Egypt and much of the Middle East is anxiously engaged in a struggle with government. Many featured in the U.S. news talk of desiring freedom. Our hope is that will come. Our fear is what happened in Iran will replace what is currently unacceptable; motivated to topple one government, the people find themselves in a worse condition then where they started. With no clear focus on what comes after any abdication, our fears are more likely to be realized than our hopes.
America is also engaged in a struggle of ideas. We praise our freedoms; then demand that Government provide food, education, a house, a job or pay for not having a job, a retirement income and health care, and do this while pretending it isn’t tax slavery. This can never end well.
Evidence that the era of government largess is growing to a close include: Contraction of markets, loss of jobs hence loss of tax revenue which then expose bloated local, state and federal government teetering on bankruptcy.
When we demand basic needs be supplied by power brokers in any Capital, we craft heavy chains that bind and hand the keys to egotistical elitists who splurge off the remaining wealth of the land, regardless of what nation we live in. Pay attention to who spends taxes vacationing in exotic places and engage in great pomp that reflect the honor in which the working class should behold them. They will create media events in which the adoring public can behold their wisdom. With specious oration --usually written by someone more talented than themselves-- they will flatter your work, wisdom and integrity and promise ever greater glory ahead, if you let them spend more of your wealth. While stepping up for another round of golf, they sadly wag their head and tell you that spending your money and accepting all those accolades is tough work to do. Once positioned in power, if no limits are set, they consolidate and support their supporters, forming dangerous elite groups that protect each other while they enjoy power and wealth, giving themselves exceptions to the rules that they make for others. This can lead to the forming of Classes, where some will always be in wealth, and others will always be in poverty with set rules of reverence toward their betters. Somehow, regardless of how well they did before they got their hands on your taxes, we usually find them much enriched afterwards.
All nations must, from time to time, re-examine the good and proper role of government. It is the struggle of freedom.
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