Do We Have the Right to Make our own decisions or should government make them for us?
The power we have as U.S. citizens is unmatched in other countries of the world but that power is slowly traveling the road to extension. Extension may be a harsh word to use but when we think of the growth of government and the involvement in our daily lives that power is diminishing. Examples can be seen in laws where government feels they are best qualified to make decisions for us rather than us making our own decisions. Our country began on simple principles that individual liberty was important and individuals made their own decisions without government involvement. To that end these principles was engrained into the Constitution. The principles we currently have in place are the fabric of who we are as a country.
Our individual principles are a reflection of who we are and the principles of our country are who we are as a nation. The present approach or philosophy of government appears to be they are best suited to make decisions for us. This is not the case and never should be. Changing the principles or eliminating them through government action changes who we are as a country. We as individuals should resist any efforts to reduce these liberties through our votes. While there may be some justification in some cases where information is not available to the general public making decisions affecting our lives may be appropriate. This should be exception rather than the rule. Government needs to stop making decisions for us and give the power back to the people. Neither political party is free of blame in the approach being taken as both parties have been in control of Congress.
It is also necessary to understand that in these economic times difficult decisions must be made but they need to be made for the right reasons. Individuals who vote realize they can make a difference by voicing their opinion on the job their elected officials have been doing during their term in office. We as voters must register a complaint through whatever peaceful means is available express our dissatisfaction to inform our elected officials that we disagree with actions by the government to take away our right to make our own decisions. We as citizens have or had a power to affect our lives and the lives of our family and friends. Today however, with the actions being taken by Congress and that has been taken the power to run our own lives seem to be disappearing. Our individual freedom is constantly being attacked not personally but through legislation from Congress.
Our political system is one of the best if not the best in the world. The strength of our country lies not in the government but the people. In any organization the employees who are part of it created the character it exhibits. The same is true of our country. The character and principles of all citizens create the character we display to the rest of the world. Elected officials must realize if they do not now that government is not the country, it is the citizens. This election year we as voters must evaluate the actions of our elected officials who are up for re-election. This involves making a determination if the decisions made were based on party lines or what is right for the country. Each individual who is eligible to vote must exercise that power to decide if we are on the right course as a country or if we need to change direction. It is up to us.
