politics

Heard on the radio — I asked the little girl what she wanted to be when she grew up. "President!". "What is the first thing you would do as President?", I asked. "Give food and housing to the homeless," she replied. Her parents, both liberal Democrats, beamed with pride. I then told her she didn't have to wait until she became president, she could come over to my house, pick up trash, trim the shrubs, and I'd pay her $50. I would then take her to a homeless person and she could give the $50 to him toward his food and shelter.

I don’t like being told what to do or what I can’t do. But I’ve grown to understand the importance of fences and restrictions. I like my backyard fences. They prevent me and my dog (but not my cats) from wandering into other yards, and keep others from walking through my property. I can climb over, but that would be a clear violation of another homeowner’s rights. I appreciate speed laws and parking restrictions, and I’m glad we have a police force to enforce the laws.

The key is balance. This is what a social contract with one’s government is all about. We give up some freedoms for our mutual benefit and protection. A typical citizen gives up over half his earnings to various taxes. That loss of money is loss of freedom to spend it himself. That much tax seems out of balance to me. If that isn’t bad enough, the government spends more than it takes from us, actually putting into debt people not yet born.