Wit or Wisdom

Americans have a lot to be thankful for. A lot that they don’t deserve. Now, before you stop reading because you think this is going to be a raving screamfest against the holidays and America’s past injustices and etc. Don’t. It’s not. It’s actually completely unrelated to thanksgiving. And it’s not a rant. (So, yes, I mistitled my post.)

However, America, as a generality, has become a lazy nation. We aren’t as bad as some people would have you to believe. We still have a five day work week… we don’t give employees three months out of the year off… and you generally have to work to be successful.

Regardless of what some of my history-revising friends would like you to think, America does not have an evil heritage. Yes, there were people, including very powerful people, who had huge shortcomings. Yes, slavery and some elements of western expansion were evil. What makes America so great is of course not those things. What makes America so great is that there were inevitably people who fought these injustices and conquered them. What makes America great is that she stands for freedom and is willing to make the sacrifices to do so.

Or should I say… stood for. It is precisely because she does not stand for freedom any longer that Barack Obama was elected earlier this month. Now, America stands for being as comfortable as possible.

We first saw this exhibited during Vietnam. Now we’ve seen it exhibited in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Good, generally right-thinking people who are bright on a whole lot of other things have turned against these wars. If you hear a lie enough times, then you’ll start to believe it. People I know who once would have been appalled at the government intervention that is taking place are smiling and nodding, even though they are clearly uncomfortable with it. People are willing to accept a little less freedom if they can get a little more comfort. The problem with such thinking is the slippery slope that we are now on. A little can change into a lot in a very little time.

There was a time when an American president, a liberal Democrat nonetheless, called Americans to “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” The hundreds of thousands who packed Obama’s rallies were not interested in any sort of proposition. In fact, if he had said something that clear cut about sacrifice, he would have been met with confused expressions. Most Americans today have no earthly idea of such a concept. They don’t understand the sacrifice that gave them freedom.

That’s why we have these bailouts. It’s not because corporate greed is sky-high. It’s not because politicians are any more corrupt than before. It’s not because we’re fighting to keep two fledging democracies going. It’s not because of the stock market. They are all contributing factors. But none of them are the main reason. The main reason is that we live in a society that wants capitalism when you succeed (I keep my profit) and communism when you fail (others pay for my own laziness or hard luck or whatever).

The federal government is banking on the future success of the American economy. They’re borrowing against money that doesn’t exist. And anytime you try that, it inevitably falls apart, because government has proved itself incapable of restraint. So don’t expect success. Hope that things truly do change. But don’t expect it. It’s not going to happen.