American Values and Principles Part One

Part One: American Values and Principles
Throughout the years it has become apparent to me that we as a people have strayed from the basic values and principles that this country was founded on. Like it or not the founders of the country were deeply rooted in morals, values, and principles; traits that seem to be lacking in a lot of people today. While one could list what many would believe to be the most important of these virtues and others would whole heartily agree upon these, a closer examination shows just how difficult it could be to live your life rooted in these qualities.
Throughout the course of ones life there will undoubtedly be times when a person is faced with a choice between what is right and what is easy. At these times people find themselves at odds between what they have always thought and preached, and what they feel is an exception to their own rules. Take for instance something that is in the news today, government bailouts. Is it right for the federal government to give out money to failing corporations? I know some people might fall for the argument that some of these corporations are too big to fail, but take the question just for what it is: Should the federal government be involved in bailing out private companies? Most people would probably say no, that they should not take government money.
Now let’s bring it closer to home. How many people would answer the same way if it was them getting some government money? Once again forget for just a moment all of the “special circumstances” I’m sure many could come up with and just answer that question. Should an individual take any kind of federal government handout? I seem to remember a time when a person was ashamed to take any kind of federal money. If someone was down on their luck they would turn to their family, friends, community, county, or lastly the state, as should be. No federal government involved. It is not their responsibility.
One might say that there are “special circumstances” for instance where a person absolutely needed food stamps, or any number of federal funds. For most of American history people believed in some kind of values and principles where they may have taken food stamps for instance, but they did not want to, did not like being on them, felt ashamed of it, and worked hard to get their self out of this kind of predicament. Now it would seem that people stand around waiting to see what kind of bailout they can get. No work, no effort to changing their circumstances just sitting around waiting on another government check.
It is my aim in this letter (more are to follow) to show, and perhaps convince some people that we as Americans are off the track. To show that this country was founded on certain values and principles that made America the envy of the world and how we have become derailed from those very same values and principles that our founding fathers pledged “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor” to establish for posterity.