Sweet Land of Liberty, where along the way did we lose you?
Whatever happened to the America where government would not interfere with our lives and livelihoods unless we encroached on others’ liberty and property? Where we had the prudence to save for our own homes, health care, and education? Where we went to our families, churches, and charities for help in time of need, rather than asking government to extract it anonymously and forcibly from our neighbors?
What happened to the America where taxes were recognized as taxes, despite the many clever labels attached to them? Where we understood that the rich are the owners of the stores, factories, and offices where we work, and that voting an ever-larger “fair share” out of their pockets is a good way to get them to move away and take our jobs with them?
What happened to the America where businesses and banks that made too many mistakes cleared themselves away to make room for better ones to grow? Where hard work and entrepreneurial vigor were more profitable than political connections and lobbying groups? Where the Treasury actually contained treasure and the Federal Reserve didn’t conjure trillions of dollars without even the courtesy to tell us who got the money?
What happened to the America where state legislatures didn’t bow to the Federal government’s every demand under the threat of losing funds? Where the states asserted their Constitutional right to be different from each other, and upheld their Constitutional duty to keep the Federal government from growing too powerful?
Government must be restrained if Liberty is to be retained.
This Letter to the Editor was published in the July 4, 2009 issue of the Lake Region Times.