In a letter to George Wythe (August 1786), Thomas Jefferson stated, “If anybody thinks that kings, nobles, or priests are good conservators of the public happiness send them here (France). It is the best school in the universe to cure them of that folly. They will see here with their own eyes that these descriptions of men are an abandoned confederacy against the happiness of the mass of the people. The omnipotence of their effect cannot be better proved than in this country particularly, where notwithstanding the finest soil upon earth, the finest climate under heaven, and a people of the most benevolent, the most gay and amiable character of which the human form is susceptible, where such a people I say, surrounded by so many blessings from nature, are yet loaded with misery by kings, nobles and priests, and by them alone.”
No government has the ability to preserve the fiscal, emotional, occupational, spiritual or any other form of happiness on behalf of the citizenry. No edict or mandate will provide the desired outcome for all people and the expectation of government success in this department is foolish. Each man defines intangible words such as happiness or success in his own mind through the fruits of his labor and the vision of his mind. Yet each election cycle produces additional promises of happiness and success through new programs, laws, departments, directives, tax credits and initiatives.
Have we become so scared as a nation that we are willing to surrender choice for the guarantee of government issued prosperity? Are we willing to forgo are individuality for a false sense of security? One may find that it is easier to blame their current problems on the system as a whole than to make adjustments within their own life. Those who wait for the federal or state governments to rectify the problems in their personal lives will be sorely disappointed. Placing one’s hopes and dreams on the success of any politician is exercise doomed to failure.
Our nation was not built on the benevolence of leaders, but on the labor and knowledge of the public. As we shift the burden of advancement to various elected and appointed officials, the results will be disappointing. As we lose the pioneer spirit that concurred a continent, our chances for success diminish. As a nation, we cannot let our fear of the unknown limit our ability to move forward. We cannot allow a temporary economic decline or war to be the reason for revoking liberty.
The promises of prosperity and happiness delivered by politicians are more than campaign rhetoric. With each statement, the politician is doubting our ability to achieve without their intervention. Each policy created robs the people of freedom, the freedom to succeed or fail on their own merit. America has seen many great success stories and many tragic failures. Are we willing to trade our chances at success for government issued mediocrity?