls more worthy than our present state. We need to return to, our ‘states’ of strength and baby steps won’t get US there fast enough.
    What do you “”REALLY” suggest, DL?

  2. dlhitzeman says:

    What I really suggest is the same thing I’ve always suggested: the reason we’re in this mess is because most of us stopped doing for ourselves. We stopped working for ourselves, owning our own businesses, growing our own food, working our own land. We stopped taking care of each other. Families fractured and spread to the four winds, communities collapsed, and the social fabric has been torn to shreds.

    Now, we’re dependent. Even the most independent among us is dependent. We need someone else’s gas to get to work. We need someone else’s money to pay our bills. We need someone else’s stuff to do most of what we need to do to even survive.

    What I really suggest is that people need to start doing what I and so many people like me are doing: walk away from it and do something better. Yes, it is hard. Yes, it means changing almost every single thing I do. Yes, it means living with less. But, everyday, I am closer to going back to the way things worked when they worked than I was the day before.

    That’s the real way to make this work.

  3. djhitz says:

    In other words, “Put on your boots and grab, a rake shovel and a broom.” That’s nothing new to me. I just hope, I don’t have to eat, the dirt, I plant in.”

  4. dlhitzeman says:

    DJ, that’s a very good way of putting it, and yes, that’s exactly what I am saying. I hope none of us have to eat dirt, and that’s why I want people to get ready now.

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