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What is this?
Getting on board with laissez-faire
Published Friday, January 9, 2009
When did we change from a nation known for rolling up its sleeves to one reaching for a handout?
As we near the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, this one question keeps rattling in my brain.
Let me explain why.
The first presidential inauguration speech I remember I heard in Mrs. Whitehead’s seventh grade American History class.
Crowded around the large-screen TV with my classmates, I listened intently to Ronald Reagan give his first inaugural address on Jan. 20, 1981.
With a country mired in recession, with inflation and unemployment soaring, Reagan gave his vision for the country.
“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem,” Reagan said to applause.
I don’t know where my love for American History and government started, but Mrs. Whitehead’s class stoked that tiny spark into a burning fire that year.
Not only did we witness history first hand through current events, but we spent substantial time reading other historical documents — like John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech for example.
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” were words that came to life in Mrs. Whitehead’s class.
I don’t know whether she was a Republican or Democrat, a Libertarian or Independent, but I am certain of one thing — Mrs. Whitehead believed in the power of words.
Not only did I leave the seventh grade with a love of learning, but I also left with a love of country.
That love of country stems partly from the words of Kennedy and Reagan — who both spoke of the importance of individual responsibility.
Both messages made lasting impressions on me.
That is why I have been dismayed by the recent actions of our local politicians.
There is no question that the American economy is in a serious crisis.
If you listened to our local leaders trip over themselves in haste to line up for part of president-elect Obama’s proposed stimulus handout, you might think Southwest Mississippi was at the epicenter of the crisis.
Hoping for a bailout like that of the banks and auto industry, Natchez aldermen have piled million-dollar request upon million-dollar request for the U.S. Conference of Mayors appeal to Obama.
Their requests included $9.5 million for a recreation complex and $5 million for the renovations of the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Complex.
Last Monday, Adams County supervisors were salivating over how they might get in line for their United States welfare check, as well.
While areas of the country are reeling over a crisis that threatens to destroy whole communities, Natchez and Adams County are asking for things like recreation complexes and performing arts theaters.
If these are important to us, then we should plan for them, save for them and maintain them ourselves.
We don’t need a handout. Instead we need leaders that have the wherewithal to plan and execute these and other projects that will improve Natchez.
And we must expect of ourselves the sacrifice and cooperation necessary to see the projects through.
On this, I think both Kennedy and Reagan would agree.
Ben Hillyer is the web editor of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3540 or by e-mail at ben.hillyer@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by whiterabbit (anonymous) on January 9, 2009 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Laissez-faire? The United States hasn't had laissez-faire (hands off the economy) for over a century. The Natchez and Adams County governments just can do nothing right according to the ND. The paper whines about the lack of a recreation complex. But then, it complains when they try to write a grant to fund it. It would be interesting to know what other projects are being submitted to the Council of Mayors by other localities.
Posted by Incognito (anonymous) on January 9, 2009 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, the local leaders are going to fall in line behind the large financial institutions and the "Big Three."
I need a drink.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on January 9, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need more teachers like Mrs. Whitehead and more writers like Ben.
Posted by BobHenkel (anonymous) on January 9, 2009 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Another great column Ben.
The problem, quite simply, is the vast majority of municipal, county, state, and federal politicians are out there advocating for their own "bridge to no where".
In addition, the public thinks THEY deserve their bridge to no where, but no one else deserves one too.
I forgot who said it, but we are indeed a nation of whiners.
Posted by timefertruth (anonymous) on January 9, 2009 at 9:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We are a country dependent on government welfare,
We are a country overrun with illegal aliens.
We are a country dependent on other countries products.
We are a country that no longer takes pride in ( AMERICAN MADE ).
We are a country that is pushing other countries to get away from communism, while we are slowly falling into communistic ways.
We are a country that no longer has time to protest against government dictatorship.
We are a country that has no morals, respect, a class ( A ) education system.
We are a country that continues to let the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the middle class get the shank.
We need to be a country that does not tolerate, drugs, crime, rape, murder, theft, crooked politicians, gay marriage.
Why does a criminal have more rights than the victim, what happen to if you break the law you pay the price and you lose all your rights if the price ain't paid, there are people in prison now that live better than the poorest people in this country, why does this country have poor people, why does this country
not take care of it's own anymore,why do we have people starving on our own streets, why do we give money to agencies that help people in other countries but the ceos of these companies take a bigger percentage of our donated money for their $25000,00 salaries.
Why don't we all just wake the heck up?
Posted by reneef (anonymous) on January 9, 2009 at 10:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great article. I don't believe the answer starts with the politicians. I believe it starts with the people. When individuals quite expecting the government to be everything to everyone and they quit expecting the government to quit paying for everything then the politicians will not have to ask for federal grants for everything because that is what their constituents expect.
BTW dangyankee ....I won't get on a soap box to run you out of town and they can't even call me a yankee. I am Natchez born and raised.
Posted by getalifenatchez (anonymous) on January 9, 2009 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Excellent article Ben!!! I have to agree with all the compliments.... This is one of your best! How true, howww true.........
Timefertruth and Southernbelle: AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on January 10, 2009 at 12:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great job, Ben, but you might need to watch what you say about our government according to the article below:
Obama's Victory -- A British view
An editorial from the London Daily Mail
Obama's Victory
A victory for the hysterical Oprah Winfrey, the mad racist preacher Jeremiah
Wright, the mainstream media who abandoned any sense of objectivity long ago,
Europeans who despise America largely because they depend on her, comics who
claim to be dangerous and fearless but would not dare attack genuinely powerful
special interest groups. A victory for Obama-worshippers everywhere. A victory
for the cult of the cult. A man who has done little with his life but has
written about his achievements as if he had found the cure for cancer in between
winning a marathon and building a nuclear reactor with his teeth. Victory for
style over substance, hyperbole over history, rabble-raising over reality.
A victory for Hollywood, the most dysfunctional community in the world. Victory
for Streisand, Spielberg, Soros and Sarandon. Victory for those who prefer
welfare to will and interference to independence. For those who settle for
group think and herd mentality rather than those who fight for individual
initiative and the right to be out of step with meager political fashion.
Victory for a man who is no friend of freedom. He and his people have already
stated that media has to be controlled so as to be balanced, without realizing
the extraordinary irony within that statement. Like most liberal zealots, the
Obama worshippers constantly speak of Fox and Limbaugh, when the vast bulk of
television stations and newspapers are drastically liberal and
anti-conservative. Senior Democrat Chuck Schumer said that just as pornography
should be censored, so should talk radio. In other words, one of the few free
and open means of popular expression may well be cornered and beaten by bullies
who even in triumph cannot tolerate any criticism and opposition.
A victory for those who believe the state is better qualified to raise children
than the family, for those who prefer teachers' unions to teaching and for those
who are naively convinced that if the West is sufficiently weak towards its
enemies, war and terror will dissolve as quickly as the tears on the face of a
leftist celebrity.
A victory for social democracy even after most of Europe has come to the painful
conclusion that social democracy leads to mediocrity, failure, unemployment,
inflation, higher taxes and economic stagnation. A victory for intrusive
lawyers, banal sentimentalists, social extremists and urban snobs.
Congratulations America!
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on January 10, 2009 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GEE !!!!!!!!!. =====dangyankee,--timefortruth,--frog princess, what could a person say after ya'll. Bravo--ole---hip-hip--hurrah, you deserve a standing ovation. You too Ben. Never have truer works ever been spoken. Ya'll made my day.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on January 10, 2009 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen Ben
Yes, we just need to tighten up and go to work,
Like my Dad used to say - "Boy, you need to learn to do WITHOUT!"
All this bailout stuff is madness, we all know that money has to come from taxpayers' pockets.
Goods and Services are not produced and provided without cost.
Iraq needs to pay us back for it's liberty and we have to cut back all but the most essential government services of security & infrastructure.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on January 10, 2009 at 6:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ain't gonna happen,krogers. In case you have forgotten,we are sharing the wealth now. That could also mean,sharing the poverty.
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on January 10, 2009 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Next we will be hearing that the porn industry is asking for a bailout...oh, wait...already happening...Larry Flint emerges from the shadows with his hand out...
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on January 10, 2009 at 11:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dayumYankee take care now and good luck on your future life wherever that may lead you. I'm sorry that your stay in Natchez turned out to be a bummer:(
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on January 10, 2009 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great piece Ben! One of your very best!!!!!
Mr. Rogers...my daddy told me the same thing about "doing without". How can we appreciate a thing if we never suffer from the lack of it? No wonder my brother fasts.
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