BeStrong's Blog

We all want the freedom to do as we like, but few of us are committed to allowing others to act contrary to our notion of right and wrong. Majorities have always sought and often found ways to impose their views upon minorities. The most vocal minorities have often been successful in imposing their will on the majority.  Who today expects a Constitutional fight over smoking, obesity, trans-fats, or any of the myriad personal issues now under the purview of government control?

America was founded on the belief that government power should be strictly limited, because the alternative to limited power was unlimited power. The framers of the Constitution were rightly concerned that without strict institutional barriers to the expansion of government powers there would eventually be no barriers at all. Power, in any form, longs to be absolute. Look now there are seemingly no limits on what government can regulate because we have accepted the notion that there are no limits to the benefits government can and should bestow upon us.

Americans have made a bargain with the devil. Dispensing with the idea of limited government in realm of benefits has meant dispensing with the idea of any limits to government power at all. Once we accept the notion that government should ensure that our pursuit of happiness succeeds, we have accepted the notion that government has the right to define what a happy life should look like. it is also the inevitable result of Americans increasing desire to have government guarante that more and more things in our lives turn out all right.

Limiting government power requires limiting the benefits that government can bestow upon us, and right now that seems a bridge too far for some Americans. It is the mentality the government owes us, we want it and we want it now. Perhaps they should listen to "ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country."

Just remeber   "A government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take it all away." --- not sure who said this