A Blog Post from an Old Friend

Don't Feed the Bears!

By Bill Shiver 

Thursday, March 22, 2012, at 10:06 p.m. 

There are bears up here where I live. Most folks in these parts know that you shouldn't feed the bears. Bears get used to being fed. They forget how to hunt and forage for food. They just come around, waiting to be fed. And bad things happen. Especially when you stop feeeding them.

We've been feeding the bears in America for over half-century. Now it's caught up with us. First we called it "going on relief." That was back when someone fell on hard times and the communty, church, civic clubs and neighbors chipped in to help. There was a stigma attached to "relief." You were dubbed lazy, sorry, unwilling to work to support your family. Nobody much wanted to go on "relief." Then it became "welfare." And soon after, "entitlements." Folks were entitled to stuff. Money, food, housing, healthcare. You name it. If I really believed that our politicians came up with these "entitlements" to help people, ease people's pain, make life easier, eradicate poverty...then, I would feel better. But, I know in my heart of hearts that "entitlements" were there to do one thing. To get votes. Bribes. Want some candy, then vote for me.

An enormous number of people today live at the expense of taxpayers. Our goverment has donned a Robin Hood hat and taken from those who have to give to those who don't. Many would say to take from those who work, and give it to those who won't.

This didn't happen recently. It started in earnest with FDR's New Deal, matured with Johnson's Great Society, and has flourished through the efforts of both Republicans and Democrats. Want some candy, then vote for me.

Aiding and abetting this process was the startling importance placed on "Party Affiliations." Everything in our government revolved around "party." Have a great idea? Well, first we need to know if you're Democrat or Republican so we can see if we need to listen to your idea or not. I was always under the impression that a good idea was a good idea regardless of who came up with it. Not so in Washington DC.

We need a change. A change in the White House as well as changes in Congress. We're stuck with career politicians running the country who are more concerned with their own circumstances than the plight of you and me. This will not change.

Even a new President and a Republican Senate won't change much. Because we have come too far down the road of becoming a society which expects to be fed, clothed, housed, medicated and rocked to sleep by our government. Almost half the population pays no Federal Income Tax, but many get refunds. Don't touch Medicare. Don't screw with Medicaid. Leave Social Security alone.

Fact is, it won't be long before matters will probably be taken out of our hands. If the national debt continues to skyrocket, the value of the dollar continues to be compromised and the entitlements keep on rolling along, things will grind to a halt on their own. No matter who is President. No matter what party is in control. The fat lady will sing loudly and off key and the curtain will come tumbling down on what was once the greatest country on the face of the planet.

And we won't be able to feed the bears any more. And there will be rioting. Looting. Fires. Killing. And much more. The bears will show us why it isn't a good idea to feed them. At least so much for so long.

God, I hope I'm wrong. But when you look at where we were and where we have allowed ourselves to go, I don't see any blue skies behind the dark clouds. All we can do is speak our minds to as many that will listen. And pray. Pray a lot. And hope that God hasn't given up on us too.