Apparently We're Too Stupid To Run Our Own Lives

A young mother I know recently said, "When I saw the president on TV telling us how to wash our hands, I knew this country was coming to an end. I'm 30 years old and I don't need the government to tell me how to wash up or what foods are good for me." For that matter, I told her, how about those light bulbs we're supposed to buy - the ones that are more expensive; made in China and require a hazmat team to clean up if they break? New Yorkers have been living in a nanny state ever since Michael Bloomberg bought his mayoralty. Now America is preparing to become a nanny nation in November unless Americans go the Tea Party route. The TP agenda is simple - we need to take control of our lives and our government. The liberal agenda is simple too. They're smarter than us and need others to tell us how to live.

Now that the President has given his support to gay marriage, his campaign coffers are being filled by the gay, lesbian and transgender community. His stance is in opposition to many American's religious views but religion is another thing no longer considered to be sacrosanct by this administration. Even the non-religious are concerned about same sex marriage laws being litigated since it opens up a Pandora's Box of other marriage options currently tabooed. It makes no difference that marriage itself has a religious origin way earlier than Christianity or what any of our traditional beliefs are because those in power are smarter than we are and know what's best for us. That's because they studied that concept in college.

A classmate of President Obama revealed that he was influenced in Columbia by the infamous "Cloward-Piven Strategy" as a clear roadmap to a socialist society. Basically it proposed to get so many people addicted to government entitlements that the economic system would collapse. The resulting chaos would result in the populace demanding and voting for a new economic system in which everyone would be supported by the state.

We are still an America with a system of government that allows us the freedom of voting out dangerous elements attacking our constitution. It is highly vulnerable, however, if our populace is seduced and corrupted by entitlements and government largesse. That is the situation that explains what has happened in Europe. In France and Greece, countries ruined by both these influences, voters rejected the candidates espousing austerity models of debt-reduction and instead elected those promising unsustainable spending sprees. That Cloward and Piven strategy worked here because once you get 50% of the population hooked on government checks, they will vote for the socialists every time.

In a sense, these election results were expected given the opposition to the necessary budget cuts that had frequently turned violent. A recent election in a large German state, however, that resulted in an unexpected loss for the austerity policies of the conservative party could signal that a defeat for Chancellor Angela Merkel's future leadership.

Are we headed for the same fate? Television journalist Jeff Greenfield recently had this to say on PBS's Need to know program: "The statistics, as you've heard, tell us that some 46 million Americans now receive help in buying food - that's about one in seven. They include millions of people who work, including those in our military. More than 60 million Americans receive help in paying for health care, through state Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs. Millions also, through one program or another, get help to pay for housing, and receive assistance to heat their homes. And, as a recent New York Times piece detailed, even Americans who vigorously oppose the whole idea of government "handouts" receive benefits of one kind of another.

Now, take a step back from the arguments, left and right, about these programs and ask yourself a different question: What does it tell us about the richest country on the face of the Earth that so many must turn to the government for such basic needs?"

Mr. Greenfield is not known to be a conservative so it is surprising to hear him end his essay with this query: "Is there a way for America to get back to a place where, rather than needing that net beneath our feet, we are once again able to stand on our own?"

Although I have never been on welfare, I had at one point received food stamps because it was difficult raising six very young children on one salary. We were on that program for a very short time because it was too embarrassing to use the checks. This was years before clients were issued generic debit cards and I wonder if making it more palatable to be on the program has attracted more Americans. That's the point, isn't it? This is really the Democrat base who will vote for anyone promising them a check; make it easier to get on the dole than to make difficult changes in one's life. I learned how to stretch a dollar with coupons and generic brands and clothe the children with thrift shop bargain days instead of falling for that dependence trap.

N.J. Governor Chris Christie nailed it perfectly when he warned that U.S. is turning into a "paternalistic entitlement society" that will bankrupt the country financially and morally and said, "we'll have a bunch of people sittin' on a couch waiting for their next government check."

All one has to do to learn about how destructive a socialist society is to look at what's happened to Great Britain. The nation that once ruled the world has devolved into what Christie has predicted for us.

It's incredible that so many learned and educated journalists are unable to view socialism as less harmful than communism. The USSR stood for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Nazis were members of the National Socialist German Workers Party. Those immigrants who have lived under these systems invariably become arch conservatives.

The liberals still believe that once we get rid of our capitalistic, free enterprise, democratic (small d) government and empower the state with more intelligent leaders, it will be better for the nation. That's why we get the ignorant media articles proclaiming the brilliance of President Barack Obama. He's too brainy for us and we're too stupid to appreciate how his policies will be best for us.

Well, these elitists may not think we're smart enough to run our lives but this nation was built and has been preserved by those with common sense. We're also smart enough to understand "Animal Farm" as well. I strongly suggest the smart ones get one of us to explain it to them.

Alicia Colon resides in New York City and can be reached at aliciav.colon@gmail.com and at www.aliciacolon.com