So much of the focus of domestic/social government policy in modern America (as opposed to the vision that the founders had, and for which they sacrificed mightily) is based on an extremely convoluted notion of equality.
We all know that the founders' concept of equality amounted to the simple (and yet so meaningful) idea that all men are created equal, and are endowed with certain unalienable rights. There is where their notion of equality ended (and wisely and brilliantly so).
We were created equal, and all possess the right to live, to exercise freedom of choice, and to pursue (within moral bounds) whatever it is that we define as personal happiness. Nowhere in the founders' vision was there the concept of grotesque, restrictive government interference aimed at maintaining an eternally level playing field for all Americans, no matter the amount of sacrifice or work (or resulting achievement) they (do or do not) expend. Nowhere did the founders envision (as a matter of fact, they painstakingly declared an enemy of the people) a 'Robin Hood' system of governance which seeks economic parity among its citizens by taking from the haves and distributing the legislatively-stolen bounty to the have nots. Penalizing the citizen's (and his progeny's) ability to accumulate wealth, and experience economic independence through his own achievement, by redistributing that wealth to his less ambitious, or less adventuresome, countrymen has become the American way. Mom and apple pie have been replaced by Big Brother and trough-feeding.
So many facets of the abomination known as the IRS code, the countless federal and state entitlement programs, and taxes (on inheritance, principal, or property) such as the one we have been discussing here are aimed at nothing but parity through government-inspired social engineering. And sadder even than the unconstitutionality of such a concept is the long-term effect that such government meddling has on the work ethic, business entrepreneur-ship, propensity to save, and desire to achieve and excel of the average American citizen.
Of course there will always be those who are willing to venture, to work, and to achieve. It's just the innate nature of those who know and appreciate the sense of accomplishment of a job well done, or the satisfaction of investing (sometimes a lifetime of) time and effort in a worthwhile endeavor. That person's achievement will not be thwarted by government dictates. But the fact that his government does not allow him to reap the fruits of his own labor is an abomination....and an abomination of the kind that the founders warned us so strongly against committing, lest we run the risk of inviting the kind of social/economic/moral decay that has sometimes heralded the fall of once-mighty empires.
... So many facets of the abomination ... are aimed at nothing but parity through government-inspired social engineering. And sadder even than the unconstitutionality of such a concept is the long-term effect that such government meddling has on the work ethic, business entrepreneur-ship, propensity to save, and desire to achieve and excel of the average American citizen....
[A] person's achievement will not be thwarted by government dictates. But the fact that his government does not allow him to reap the fruits of his own labor is an abomination....and an abomination of the kind that the founders warned us so strongly against committing, lest we run the risk of inviting the kind of social/economic/moral decay that has sometimes heralded the fall of once-mighty empires.
Well, I guess social/economic/moral decay is what you inevitably get from a "through-feeding" ethic made socially dominant.
The moral philosophy that "made" America has been obviated by (taxpayer-financed) personal irresponsibility and moral relativism. Boil it all down, that's precisely what the government "invests" our hard-earned tax dollars in, "for us."
America guarantees equality of opportunity, not equality of results. To reverse this understanding is to lose the core idea that has made America great. That idea has been attractive enough for tens of millions of immigrants, who (historically, at least) didn't come here to get taxpayer-financed freebies, but to have a chance to work and save and raise their families in freedom.
But we Americans seem to have swapped our freedom for a mess of politically-correct pottage. Shame on us for allowing this to happen.
And yes, that "government does not allow him to reap the fruits of his own labor is an abomination." Worse, it's systematic, "legalized larceny." Government at all levels increasingly seems to be running a protection racket these days.
Excellent essay, joanie-f. Thank you so much for writing. All my best, bb.