Why is the Federal Government involved with Americans killing each other? A funeral for a Chicago teenager brought out the heavies, including Arne Duncan, Michelle Obama, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. We have to wonder whether the slain youth would have been able to reconcile her life with the guest list and a media event in service to the newest push for extending big government control.
There is no such thing as gun violence. Instead of applying an agenda-laden slogan, we should call it what it is: Americans murdering Americans.
Regardless of the fanfare from Washington, we don’t have a zeal for killing. We aren’t looking out of our windows at bodies in the streets, despite the impression given by media reports and politicians:
Today’s comprehensive proposal to reduce gun violence nationwide is the right step following the mass shootings in Newtown, Oak Creek, Aurora and Tucson and the daily violence on the streets of cities and towns across the country,” [Senator Dick] Durbin said.¹
Gun violence isn’t the only thing we are being warned about. Neither is it the only failure of Americans to take responsibility that invites big government control into our lives.
When we refuse to take responsibility, big government steps in.
Americans have been offered a smorgasbord of excuses for our refusal to take responsibility. Wall Street, the wealthy, guns, insurers, credit card companies, and mortgage companies are to blame for our plight. Big government is more than willing to step in when we fail.
Can big government control save us from ourselves?
Most Americans have not witnessed and will never be victims of gun violence. Most of us will not lose our houses to foreclosure. Most will not be shanghaied by our health insurer five minutes after we receive a cancer diagnosis. Most of us are citizens, not illegal immigrants. Most of us won’t go bankrupt because of credit card debt or live in a cardboard box because of our student loans. Those who suffer because of their own irresponsible acts or the acts of others become the poster children for government control
Ready excuses from our too-eager Federal Government.
Democrats don’t need much of a reason to grow the government. Big government is what they do best and government control is what our president is all about. Those of us who lap up excuses instead of admitting our failures have been more than willing to place the blame on Washington’s enemies of choice. How many times have we been told:
The wealthy don’t pay enough in taxes to fund social services and entitlements to take care of us.
Americans are fat and diabetic because soft drink manufacturers make their containers too large.
The too good to be true mortgage we were offered went bad because the bank lied.
Our credit card companies expect us to pay back what we charged.
The small print in our student loan papers really did mean something and the loan wasn’t a gift, after all (see: Republicans Bear the Guilt for Student Loan Interest Bailout).
America owes us something because we broke the law to come here.
Why can’t we admit that our failure to take responsibility is the problem?
Instead of whining about big government stepping in where we don’t want it, or worse, inviting it in the door, we should ask why so many Americans lack the courage to take responsibility. The government is more than happy to take over when we ask. Obama supporters may relish their dependence on Washington, but dependence is not what made this country great.
You are right on about this subject, however responsibility begins in the family home. The American home has been destroyed by divorce, out of wedlock births, single parenthood, lack discipline in school & home with too much free time for the younger generation. The media has also contributed with glorifying sex on TV, as well as crime, horrior movies etc. The web, cellphones, Facebook, twitter etc. have added to the individuals in doing their own thing with an attitude of no responsibility. Then add the drug culture and what do you have “NO INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY” in our so called civilized society.
As Obama moves closer and closer to taking over our lives we should ask how far will he go? Would Obama go so far as to restrict driving a car because someone was run over? Would he take away baseball bats because one went flying and hit a spectator? Would he cut out some sports because an athlete died from an undiagnosed heart condition? Would marathons be a thing of the past because a runner collapsed and died at the finish line? These are all accidents and accidents will happen. Just like the six situations listed above by Civil Candor, we must take responsibility and accept the consequences for what we do or Obama’s big government could start controlling more and more of our lives.