Mar
26
Founded by Geniuses, Run by Idiots
The piece below was put together (I think) by Steven Anglin. I came across it on Facebook the other night (h/t Laura Fichter) and thought, “I have to share this on my blog!” I’ve been trying to contact Steven to confirm his authorship but haven’t heard back, yet. Meanwhile,…
Some of you may be thinking that “geniuses” is a bit of a stretch. It may be a bit of hyperbole, but I think at least a couple of America’s Founding Fathers (e.g., Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson) may well have ranked as “genius”, if given the equivalent of a modern IQ test. National pride and hyperbole aside, for an eclectic bunch of farmers, lawyers, and small businessmen, I think our Fathers did a pretty remarkable job of hammering out and instituting the founding principles & laws of our fair — nay, exceptional — country. In fact, I’d say we have arguably the best constitutional republic and representative democracy in the history of the world.
The “American Experiment”, however, is on wobbly legs, these days. Some people think our founding documents are not just imperfect (with which I agree) but outdated, even bad. They want and are working toward a radically different kind of government, a different kind of society. Those founding principles and the liberties they entail are getting beaten up, ignored, or taken away.
As for the “idiots” charge, I’ll let you decide how accurate that is….
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1. If you can get arrested for hunting or fishing without a license, but not for being in the country illegally,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
2. If you have to get your parents permission to go on a field trip or take an aspirin in school, but not to get an abortion,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
3. If you have to show identification to board an airplane, cash a check, buy liquor, or check out a library book, but not to vote,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
4. If the government wants to ban stable, law-abiding citizens from owning gun magazines with more than ten rounds, but gives 20 F-16 fighter jets to the crazy new leaders in Egypt,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
5. If, in our largest city, you can buy “two” 16-ounce sodas, but not a 24-ounce soda because 24-ounces of a sugary drink might make you fat,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
6. If an 80-year-old woman and 3 yr old child can be stripped searched by the TSA, but a woman in a hijab is only subject to having her neck and head searched,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
7. If your government believes that the best way to eradicate trillions of dollars of debt is to spend trillions more,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
8. If a seven year old boy can be thrown out of school for saying his teacher is cute, but hosting a sexual exploration or diversity class in grade school is perfectly acceptable,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
9. If children are forcibly removed from parents who discipline them with spankings while children of addicts are left in filth and drug infested homes,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
10. If hard work and success are met with higher taxes and more government intrusion, while not working is rewarded with EBT cards, WIC checks, Medicaid, subsidized housing, and free cell phones,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
11. If you pay your mortgage faithfully, denying yourself the newest big screen TV while your neighbor buys iPhones, TVs and new cars, and the government forgives his debt when he defaults on his mortgage,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
12. If being stripped of the ability to defend yourself makes you more safe according to the government,… you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.
‘Nuff said? If not, feel free to add your own (as long as they’re civil)….
