Who is our friend?

In the course of elections and administrations, I hear people say a lot of things. Most notably in recent-very recent past, I have heard people say things like: “The government is not our enemy” and “Corporations are Evil”. I hear folks blaming Bush for the lousy economy, and folks are saying things like: “How can those out of touch conservatives want to SHRINK government; how would we function with out all the social programs?!”

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I have heard it said of the current administration in Washington, that they have stemmed the hemorrhage of jobs lost, taken steps to stimulate the economy and are moving in a direction that will enable us to move ahead and prosper again in spite of unprecedented opposition. And lastly I have heard the question posed: “Who is better motivated (and I would add: ‘able’) to protect the interest of the average America worker- Mr. Joe and Jane Q. Public? Is it American corporations-whose goal is maximizing profits, regardless of the effect on workers in this country, or Does it make more sense to trust the government who is charged with protecting the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of the people of the United States?” Well. I am a fair man. I do not know everything. However, let us try to look at some of these issues. Over the last few years I have found that many people, myself included, think that as a body, the Presidents, Vice presidents and Congress-the last several of each, in fact, have done a mighty poor job of protecting the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of the people of the United States. For example let’s look at some other things that government has tried to “help” us with, all, supposedly in the name of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”: First, let’s look at some economic issues: Now, you realize that one of the keys of the economic slide into a near depression was caused by Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac and the Democrats under Clinton? To quote Steven Holmes in his September 1999 New York Times article “Fannie Mae Eases Credit to Aid Mortgage Lending”: “Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits.” And: “In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized Corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a Government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.” Wait a second. Hold on. It was the Democrats-the same Party in power now-that got us into the mess that they claim they are trying to fix. Under Bush (not that I’m a huge fan) they (the republicans) were already trying to fix the problem-I know this, because I bought a house when Bush was in office. Obviously, banks, corporations and Joe America who bought a house for more than they could afford on an ARM are equally culpable. Let’s look at the issue of taxes and social services. “How can those out of touch conservatives want to SHRINK government; how would we function with out all the social programs?!” Now, I don’t like big government, and I don’t like taxes. I’ve heard it said that that there has been a huge outcry to shrink government. I have heard it suggested that it is quite possibly born out of frustration with the slow pace of recovery from the worst recession since the great depression.” (A recession that, as I said, the government, big business, and even the average Joe helped along.) I hear people wonder if voters understand what shrinking government might really mean. Folks then go on to imply that we “shrinkers” want to eliminate existing programs. Hey, I may not like taxes, but taxes pay for my roads to get fixed, my local police to come when they can, and the military to fight our battles for us. I believe most people would rather put into a system where these things get fixed collectively. HOWEVER, this “collective” mind set does NOT extend itself to raising taxes to pay for more people to live on the dole, or to fund a bloated national health care system. In case folks didn’t get the memo, Canada has been trying to REFORM the system they adopted a few years ago. If national health were so great, why is it that 8/10 people I’ve talked to that have used it-including my own brother in law-hate it? In fact, I communicated with a man from Sweden last year and he stated that their country had switched to nationalized health care a couple of years previously, and that he and many others HATE it! As I said, I have no problem with many of the services we currently pay for, but empirical evidence shows that government and quasi-government agencies aren’t paragons of efficiency, cleanliness, or user-friendliness. Ever been to the DMV or Post Office? You really think the government is HELPING us by instituting national health? Think again. I believe those who express a desire to “shrink” government aren’t so much concerned about lots of elimination, so much as wanting to create “anti-bloat” measures. There is this constant debate regarding who is better motivated to protect the interest of the America worker. Is it American Corporations, whose goal is maximizing profits, regardless of the effect on workers in this country? Think about it for a second. The job of a corporation is to make money. It’s what they do. ARE corporations evil? As long as they do what they do honestly, why should we care? How is making a living evil? Who has the right to say that this or that company has “too much money”? If you dislike the state of your own finances, don’t blame the corporations. Unless you can prove they’ve broken laws and can get a conviction and sentencing, I say “innocent until proven guilty”. I believe the logic follows that if a corporation IS corrupt, or “evil” I must submit respectfully that the government is at least somewhat culpable. Think about this for a second. The government already has PLENTY of laws in place to keep corporations from having too much power, and becoming corrupt, and therefore, evil. It stands to reason then, that if a corporation does have too much power, and becomes corrupt, it’s the government that is at least partly responsible. How many corporations donate to House members, Senators and lobbyists? Again, I respectfully submit that the problems we have are because of BOTH corporations AND government. I’ve heard it said that the current administration has stemmed the hemorrhage of jobs lost, taken steps to stimulate the economy and is moving in the direction that will enable us to move ahead and prosper again in spite of unprecedented opposition. What steps have they taken? What laws have they passed? Please excuse my ignorance, I am a simple man. As such, I am confused. If you mean the current administration is helping by borrowing from other countries, like China, to raise capitol, I don’t see how this helps in the long run. Do tell: how is borrowing money from China, and putting ourselves and our posterity into more debt than we can possibly imagine, going to help? I would like to know-please, lessen my ignorance, what EXACTLY have they done-bill numbers and dates passed, please, and it’s apparent, agreed upon effect, to fix the problem that they-the Federal Government-helped to cause in the first place? So who IS better motivated (and: ‘able’) to protect the interest of the America worker. Is it American corporations? Does it make more sense to trust the government who is charged with protecting the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of the people of the United States?” With regards to this, some have asked the question: Where are all the patriots who support our democratic form of government? First of all, we are not a democracy; we are a republic, which in its very nature is a good deal different than a democracy. We are supposed be governed by the consent of the majority with respect to the RIGHTS (as in, basic, inalienable) of the minority. No mater which party is in power, the perceived minority feels that they are getting the short end of the stick. Second of all, there is a Patriot right here, who wants to live in a free nation, one where no matter who you are, the Amendments to the constitution apply. Patriots like me want to live in a country where people can disagree agreeably, not get shouted down by the majority in power at the time. Patriots like me who have the right to defend my life with a firearm without getting flack from one group or another for simply fighting for my RIGHT to “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Patriots like me who want to live in a place where we are not constantly regulated with regards to what kind of light bulb we’re allowed to use, what kind of car we can drive, whether or not what we say is considered “anti-America” or “hateful” by whomever is in power at the time, or whatever group speaks the loudest. I want to live in a country where people understand what “inalienable rights” means. It DOES NOT mean that rights are something the government grants you. This is a false notion. We are born into this world with the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness-it is our nature as humans, and not something granted to us by a governing body. Sadly, People like me seem to be in the minority. Folks don’t seem to care about things like being responsible for your own wise (or foolish) saving or spending. Individual rights have gotten lost in the notion of government run collectivism in the name of “equality”, and their meddling in “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Neither party understands. And that is sad. Those who say that the government is our friend are fooling themselves. I think I have fairly clearly illustrated via current issues that while corporations may not be our friends, neither are the 2 parties who govern us today- as a collective, at least. If they were, they wouldn’t be passing the laws and making the rules that they are. That is sad. We’re all people and fellow countrymen, neighbors and friends, and it’d be nice if we all treated each other as such. The government COULD be our friend, if the could just remember who they serve. Adam Wilkey is a resident of Colorado, USA. Head Custodian at an elementary school and Assistant Webelos leader at his church, he is politically conservative though not affiliated with any particular party. His views are his own.

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