ASK NOT


“ Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” Words made famous by John F. Kennedy during his inaugural in 1961 and later carved in stone at his grave site. Two years later another great American put forth the idea that “content of character” was the proper way to judge someone. Let’s journey back to the Constitution and the phrase “Pursuit of Happiness”. All the above was written by courageous great men who passionately believed in their meaning and the principles of self reliance and personal responsibility. Why do I bring this up? Because there is a cancer sweeping across the United States eroding the American Character. It is so prevalent that many individuals and institutions don’t even know they have it. Say hello to the “Entitlement Mentality” or EM for the remainder of this discussion.

EM (I deserve, I’m owed, it’s my right) is everywhere. It has affected young and old, rich and poor, black and white, both political parties, blue and white collar, Christian, atheist, etc. EM is truly an American affliction although those born elsewhere and then naturalized rarely have it. The only ones that aren’t affected are those Americans that truly believe they are entitled only to the “pursuit of happiness”, that they shouldn’t be asking what the Government can do for them and they should be “judged by the content of their character”.

EM was almost non existent prior to the late 60’s. So what happened?
The obvious reasons are 1. Many Baby Boomers were spoiled by their parents who wanted to make sure their offspring had it better than the generation affected by a depression and world war. That EM was then passed on to the present generation in their twenty’s and thirty’s. 2. Americans have become “fat and happy”. We have way too much and no clue or desire to understand what the rest of the world has. 3. We are bombarded twenty four hours a day with advertisements proclaiming we deserve, we’re owed and if we don’t have it, there is something wrong with us.

To demonstrate how deeply EM is entrenched in our culture, let’s look at some recent history.

Stock Market decline and loss of jobs after 9/11

Financial Security (I deserve it, if I don’t get it, it’s someone’s fault)
Oh no! My NASDAQ account (with all my stocks that don’t pay a dividend and never had earnings.) has crashed - it’s the President’s fault. A few truths about financial and job security. You’re not entitled. The President is not responsible for you getting, keeping or losing your job. You are. U.S. Presidents haven’t had any meaningful influence on the the economy since Roosevelt. The economy runs in cycles, always has, always will. Bush deserves neither blame for the economy of 2001-03, or credit for 04 and 05. This pandering by both political parties to their base only encourages the entitlement mentality. And you’re not entitled to a pension. If you work somewhere and your company’s pension investments haven’t worked out, too bad. It’s not something other taxpayers should subsidize. That’s welfare.

Healthcare.

You’re not entitled. Maybe we should have some type of national health care but good health care starts with the individual. Why should those that take personal responsibility for their health pay higher premiums because of the fast food, alcohol guzzling, tobacco using individuals that are everywhere? This country has so much entitlement on the brain, it’s considered ok to smoke for twenty years and then sue the tobacco companies for bad health. Alcoholism classified as a disease? Polio is a disease; abuse of alcohol is bad character.

New Orleans and Katrina.

Nothing has given more validity to EM and its first cousin IAV (I’m a victim) than the actual events and media coverage of New Orleans. Some hard truths:

•If you could have left before Katrina hit and didn’t you’re not a victim, you’re part of the problem
•If you’ve been engaged in a destructive life style that led to poverty, you’re not a victim
•The City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana had forty years to build proper levees. They didn’t. They are not victims and are not entitled to the American taxpayer playing Santa Claus.

What’s the best way to eradicate EM and IAV in New Orleans? Nothing takes the place of strong leadership. I believe that the majority of those in poverty will make a successful effort to replace destructive personal behavior with self reliance and personal responsibility if they have a roadmap.
Why won’t Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and other Black leaders go to New Orleans and condemn the personal behavior that keeps the cycle of crippling poverty churning?

•Explain to the women of New Orleans that the government or a man is not the answer to a better life and that having children without a husband is probably going to keep you and your children in poverty forever.

•Condemn the men impregnating women and then leaving them. Label them as the chief architect of our nation’s ghettos

•Label BET and MTV videos as soft porn that portray a very destructive life style.

•Promote the virtues of self reliance and the absence of bad decisions in daily life.

The first step in improving one’s life is to stop any current destructive behavior. It certainly is not to reinforce the belief of EM and IAV. The media frenzy regarding the labeling of those affected by Katrina as victims has no end.

Financial security, Healthcare and New Orleans are just three examples of how the entitlement mentality has become a way of thinking for many Americans. I am not saying that national healthcare or that government aided financial security is a bad thing. Nor that one shouldn’t be helped even if they really aren’t a victim. This is the United States and we help countries all over the world. We should certainly help rescue our own no matter how they got there.

What I’m saying is that an Entitlement Mentality along with the victim card is a very destructive way for individuals and institutions to think. It robs them of creativity and the fruits of self reliance and personal responsibility.


Dooley
1/28/06

Deja Vu

In 1954 Sen. Joe McCarthy imploded on live television during his witch hunt for communists. His specialty was exaggerated and reckless accusations against a person’s character. Fast forward to 2006 and the implosion of Ted Kennedy while he attempts to impugn the character of Sam Alito at the Senate Judiciary Hearings.

In no way am I comparing Ted Kennedy to the father of “McCarthyism”. After all, McCarthy grew up on a farm and attended a one room schoolhouse. He later earned a law degree working part time and was elected a circuit court judge at age 30. He enlisted in the Marines in 1942 and participated in bombing missions as an intelligence officer. In 1946, he was elected to the Senate without the aid of his father’s money or brother’s accomplishments.

Instead of listing the plethora of Kennedy’s past accusations and lack of character, the following should suffice.

Ted Kennedy lecturing Sam Alito is comparable to the following:

1. Hugh Hefner lecturing Billy Graham on morality
2. Ernest T Bass (Andy Griffith show) lecturing Grace Kelly on manners
3. Jethro (Beverly Hillbillies) lecturing Thomas Edison on thinking
4. Barney Fife lecturing Colombo on detective work

It’s important to put the nominee hearings in perspective. Clinton’s two choices, Ginsberg and Breyer were confirmed 96-3 and 87-9. Republicans understand it’s the President’s right to select nominees of their choice and that a circus atmosphere is not required. Unfortunately the opposite is not true. Ever since Bork in 1987, if a Supreme Court nominee believes the Constitution is not a living document subject to the current trendy winds, that nominee will become subject to character assassination by the Democratic Leadership.

Fortunately, that’s the good news. Because nothing and I mean nothing clarifies the difference between the pontificating Kennedy and a man of professional and personal character like Sam Alito than the Senator's own words. Thank you Senator Kennedy.

Dooley
1/15/06

A House Divided


Great words by Lincoln 147 years ago, but never more true than today. In the last few months the following has taken place:

U.S. Senators have compared our troops to Nazis and accused them of terrorizing Iraqi women and children.

The Chairman of the Democratic Party proclaimed the U.S. is losing the war.

ABC reported the countries that were helping us house Al-qaeda prisoners.

Ex-presidents Clinton and Carter (The Great Appeasers of our time) have consistently criticized our involvement in the war. Clinton had an especially nice touch telling Arab students in Dubai that Iraq was a mistake. It’s a shame he couldn’t have traveled a few hundred miles further and said the same to our American soldiers. However, he wouldn’t have received the same appearance fee and rousing applause.

Let us be blunt. They are all helping the enemy. Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Howard Dean and the other usual suspects would be less of a threat to the United States if they were transported to Iraq, given rifles and told to shoot at American Soldiers.

This whining about how we got there, bad intelligence, etc is now irrelevant. We are there, boots are on the ground, the team is on the field. How about joining our team and stop saying things that encourage the enemy. Winston Churchill would be aghast at the behavior of our politicians. Must the late 30’s be repeated? How long will it take these defeatists to recognize the severity of the enemy and the need for unity? Perhaps Bush’s "You're either with us or against us" sounded arrogant, but truer words were never spoken.

Dooley

THE BIG CHILL


There have been several insane comments regarding Bush “spying” from those members in Congress that still haven’t figured out who the enemy is. However, there was one that stuck out because we have all experienced the feeling mentioned.

Sen. Russell Feingold of Wisconsin said the President’s actions “ought to send a chill down the spine of every American”. Feingold is very confused about what sends chills down the American spine.

2/93 - WTC bombed by Muslim fanatics. Clinton does nothing

10/93- “Black Hawk Down” Clinton does something. He orders the retreat from Mogadishu.

6/96 -U.S. Housing complex in Saudi Arabia bombed by Muslim extremists. Clinton does nothing.

8/98- U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania bombed by Muslim extremists. Clinton, at the time accused of invading Monica Lewinsky and lying, bombs the Sudan and Afghanistan. In December, the day before the House of Representatives votes on his impeachment, he bombs Iraq.

10/2000- USS Cole attacked by Muslim extremists. Clinton does nothing.

Was all this chilly enough?

9/11/01(The Big Chill) – Two planes slam into the WTC, another into the Pentagon, and another diverted into a Pennsylvania field by several brave passengers. Over 3,000 Americans killed by Muslim extremists.

All the above is what sends chills down the spine of every American. So what happens after 9/11?

Bush routes the Taliban in Afghanistan and implements a new government. The U.S. later attacks Iraq, capturing Saddam and begins the seeding of what will prove to be the only functioning democracy in the Arab world. Same Enemy, Different President, Different reaction to evil.

The vast majority of Americans do not think like the merry band of defeatists that prowl congress and give aid to the enemy. We want the President to wiretap suspected enemies. Hopefully, he’s doing several other things to protect us. There are many reasons we have not been attacked again. None of them come from weakness.

One more chill down our spine that may be the coldest of all—That Feingold, Durbin, Reid and Kennedy actually have an influence on the security of the United States.


Dooley