I've taken on a stack of reading lately. History is fascinating. I really wished I would have paid attention to the subject so much more when I was younger. I am currently in the middle of 3 or 4 books....all having to do with past events. It seems as though it would do our leaders good to go back to review historical points in our Country's history. I came across something in a book about the Great Depression called, "The Forgotten Man" by Amity Shlaes that has really stuck with me this week. Since it has stayed so close to the surface, I figured it was the idea to pass along this time around.
The following is from a lecture written by a Yale philosopher in 1883. It was his way of warning against well-intentioned social programs that are paid for by the unknown average citizen.
"As soon as A observes something which seems to him to be wrong, from which X is suffering, A talks it over with B, and A and B then propose to get a law passed to remedy the evil and help X. Their law always proposes to determine what C shall do for X, or in the better case, what A, B, and C shall do for X.....What I want to do is to look up C. I want to show you what manner of man he is. I call him the Forgotten Man. Perhaps the appellation is not strictly correct. He is the man who never is thought of....He works, he votes, generally he prays - but he always pays....." --William Graham Sumner
In the past several months, we have been put on the line for countless bailouts to banks and companies too big to fail. And in the years to come, they are trying to put us on the line for trillions more.....going to spending programs, to take care of "X", the Forgotten Man can not afford. You and I will always be the Forgotten Man if we continue to stand still. April 15, 2009 was only the starting line. We have miles left to run. Don't be afraid to grab the baton.
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. --Thomas Jefferson.
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Love the quote from Sumner. It's true, history repeats itself time and time again. What I really hate is when "X's" friends see how X is reaping benefits and then they get in line to see how they can get stuff too, instead of everyone taking responsibility for themselves, educating themselves, and trying to make a life for themselves with a bit of hard work. Precisely what you speak of when you talk about "personal responsibility."
ReplyDeleteThe bailout reminds me of the Titanic. It doesn't matter how many buckets of water you throw out, the ship is going down.
@KeriZ you sound like you have someone or maybe some people specifically in mind? care to elaborate?
ReplyDeleteThis whole persecution/martyr complex some of you have is just a little too melodramatic.