Weekly Thought #6 (opinion)

The French Revolution occurred over 200 years ago, but its message will always be remembered. This period gave truth to the phrase, “taxation without representation.” 97% of the population were considered the lowest class of society; in other words, they were known as the peasants and working class. However, the region seem to be controlled by the rich and royal, who made up only three percent of the population. The government of France had a branch for each class of citizens, with each getting an equal vote. Two of the classes were made up of this three percent, and therefore would always pass measures which favored them; their two votes always outnumbered the one vote that the other 97% was given. What we learned from the Revolution was power exists in numbers; people need to take responsibility for their future; and a political system that doesn’t promote the general welfare is subject to dismissal and disposal, not by the rich, but by the numerous. Although I am not an economist by profession I do consider myself one by interest. I support free markets and low taxes on businesses, but remain worried about the accumulation of so much wealth in shrinking numbers of people. We are witnessing more going to work out of necessity rather than by choice. The middle class is increasingly burdened, and the lower class stuck. Politicians promise change, but we don’t get the delivery. So, who is accountable for these problems we are facing as a nation? Is it our school systems? Is it our employers? Is it our tax structure? Is it our government? Or is the problem ourselves, and our growing lack of organization, community, and human relations? We have blamed others for so long, and it hasn’t worked. Let us start somewhere else and begin blaming ourselves because if we place blame close enough to where we have control over actions, the change we seek isn’t that much further. I blame myself if I waste my time watching televeision rather than watching the local school band. I blame myself if I buy fast food rather than cooking dinner and eating with the family. I blame myself if I support a lottery rather than the local fundraisers. I blame myself if I make an enemy far easier than I make a friend. I blame myself, and that is the first step, Now blame yourself, and we are getting there.