It is with sadness that I will attempt to address the letters of the previous two weeks; but, first things first. I will begin with my own personal interpretation of what I believe are important truths. Although I am not a history scholar, I am an American with the ability to read and glean understanding.

America’s roots are in freedom, capitalism, and free enterprise. The colonists sacrificed greatly for a chance to live free of tyranny, unnecessary governing, and unfair taxation. These were not greedy, self serving motives on the part of the colonists, rather, generous displays of a genuine belief that there was a better way, and that the American people were willing to work hard to build a strong nation where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were paramount; a nation based upon less government intervention in the lives of the citizenry, and more freedom of the people to pursue their dreams and secure a future for generations to come; a place where diligence and hard work would be rewarded, without the risk of having what they had worked for arbitrarily taken from them; a place where they were free to worship and serve God without government interference; a place governed by their peers, rather than an aristocratic few (hence the term, “government of the people, by the people, and for the people”).

Early settlers were generous in caring for those who were unable to provide for themselves, but did not lend themselves to patronizing those among them who were not inclined to try to help themselves. They sought opportunity, were willing to work hard, and took no interest in handouts. Ours is a legacy built upon freedom and rooted in respect for fellow man. This was to be the “Land of Opportunity,” not the “Land of Entitlement.”

Over the years, we have suffered erosion to the foundation of this country, and we have gotten far away from the intent of the early colonists for America. Ours is no longer a country where we are free to dream of a better way of life with the opportunity to pursue that dream. Government has become big business, and as a result has become more involved in our lives than originally intended. Free enterprise is fast becoming a thing of the past, as the American people are required to support an undue burden of bureaucracy in Washington, causing an emptying of our pockets in order to provide for more government, instead of less; rewarding those who don’t work, at the expense of those who do, and in return leaving those who do work and dream of a future for themselves and their families in a position of lack. This type of policy triggers more welfare programs, since the funds are not available on the local level to adequately provide for those in need.

Many things have changed, and as a result, more change is needed. First, in order to preserve this nation, we need to learn to treat one another with respect, and we need to return to the order set by our founding fathers in the Constitution of the United States.

In lieu of ascribing to a political party, as such, I prefer to refer to myself as a fiscal conservative and a capitalist. I oppose government as big business, along with the high lifetime salaries paid to members of Congress, and I embrace the idea that those members should return to the position of public servants, receiving conservative compensation for carrying out the will of the people. I endorse a return of power to the individual states, as originally provided for by the Constitution, along with a complete overhaul to the way we penalize working citizens through income taxes, while using these funds to finance the business of big government, and while rewarding people’s unwillingness to work, through the handing out of “ government entitlements”. Please remember, the Declaration of Independence provides that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Those are the only entitlements we can claim, and they are all we need in order to achieve greatness.

We need to encourage the fiscal well being of the citizens, encouraging and rewarding hard work and saving. This can be done very simply, by implementing a method of taxation based upon spending rather than earnings. An added benefit to this type of taxation would be that money would be kept in the hands of the people, allowing them to exercise generosity towards those in need, and prudence towards those who simply feel “entitled” to a handout. We need to get back to the basics and be diligent in preserving the integrity of the Constitution.

As I read the letters in the last two issues of The Recorder, I did not perceive benevolence and broadmindedness on the part of the writers. Instead, I perceived tones of anger, hatred, and antagonism. The verbal assault on Christians, Republicans, and Sarah Palin were uncalled for, and out of order. I will be among the first to defend the right of free speech, however, caustic speech aimed at those with differing opinions will only serve to divide this nation further, and we cannot afford that. In order to preserve this nation, we must first learn to treat one another with respect and dignity. I encourage those who read this to consider that it is okay to disagree, but it is not okay to slander and degrade one another. Our tongues are powerful things, and the written word, merely an extension.

I leave you with a profound statement, full of truth, and without guile— a quote from the late Adrian Rogers. Think about this. “You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”

Respectfully, Rose Gilbreath Fairfield