Posted by
Kassie Dill on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 5:08:20 AM
The 13 colonies; one of the weakest and poorest nations in the world
chose to go against the world superpower of the time, Great Britain.
They must have felt what they were fighting for was of immeasurable
importance to make this brave decision. At the time, this decision was
one most would say could only result in death. In America today we have
forgotten the desire these colonists had for freedom. We take the
freedom, liberties, ideas they gave their lives for, for granted every
day. But it is no longer about an arbitrary desire for us to have “more
appreciation” for what we have. We are now not only taking the gift of
freedom for granted, but as a country we are now slowly working to
remove it piece by piece from existence. In this statement I am neither
exaggerating nor partaking in negative thinking. In contrast I can find
no words adequate to express how dire our current situation truly is.
Celebrities and politicians speak of the greed and inhumanity of
capitalism, talk about the damage the industrialized world has done to
the earth, and the need for economic restrictions. The celebrities and
the politicians ride around in their private jets, using technology to
amplify their voices in sold out coliseums, and profit millions from
album sales. They denounce laissez faire capitalism: the very means by
which their lives are made possible.
Political apathy does not come without consequence. With every law congress
passes, gaining control on liberties, gun control, health care,
education,& the free market. The masses mull along never sensing
what they have missed, not realizing what has transposed. By ignoring
the rights lost and the injustices done to others, they have given up
the right to speak and live for themselves.
A government willing to increase taxes to the top 5% of Americans is a
government willing to raise taxes on all Americans. People will
maintain their apathy until the government comes after their tax
bracket, until government control has run so rampant they will have
little power to change what they before had the power to change. There
is no freedom without economic freedom. There is no freedom without
laissez faire capitalism. If the government has control over your money
they have unlimited control over you. The parliament in Great Britain
used taxes as a form of control over the colonies. The colonists saw
this, and were disgusted by it. It was not “just a tax on tea” it was a
rejection of their freedom.
There should be outrage when politicians speak of 3% tax increases
on the wealthiest Americans because it is not just a “small tax
increase” on “just the wealthiest”, It is a rejection of the freedom
the colonists paid for with their lives. How disgusted would they be to
look upon America today and see us trading freedom for frivolous
securities, to see us trading freedom for a better road, trading
freedom for a $3,000 tuition credit, to see us trading freedom for
better computers in the classroom. We. are. not. for. sale.
Many who are not in the targeted bracket think this assault is of no
concern to them. The governments attack on an individuals inalienable
right to produce and make profit, is to declare war on the natural
rights of all man kind, and therefore should be the concern of every
man given the power of feeling. The colonists were able to break away
from Great Britain to the refuge of America.. Only now, if America
becomes ruled by an over zealous government there will be no America
for us to take refuge. There will be no shining city on a hill, The
world will have lost its freedom.
A government who governs our health care, and our education systems, and
many of our corporations is potential for unlimited destruction and
oppression. Hitler thought he was bettering the world by ridding it of
“useless eaters” The government can feel the same way. What if the
government truly feels using light bulbs will destroy the earth, so
they charge us a fine in order to use them, or worse do not let us use
light bulbs at all. If they have control over our jobs, health, and
schooling we would have no choice but to oblige. What if the government
feels that the world is becoming over populated and therefore says
people over 75 should not receive healthcare, or a woman who has
already had 2 children must abort her third, despite her religious or
personal desires and beliefs. What if the government finds an idea or a
book too dangerous for its radical views and bans it from the school
libraries. What if a life changing invention never sees the light of
day because it did not pass the governments regulations on what sort of
things deserve funding. The airplane phone internet and electricity
would have never been realized, Such inventions actually working would
have seemed unrealistic and not worth government funding.
Many felt that Great Britain had served to protect the colonies, but
Thomas Paine felt it was only during times that served Britain’s own
self interest. With events such as the Boston Massacre, Britain was not
only failing to protect the colonies but was attacking them. Just as
now or in the future we may benefit occasionally from a politician
seeking to fulfill a political agenda. The occasional gain is worth no
merit, because a powerful government feeds on freedom. A powerful
government would only serve the individual when doing so bettered a
political self interest. Therefore no government seeking more power
than necessary to protect our inalienable rights, should be trusted.
Anything beyond national defense and protection of individual freedom
is a perversion of the ideal government, and something lusted for by
those hungry for power.
For these reasons the United States must reject now, the imposition of
a powerful government. As stated by the founding fathers, government
has a responsibility to protect the rights of its people and should it
abuse that responsibility the people have a right to rebel against the
government. Government has no place in economics, school, or health care. Many think the sacrifice of economic growth that would
result from a tax increase, may be unfortunate but worth the security
it will bring to the people of the United States. It is these people
who miss the point. Economic growth can not be sacrificed for security,
for economic growth is security.
The Boston Tea Party, The American Revolution, The signing and
composing of the Declaration of Independence were all formed as a
rejection to the grossly imposing form of government the current
administration is striving to create. It is with remembrance of these
great historical events there is hope we will soon unite under the
ideals so many have died for, No man should ever be rendered incapable
of reaching his noblest potential, rendered incapable of reaching his
greatest level of prosperity because he did not have the freedom to do
so.