Posted by
Too Tall in Texas on Friday, November 21, 2008 7:44:20 AM
I was thinking as I was listening to a re-broadcast of Hannity early this morning on Sirius (I swear it was the best thing I ever did - getting satellite radio in my van). Hannity was going on his rant about how he worked hard all his life from the age of 12, and how we as a nation have lost the value of working hard to get ahead. Its all about getting things - and expecting them as cheaply (if not free) as possible. We have become a nation of spoiled brats...all screaming "GIMME, GIMME, GIMME!!" And when things don't go our way - we go berzerk. We sue each other, we sue the big bad companies that didn't give us what we feel we are entitled to, and we want our government to take care of us and give us even more.
How we got this way is a long lesson in history, and I don't want to write a 15 page essay (and I know you don't want to read my "wonkish" theory on this). Let's just say that we evolved into these greedy, spoiled, selfish brats that we are today because of our government. So here we are at the dawn of a new century and many people out there have this idiotic idea that they are ENTITLED to things that would be unheard of just 20 years ago. And when folks think the Republican party is for old people - they are on to something. Those of us who remember Reagan, Nixon and the ideals of hard work, enterprise, and freedom are OLD. We are becoming outdated. But the thing is we have to go back to these ideals if we want to continue to be successful. Conservatives (NOT RINO's) have to work to educate our society about the value of work and success. We have to demonstrate to our children and their friends that I-Pods don't just magically appear when they want one.
I posted earlier that I thought that "Stupid Gas" was being pumped into the atmosphere over America. Well, it is...and the only way to protect ourselves is to educate people about these values and ethics. Get together with a neighbor and have them hire your kid to cut the grass or babysit for a night or 2 - or hire their kid to do the same. Talk with your teenagers about work, and if possible have them spend some time with somebody in that field. If you can, talk with high school counselors about talking to students about your jobs. (I've done it before, and it didn't kill me.) Little things like this add up and do make a difference.
The GOP has a website up asking people to post why they are republicans, and how we should see ourselves in the 21st Century. It shouldn't have changed. We should always stand up for free enterprise and personal liberty. We should see ourselves as the ones who value personal responsibility and accountability. These values, and the defense of these freedoms are the keys to our nation's survival.
THEREFORE ALL AMERICANS HAVE A STAKE IN HOW WE ARE GOVERNED - AND MUST NOT STAND ON THE SIDELINES IN IGNORANCE OF THE ISSUES BEFORE US.
I ask all of you who read this to take a moment to thank God for what we have in the coming week and then take another moment to talk with your children, a co-worker, a neighbor, or even someone you overheard talking about how great Obama will be and tell them why you are a conservative.