Brushfires of Freedom

I grew up with a bent image of the government. Like looking for my reflection in a steam covered mirror, my view of government was clouded by the turbulent social ‘60’s In the 60’s, government was completely corrupt, or at least that was the constructed viewpoint published in the major media outlets. Against the revolutionary backdrop of freedom of expression (i.e.: freedom from rules) politicians were considered out of touch, and part of the problem. In my view, democrats and republicans were little more than corrupt power brokers pursuing personal interests.

In the 60’s I remember the idea of a third party being bandied about. I guess I was part of that third party movement. You could have called me a ‘contrarian.’ I could see problems within the government system, but not an answer. Then, and in some ways today, political theory and practice had forgotten that our country is based on freedom, and the role of the government is to protect that freedom.

Any reading of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence uncovers that our country’s uniqueness is based in a belief that each of us were created with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Not idle words these, but crafted deliberately to proclaim the liberty they sought to weave into the fabric of our national identity. Our founders believed in, fought for, and died to secure freedom.

Yet current government trends are working to convince individuals to willingly turn over those rights to government programs. Individuals, we are told, can’t attain goals on their own. Therefore, we are not truly free . . . and not able to be. The new world view being woven is that prosperous world citizens are to be measurably dependant of govt. programs, promised to assist them toward life, liberty, and the pursuit.

None the less, the inescapable terminus to this aberrant re-definition is freedom’s incremental loss. As power and money of the citizenry flow into hands of the political class, those pledged and elected to lead us into promised prosperity; we lose our identity, lose self, and create a societal system which produces encompassing corporate societal failure. Freedom is always promised, but for unexplained reasons, is always the other side of the next big government program.

Does this sound harsh? Well, remember, I am a former contrarian. Yet, inescapable examples of freedom’s cascading erosion when replaced by governmental promises are forged across history. One needs look no farther than urban housing projects constructed to solve inner city blight. The government promised free, or low cost government housing for those who were already receiving social assistance. Exchanging responsibility and freedom for governmental provision, these sparkling housing towers became war zones. Smoke trails and boarded windows are still visible on the towers of the Cabrini Green Complex on Chicago’s north side, and the south side’s Ida Well’s towers. Known for gang violence, prostitution and drug trafficking, the conditions in these “government solutions to inner city poverty” only created more of what they promised to cure. Around the world, the same three act play performed across Europe.

• Act One: The government amplifies the populace’s fears and prejudices between groups to set itself up as savior.
• Act Two: A people tired of fighting itself agrees to trade freedom and responsibility for provision and governmental ‘assistance’
• Act Three: Without incentive to reach toward personal achievement, the people turn increasingly to the government to solve problems and rectify injustice. The resulting power flows to fewer numbers of people, and establishes a political class, like the British and French monarchs, who have no intention of ever giving up the power they gained.

Socialism failed in Poland, didn’t work in Romania. East Germany had the same genesis after WWII and the same resources as its western brother. Yet the walls were built to keep East Germans in, not those seeking utopia out. Those of us who remain ignorant of history’s lessons . . . witting or unwittingly . . . are sentenced to relive it.

Midwesterners have a more down to earth perspective on government, leadership and success. Time spent talking with a family which has managed a family farm for generations will unearth viable historic American spirit. A man or woman who starts a successful business from his basement knows what it means to have life, to feel liberty, and to win at the pursuit of happiness. These individuals, and many more like them, are likely to become Contrarians to the current two party system. We’re not hearing talk of freedom, faith, individual rights and personal responsibility for our future. When daily sound bites are chosen to tickle itching ears, neither party wears breastplate and mail to engage battle in the arena that matters – Freedom.

Midwesterners still believe that politicians are leaders selected from the best of us to lead and defend the interests of the rest of us. Too often politicians get to Washington and forget what it means to be one of the best of us.