The other day, I did something I rarely do. I drove past the downtown section of the People’s Republic of Berkeley.
In the center divider island of Adeline Street was a rag-tag protest encampment. Tent City began about four weeks ago to protest California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts to state services, as the state is broke and faces yet another year of budget deficits – an estimated $19 billion deficit for fiscal year 2010-2011.
Tent City protester Peni Hall clowns around under a likeness of an ax-wielding Schwarzenegger
As of January 2009, California ranked first among the 50 states in total debt — of $114.7 billion. In June 2009, California officials were stunned by Moody’s decision to place the state’s general obligation debt on alert for a possible “multi-notch” downgrade. Already, the state’s A2 credit rating made California the lowest rated of the 50 states. Interest costs on that debt are expected to nearly double to over $10 billion a year by 2020, which is a truly insane way to run a state or one’s life.
Berkeley’s Tent City is protesting Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts to In-Home Supportive Services, a program that provides caregivers to disabled and elderly people in their homes to help them with tasks ranging from cooking to getting to doctor’s appointments — assistance that traditionally were provided by families, friends, and religious charities.
But the bipartisan Political Ruling Class has systematically chipped away the integrity of the family, transferring its role and functions to the state, making more and more Americans atomized and increasingly dependent on the Nanny-BigBrother State. In this manner, government grows more and more obese and dysfunctional while civil society — the bedrock of a democratic polity — withers away. (See Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone on how Americans have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and our democratic structures.) The kindness and love of families, friends, and religious charities are replaced with checks doled by impersonal bureaucrats of the Nanny-BigBrother state, while the appreciation and gratitude of those receiving help are replaced with self-indulgent narcissism and an arrogant sense of entitlement.
All of which accrues to the benefit only of the power-mad Political Ruling Class and its apparatchik functionaries. That is why, even in the present Great Recession, the number of government employees apparatchiki is increasing even as jobs in the private sector disappear.
Berkeley’s Tent City is made up of 17 tents and their residents, a makeshift outdoor kitchen, a community bulletin board and daily events. Driving past, I saw a big sign that says:
Home Care Is a Civil Right
Hmmm, no, it’s not. It’s not even a right under the Constitution of the now defunct Soviet Union.
In fact, Amerika today is worse than the Soviet Union. The latter’s Constitution specified every citizen had a duty to work, whereas parasitic Americans claim it’s their ”civil right” not to work but to leech off the labor of those who do. Article 59 of the 1977 Soviet Constitution stated that citizens’ exercise of their rights was inseparable from performance of their duties. Articles 60 through 69 defined these duties. Citizens were required to work and to observe labor discipline. The legal code labeled evasion of work as “parasitism” and provided punishment for this crime.
In Amerika, however, ”Home Care Is a Civil Right.” This is my response to that sign:
And we wonder where illegal aliens got their idea:
~Eowyn
What is wrong with these people? Our society is in such trouble, and most of it is the fault of the government. I remember when families took care of their elderly members and treated them with utmost respect. In our family, no one was ever put in a nursing home. My grandparents, aunts and uncles all had an elderly parent living with them. They were an important family member. I would NOT be the person that I am today without the close relationships that I had with my mom’s parents. They are the ones most responsible for the values that I have today. Plus, I only wish I had written down the many stories my grandmother used to tell me about the CivilWar and what our family did during that period. These stories were things that should have been recorded. Families must stand strong or our society will fall.
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We have good and great people in America! The best! Whatever happened to our dependency on ourselves, and not on the government! Whatever happened to our self-reliance to take care of our families, of the poor and others?
I was part of an organization, on the Board for ten years and its Chair for a couple of years, of an organization in Carson City, Nevada, called, “FISH,” – Friends In Service Helping. The majority of our funding monies came from the community, and a very, very minor amount of it came from the government. Why? Because we were accountable to the community, had open books and were so effective in helping people! It was started by members of the churches in the area to help people having hard times, people who were hungry and people who were homeless. The Board members received no salaries or benefits, but we were happy to work together to create a new dining room, set up homeless shelters, lobby for the poor, get a GED education room set up so people could get their high school degrees, help people in rehabiliation programs from their addictive choices, and ultimately help people get jobs and be proud of themselves, AND TO CONTRIBUTE AND GIVE TO OTHERS. Family members should take care of others and help the elderly and those that are suffering and not have the attitude of, “Well, that’s what happens when you get old.” This was something that was sent to me in a card by a famiily member. When I opened it, I hoped I would never become so callous and insensitive to suffering. America is great, and what has made America great is its loving and kind spirit, coupled though with requiring people to be responsible for themselves and expecting people to use the talents that God gave them. We don’t need the government to provide us with everything-WE AMERICANS MUST DO THIS OURSELVES! This liberal lazy crap has got to go!!! America has become great because of its virtues, not because of its laziness and sense of entitlement! What the hell is wrong with people!
Bravo Joan Bravo!!!
I will never understand the mentality of a lib…home care is a right? Have they even read the Constitution? And can they not do math? How in the heck is CA supposed to pay for this?
Yet this is the mentality that the progressive elitists create for their constituents. Dependent upon their nanny govt for their every want and desire.
I truly believe libs are the most selfish people. My mom threw her mom in a nursing home (under Medicare) and proceeded to move OUT OF STATE. Left my sis & I responsible for watching out for her. No sense of responsibility for caring for her whatsoever. Personal responsibility is severely lacking in libs these days…
Our Lord said, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.” We have to help our families, people who are suffering, people in our communities! The government cannot do this for us!