Ted, First of all, some of the greatest contributions to this country have had little to do with hard work and the accumulation of money.
Gotta start somewhere, Ted. Otherwise, your children will not have the luxury to think about anything else except hard work and money.
See....that's what you don't understand....this country started on ideas; on concepts; on theory. There wasn't a big discussion about hard work and long hours in the Declaration of Independence. However, there was a huge discussion about truth and honesty; about equality and the abuse of power:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
It doesn't say anything about becoming a workaholic. Its more concerned with liberty, equality and happiness.
There was also considerable discussion about when a gov't steps out of line; that the people have a responsibility to raise up their voices, and if needby, alter the gov't that has become abusive or destructive, and threatens the rights and well being of its citizens:
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
ushistory.org
You say you know what it is to be American but I don't think you do. You need to reread the documents that were written when this nation was founded. The FF set the bar high.....much higher than they were able to meet themselves but with the understanding that all of us must strive to get as close to that bar as possible. That didn't mean that someone who worked long hours automatically was a good American. A good American is one who holds the ideals of the FF close to them and strives to implement them in every way he or she can. It means speaking out when things are not right. It means defending the right of every American to participate. Its means judging others not by their wealth and position but how they live their life.
Secondly, I complain 24/7 whenever I see my country and the values for which stands undermined by incompetents and opportunists......people like your leaders.
It's your leaders as well. If Bush is so incompetent, why can't the Democrats beat him?
That's how you judge he's competent??? My God. Do you ever think for yourself? I can't even begin to answer that question other than to say there have been any number of people elected into office who should not have been there......who were incompetent and/or dishonest and corrupt. Its human to err......even in mass numbers. |
