Published March 18, 2000, Winter Haven News Chief

"Hog at the Trough"

The founding fathers were conservatives. They developed a road map for their fledgling nation on conservative values. So how did we get where we are today…. Barreling headlong into socialism. As many nations throughout the world are becoming more democratic and more conservative we are headed in the other direction.

You might say “Oh, no!” You can cite the most popular radio talk show are conservative. And, the Republicans changed the congress in 1994 to a more conservative approach.

I would like to say that these were just flirtations with conservative values. They sound good, but when they are applied to our own lives… we back off and like the idea of something more from the government.

The congress when confronted with the demands of the voters are too backing off the basic values of our founding.

A personal example. A friend, a successful farmer now retired with enough money to care for his family is now wishing that the government would pay for there prescriptions. What he is saying? I now have Medicare (in deep trouble, because the recipients get more that is being put in) but I would like just a little more from the government. He can justify it by saying “government”. Could he say to the working people today that they should pay just a little bit more in taxes so he can have the money. He has the money to care for himself… but it would be nice to have just a little more welfare. This a man who built a life based on hard work, responsibility and doing what is right has fallen into the trap. He easily slid into a very gimme, gimme, attitude. Jesse Ventura said something very meaningful the other night… Government should do what the people can’t do for themselves”. With a big bank balance should the working class give a little more to someone who can do it himself? I don’t think so!

The congress, now led by Republicans, is now backing away from a core position… Lower Taxes. It has been suggested that the latest tax that was added to gasoline sales be suspended, a little over 4 cents a gallon. No, we can’t do that… it is insignificant! An opportunity to reduce the highest tax burden in peacetime and the backbone gets wobbly. Why?

Because we do not want the government, the fount of all blessings, to run dry when it come to ME. We can complain all day long about the congressmen, the President but we get what we want. We want… want and want!

This attitude is further fueled by the media. A wonderful example is Larry King. In a sly dig at the “Christian Right”, he said… “One thing they are not is compassionate!”. Mr. King does not understand compassion. His view is the only way to show compassion is to pay taxes so the government can be the great dispenser of compassion. He does not have to get his hands dirty by going out and helping his fellow man…. The government is doing it!. He does not have to give to charity because he pays taxes and they do it. Never mind that this “compassion” comes with strings, has proven not to be efficient, and in many cases enslaves and traps recipients into dependency.

The census bureau knows the attitude of the country. They are promoting the idea that if you fill out the census form you will get your share at the “trough”. One of the exact headlines is… “Your community can share in $185 Billion”. If you properly fill out the form, you can get a little of your money back. What would Thomas Jefferson and James Madison think?

There is a mini-revolt at the private questions being asked by the census form. In the short form they want to know if you house is paid for or you have a mortgage. If you are lucky enough to get the long form they want to know what kind of plumbing you have, A complete breakdown of your income in 1999, are you deaf or had other disabilities, were you absent from work last week and 46 other questions.

How much invasion of privacy will we allow? Or will it be won over by the “Hog at the Trough” syndrome? My bet here is the “Hog at the Trough” wins out.

What is a little less privacy and liberty when we can get our share or our money! What a country!