Today's Sermon

Note: The following is reprinted from the Guest Viewpoint column in the The Signal Item (September 10, 2009). It was written by Mark Hammad.

Sadly, we have become a nation of victims

Over the course of this recession, I have become alarmed at a dangerous trend. We have become a nation of victims, quick to elicit sympathy from whoever will lend an ear.

There is no shortage of news reporters and bloggers hunting for the next "victim" and the next scoop.

There seems to be no shortage of victims lately: foreclosure victims, health care victims, and consumers victimized by their own debt.

This is confusing to me, given that America is the wealthiest nation in the world and there seems to be no shortage of opportunity for those willing to work for it.

Relegating ourselves to become a nation of victims flies in the face of the personal independence and entrepreneurial spirit that this country was founded upon.

Our founding fathers had a strong sense of sovereignty, rooted in their belief that individuals should carry themselves with the same independence and freedom.

We all need to practice more personal responsibility and take steps to ensure that we carry our burden and contribute to our communities instead of siphoning from them.

All too often, victims can find comfort in our government and our elected officials, who relish in positioning themselves as champions of the weak.

Our government and our elected officials have listened and delivered, ensuring that we cannot become victims again.

The favored method is the Congressional hearing, guaranteeing our elected officials face time as champions of the new cause.

• Credit card companies charging too much- that's a Congressional hearing.
• Lead in your child's toys- a Congressional hearing.
• Plane stuck on the tarmac for nine hours- a Congressional hearing.

We do not hesitate to give our government the power to act on our behalf in situations like these, failing to realize that as consumers, we hold more power collectively to influence change in these situations than Congress does.

Consumer spending accounts for roughly 70 percent of the American economy, yet we often do not exercise our power to "vote with our pocketbooks."

If you don't like credit card companies charging you fees and interest, don't use their products; if you don't want lead in your children's toys, don't buy from manufacturers that utilize Chinese-made toys.

Our elected officials have found the perfect prescription for our "victims"- government spending. Congress has taken action to "protect" us from foreclosures, global warming, credit card companies, and are now debating protecting our health.

However, this has all come at a cost, and the one thing our elected officials at every level (federal, state, and local) have failed to protect is the taxpayer's checkbook.

Our crushing national debt and annual deficit is almost unfathomable, in the trillions of dollars and climbing. We are always quick to criticize wasteful government spending, but even quicker to feed at the same trough (i.e. Cash for Clunkers), failing to realize that our actions embolden and confirm in the minds of our elected officials that what they are doing is right.

Like any strong prescription, government spending and debt can have dreaded side effects.

We face many challenges today as a nation, and it is clear that there exist no simple solutions to complex problems and that neither Democrats nor Republicans hold the key to solving problems.

Further, it is clear that we cannot sit back and expect our elected officials to hand us a mandate or solution to our problems.

The health care debate is far from over, and no matter which side of the fence you sit on, we must recognize the burdens we are obligated to carry and the burdens we ask others to carry for us.

We need to balance how much responsibility we give to our government and how much responsibility we are willing to bear.

If we fail to live up to our responsibilities, the government will assume them for us, ensuring that they are met.

It is clear that we all need to step up and take responsibility for ourselves and our actions. Is it too much to ask of one to live within their means and pay all financial obligations on is bound to?

Is it too much to ask of one to pay for an annual health screening or prescription, or do we demand that our insurance cover these costs?

Perhaps it is fitting that car insurance does not cover gas, oil changes, tires, or any other regular maintenance items. Or perhaps, it's time that we demand a Congressional hearing to mandate that car insurance companies provide for basic maintenance.

It's up to you America.

Amen Brother- IKNAB