As we enter another four-year term of a president who truly believes that everyone should be above average (Mathematically impossible!) and that it's the government's responsibility to guarantee us happiness, we must face a few simple, realistic facts of life. Government cannot sustain year after year of trillion-dollar deficits to feed a growing expectation that “Entitlement” has replaced “Responsibility.”
In an era when half of the population receives monthly benefits while the other half pays the bills, it's time to take stock. Make no mistake, however, Social Security and Medicare are not among “Entitlements.” Most folks receiving these benefits paid for them throughout their working lives just as they would pay premiums on insurance policies. But government has pilfered these reserve funds and used them for other entitlement programs that every taxpayer pays for. Therefore, today, we use loans from the Chinese and others to pay for Aunt Sally's hip replacement or daily nourishment. How long do you think this can go on?
Certainly, we have a responsibility to help those who cannot help themselves but to promise a heaven-on-earth experience with borrowed money to those who refuse to help themselves or just don't really need it, has led to our awful national economic condition.
Several years ago, a Mississippi politician, Lewis Napper, was steamed enough to write up a “Bill of No Rights.” In the Preamble he proclaimed: “Our true rights (have) eroded, always in the name of giving everyone some new imaginary right.”
His logic resonated among rational Americans and I thought it was time once again to share it with citizens in our corner of the world:
BILL OF NO RIGHTS
"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby, try one more time to ordain and establish some commonsense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt-ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters.
We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and … require a Bill of NON-Rights."
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone — not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc. …
ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of (Some neighborhoods — especially in urban areas), we're just not interested in public health care.
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.
ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
ARTICLE X: This is an English-speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it!
ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST” is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH! “
Does this sound more like what the Founding Fathers had in mind? What do you think?
John Brock is retired and lives in Georgetown County. He can be reached via Email: brock@johnbrock.com.
Opinions that appear on this page in Letters to the Editor or in columns do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.
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