On the precipice of Michael Moore’s newest film “SiCKO” being released, I couldn’t help but start thinking once again what sad shape our once proud nation is in. It needs fixing folks, and it’s not the government’s, the ACLU’s, your teacher’s, or your neighbor’s job to fix it. It’s yours, and yours alone.
Take a moment to consider this somewhat famous pattern of previous societies in history, which is quoted by many (now including myself):
1. From Bondage to Spiritual Faith
2. From Spiritual Faith to Great Courage
3. From Great Courage to Liberty
4. From Liberty to Abundance
5. From Abundance to Excess and Selfishness
6. From Selfishness to Complacency
7. From Complacency to Apathy
8. From Apathy to Moral Decay
9. From Moral Decay to Dependence
10. Finally, from Dependence to Bondage
Though somewhat general in terms it is easy to apply the history of the United States to this list. Phases one, two, and three are the process of being repressed, separating, and finally declaring freedom from Britian. Three and four describe our nation’s path through growth in financial as well as industrial sectors in the 1800’s. Five and beyond easily describe the final apex and slow decline we’ve begun to see in the latter half of the last century.
Which brings me to why I’m so frustrated with movies like “SiCKO”. Yes, there is a problem. Yes, it needs fixing. However the solution Michael Moore will attempt to bring to the forefront of everyone’s mind is foolish. I’m certain his “solution” involves yet more dependence on the Federal government, not less. The very same Federal Government he claims is corrupt and is responsible for “Fahrenheit 9/11″, by the way. (Way to go with consistency, Mike. Yea, you can go through all the effort of making a feature film about a problem–but do absolutely nothing yourself actually try and fix it. What a waste of time …but not money!)
People, if you do not want to see the United States slowly destroy itself action must be taken. We could quite possibly be the first country in history to actually know our history and change it before it happens.
This involves a simple notion: Stop whining, being lazy, and complacent, and just fix it. Get up from your couch and start doing things. Don’t expect the government or anyone else to come and save the day. You do it. In fact, you have the right and obligation to do it.
In a conversation I recently replied to someone candidly, “Well, The government works for you, after all; you’re the boss.”
What I heard back still stuns me:
“I never really thought about it that way.”
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
-George Santayana, 1905
