The Bill of Responsibilities by T. Edwin Perry
Prior to posting here at MaverickVoice.com, I’ve posted numerous items through my Notes section at Facebook.com. I have used that forum to share my thoughts, and some of these posts remain, in my mind, as being just as pertinent today. The following is a repost from Facebook from July 1, 2009. I hope that you will appreciate it.
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Do you remember the old joke: “What did Bill Clinton do when the Abortion Bill landed on his desk?” The answer is, “He Paid It.” I don’t normally start with a joke, but, in this case, it seemed appropriate, because I’ve been thinking long and hard about a little thing we call the “Bill of Rights.” For those of you who didn’t pay attention in history class, this is the first ten amendments to the US Constitution, which guarantees you such freedoms as the right to Own & Bear Arms; the right to a free and unbiased Press; the right to Assemble; the right to Worship; the right to property without unjust Search or Seizure; the right to Trial by Jury; and, my favorite of all, the right to FREE SPEECH, without which this rant could mean my imprisonment. These ten amendments were so important, that they were all ratified and applied at the same time, in 1791. And, here’s another tidbit of data: There are only 27 amendments to date, meaning that they represent more than one third of all amendments to the Constitution. That’s a pretty big deal, in my mind.
But it’s not just about rights, is it? I mean, the Bill of Rights was based in a time when men and women, regardless of their political or economic positions, were expected to take care of themselves. It was a hard, difficult life, where dead crops meant hungry children, but these hardships also drove the American People to bigger and better things. They didn’t go running to the government for handouts every time they had a problem. The fixed them, they worked around them, or they changed their course. It was a time of responsibility, and it was the key ingredient to the greatness that this nation has achieved.
Unfortunately, we don’t tend to be that responsible anymore. We have Government Subsidy in farming, Government Bailouts of banks and industries, we have Government Entitlements to education and healthcare, and we have Government Handouts in the form of welfare housing, food and clothing. I’ve seen commercials on TV about being entitled to a FREE CELLPHONE & service if you’re on welfare. There are organizations whose entire drive is to help people get on food stamps. We’ve gone from being a “Stand Up” nation to a “Hand Out” nation.
The time has come to make a change. Here’s my proposal. I call it the “Bill of Responsibilities.” While I am a conservative, I don’t think that this proposal requires a liberal or conservative slant to be considered appropriate. Read it with an open mind. Feel free to disagree, but I ask you to first put yourself in both sides of the equation. I’m pretty sure you’ll find it to be fair. (And, though I have tried to keep this rant brief, I know for certain that I will fail.)
1) Obtain Your Education
As an American Citizen, you have the right to a free and public education, but you have the responsibility to actually learn from that education. It is the responsibility of parents to encourage their children to study, and the responsibility of the child to learn. Disabilities are not an automatic excuse to fail; they are a challenge to overcome. (ie: I am dyslexic, but I still graduated in the top 10% of my class.) Except in specific circumstances wherein a student must leave school to join the workforce to support their family, any individual who “drops out” prior to High School Graduation automatically waives their right to public assistance in the form of Welfare, Social Security, Unemployment Compensation or any other assistance program until they obtain a High School Equivalency (GED) Certificate. Dropping out of school makes it difficult to obtain a job, and the consequence of that choice should not be parlayed into a burden on society.
2) Bankruptcy May Only be Approved when the Applicant Proves that All Other Means to Avoid Bankruptcy Have Been Exhausted
Our society has become frivolous, and it is not uncommon for individuals to go out, run up enormous debts on unsecured credit cards, and then file for bankruptcy, only to be allowed to keep the spoils of their fraud. (In other words, they buy it, they keep it, and the creditor gets stuck with the bill.) Bankruptcy Protection is intended for those who have worked hard, who have tried all means to meet their payment responsibilities, but, through no fault of their own, are unable to pay back the debt. It is the responsibility of the individual to spend no more than they can afford to pay, and they must take responsibility for their debts. By requiring a stricter application of Bankruptcy Law, we can reduce the burden of this frivolity on our economy. Maybe individuals will have to wait a little longer to buy the new car or big screen television, but we cannot support the economy by “Robbing Peter to Pay Paul,” as they saying goes. It is not sustainable, and only makes it harder for those who are playing by the rules to get ahead. This goes for business, too. Don’t expect a government handout when you’re paying more than your business could reasonably produce.
3) Limit the Amount of Time that Any Individual may receive Government Assistance (Welfare, Subsidy, etc).
Except in cases where an individual is permanently disabled, Welfare Programs should be limited to a reasonable time wherein the individual may obtain employment and regain their standing. This includes unemployment compensation, food stamps, housing subsidies and transportation assistance. People should be encouraged to look for the job they want, but that doesn’t mean holding out forever at the expense of their neighbors. If you can’t find the job you want, take the job you can get. There should be no such thing as a job “Americans Just Won’t Do.” That’s not what this country was built on, and it is most definitely the type of philosophy that encourages slavery. It is the embodiment of SLOTH to refuse work because it is “beneath you.” If you believe any job is beneath you, then you do not deserve the assistance of our society. On that same note, take advantage of the assistance to expand your education, to learn a new trade that is more in demand at the time, or to possibly start your own business. In this way, you reduce the need for assistance, and may actually be of even greater benefit to your community by providing jobs for your neighbors. You can never be too small to succeed. (That’s my personal philosophy, by the way.)
4) Take Responsibility for Your Family
This one goes along the same lines as #3. I’ve known people who had the goal of spitting out a couple of kids by graduation so they could get their perpetual child support checks from the government. Having a child is a choice. You choose to have sex. You choose to keep the baby. (I’m not saying abort, but the child can always be placed for adoption.) If you make the choice, why should the public be denied the choice of whether or not to support you? Plan ahead. Condoms are much cheaper than children. Buy a few and protect yourself, and, by doing so, protect the public, as well. If and when you choose to have a child, do so with the knowledge that you can and will support them yourself. Take responsibility to nurture and guide your child, and provide for them as best you can. They don’t NEED the brand new Wii system or $90 Reebok sneakers that they’ll grow out of in two weeks, but they do need a stable home environment, parents who love and care for them, and the encouragement to succeed in their own lives.
5) Those in Government are Required to Conform with the Same Laws as Those who are Governed
This is the deal breaker for most in politics, regardless of their political affiliation. You see, there’s a reason that they are called “Public Servants.” Of course, when is the last time you encountered a “Servant” that earned more than their employers? I’ll tell you when. It was the last time you met your elected officials. Those serving in State and Federal Congressional Positions are often immune to the very same laws that they pass, and they receive benefits for life, which far exceed the average of their constituency. They have health care services, which are unrestricted and paid for by your tax dollars, and retirement plans, which require no contribution on their own part, but will support them for life, regardless of their performance in their elected position. This immunity from their own legislations means that they have no vested interest in writing laws that make sense, and that actually benefit their constituents. It’s the reason why they can be so easily influenced by special interest lobbyists who couldn’t care less about you, but will fight tooth and nail to save the blue-bellied, one-eyed skink from extinction. (Yeah, I made the animal up to prove the point.)
6) Elected Officials must have Reasonable Term Limits, and Must Return to Private Business at the End of their Elected Terms
With the exception of the President and Vice-President, all other elected officials are interchangeable. Politics has become one of the most desirable career paths in the country, because it is chock full of permanent entitlements and benefits. Our founding fathers served short terms in Congress because they had to go home and work their farms and businesses, and tend to their families. It kept them in touch with their constituents, and ensured that they worked for the benefit of the people instead of themselves. Lifetime members of Congress should not be allowed. They should be expected to serve two terms, at most, in any one position. This will encourage growth, new ideas and a greater control of the Government BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE. It will also challenge these representatives to do GOOD WORK so they can be elected to a higher position. The two-term restriction on the President helps to ensure that we never need to defend ourselves from a Tyrannical King or Self-Appointed Dictator. Why should we permit such despotic potential in our lower bodies of government? And, at the end of their Public Service, they should be expected to get a job and work like the rest of us. If you can’t get elected to a higher position, then go out and find a job in the private sector. No more “Golden Parachute” plans. The only exception to this should be the President and Vice-President, since they have gone as far as they can politically, and should be supported by the people for their own safety.
I am not naive. I am well aware that my “Bill of Responsibilities” will never be adopted by our Government. To limit entitlements takes away control of the masses by both sides of the political aisle, and support of such legislation would result in the end of any potential political career. (It’s one of the reasons why I would never run for office.) Additionally, no politician would intentionally limit the power and wealth that they may accumulate as part of the political machine that is our government.
But it never hurts to dream……..
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