Why or what does the government owe me and other Americans?

[buckettgirl]

A previous letter to the editor of my local paper generated some pretty nasty responses. One of these responses basically asked "why does the government owe you?" Here is my answer, and it will be mailed off to my local paper in the morning. I urge you to pass this along to others, to speak out whenever you can.


First and foremost, this government owes ALL Americans the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is the language of our founding fathers; this is the basis of America. It is up to all the citizens of this great country to help protect those rights. In my humble opinion, the only way we can preserve these rights is to remain open-minded, critical thinkers – to question authority and the media, and not to believe everything that is told to us.
This means that all Americans should know the truth about the government and its policies; otherwise citizens make choices that are against their own interest and put the future of this country in jeopardy. If we are forced to remain misinformed and given misleading and untrue information from our government, then the government has trampled upon our rights to make choices and decisions for ourselves – the government has played us for fools.
The government owes its people equal rights and equal treatment regardless of income level, age, race, gender, size, disability and sexual orientation. A democracy is supposed to uphold the principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.
This is why and what I think the government owes me. Why do you think it doesn’t owe every American this?
The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – those sound like some pretty darn good rights. However, it deeply saddens me as each day I see these rights trampled upon by our government. Each day that Bush and his cronies remain in office is a day closer to dictatorship and a fascist regime. A day closer to losing those precious rights. A fascist government doesn’t owe its citizens anything.
The people of this country don’t deserve that. The name America should never stand for hatred, persecution, discrimination, and intolerance. I do know that the people of this country owe it to themselves to unite against the perversion that is this administration. Forget about red and blue. Forget about liberal and conservative. Forget about religious and moral differences. We are human first, Americans second, after that, none of it should matter. America stands for democracy and Americans owe this country to stand up in the face of fascism.
“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. “
- Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1, December 19, 1776

Amanda from Kansas

[SemperEadem]

1. ah, that great Democrat, John F. Kennedy's inauguration speech

said: "Ahsk not what your country can do for you, ahsk what you can do for your country..."

[buckettgirl]

2. I think at this moment in American history

No other words could ring so true. If Americans don't fight for America, we will lose her forever.

[SemperEadem]

3. But seriously

I believe that this country owes me the commitment to upholding the constitution as it's written; keeping the commitment to the separation of church and state--and if they can't do that, then declare which religous sect will be the prevailing religion in this country; it owes me open disclosure of anything directly or indirectly affecting my rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; it owes me relief from taxation without adequate representation; it owes me the truth of its intentions; it owes me accountability for its actions; it owes me its standing in its truth and taking its asswhippin' like an adult for its beliefs, for only a child complains of having to accept its punishment as unfair.