Recently, as laws restricting and taxing smokers have gone into effect, I've heard a number of complaints related to this loss of "freedom." Most--in fact, hopefully all--of these laws were passed with majority support in their respective jurisdictions. Despite that, I've heard them used as evidence of the downfall of American democracy (a misunderstanding of democracy, IMO).
So let's consider for a moment the slippery slope on which we all reside; How the founding fathers might have envisioned protecting "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" when, in fact, two citizens have very different ideas of those things.
If you've been paying attention to the news lately, there has been a lot of talk about capitalism and socialism, and a lot of folks quick to try to label each of us. Interesting how we do this, isn't it? Republican or Democrat, a member of PETA or a 24/7 gun-toting member of the NRA, a tree hugger or a hater of polar bears, a Yankees fan or a Red Sox fan. In reality, these lines have limited useful applicability in our everyday lives (okay, with the exception of the Red Sox\Yankees). Rhetoric aside, most don't actually want to live in a truly black\white world. And for good reason.
A purely capitalist society, for instance, would tell those grumbling in the first paragraph--yes, you can smoke anywhere you want and without paying extra taxes for your addiction... but here is the piece of paper you have to sign saying that you will foot the potential million dollars in medical expenses if you get any type of cancer scientifically attributable to smoking. Furthermore, that when you can't afford that million dollars, you will be left to die. A true capitalist society says that, even if you show up in the ER with an infection or anything easily fixable with a prescription, if you can't afford that prescription you have to live with whatever consequence of that infection--including disability and death--until you can. Even if you are a hard-working student, an industrious entrepreneur, or a veteran of our armed forces. A 100% capitalist society has no program to help the starving children, rescue the abandoned babies or care for those children handed a negative plight by zero fault of their own. A capitalist society says that even if you are working hard at your job, even if you have been there 25 years, on time every day, that if you get hurt through your employer's negligence, you are on your own--no disability, no workers' comp.
Socialism? A purely socialist society would effectively strip us of all our civil liberties and leave us at the mercy of whoever had most recently seized power. Every child would be rescued, every vagrant have a home, but we wouldn't be able to offer them much hope. Those who would be productive, accountable members of society would be held at the same level as those who refuse to work, refuse to take ownership of their lives. Instead of only a certain percentage of the population being poor, most of us would be, as all the things we currently understand about what brings financial success and well-being are rules that would no longer apply. We could lay down our guns and destroy our nuclear weapons and know that it would only be in exchange for letting someone else point their guns at us, as a noble gesture has never carried much weight with those who don't play by the high moral principles we idealize. In trying to save everyone, we would save no one.
We can be thankful that the United States is neither of these. We are challenged because real life isn't black or white, Republican or Democrat, PETA or NRA. In real life, we--as Americans--and our ancestors before us, have accepted the very difficult task of trying to find that tricky middle ground. The one where people are free to learn and invent and achieve, but where compassion reaches out to those who might need help just for a moment. A health care system that saves those who can be saved, but that doesn't burden everyone else to the breaking point. A welfare system that can swoop in--on taxpayer mandate--to help the 10-day-old left at a hospital, to help set it on a productive life path, but without rewarding the addict mother. An energy infrastructure that supports our growing civilization without destroying the earth it is built upon.
Do we struggle? Of course we struggle. Do we sometimes make mistakes? There's no doubt we make mistakes. It is an awesome responsibility. But what a tremendous gift that we have these decisions to make and are free to make them. People talk about the death of freedom when things don't go the way they want, but our true freedom as a people is in the fact we can talk and act and argue, hopefully with an appropriate degree of respect for each other. Our true freedom is that we can win and lose and then get up tomorrow and do it all over again. Not everyday will be won and not everyday will be lost, but together--through the collection of those days--we are hopefully building something better for the next generation.
It is a slippery slope we have before us, and behind us--ours is not the first generation to grapple with difficult issues--, but the fact we continue to work our way along it, without caving to either extreme, always trying to measure--even to the point of exhaustion--what that right balance of compassion and prudence might be... that's what sets this country apart from so many others.
If you're wondering, I did speak up and share my views with the people having the smoking discussion. I don't know that I changed minds, but I know that we all walked away with something to think about, myself included. That is the primary reason I know their claims about America's decline have yet to materialize... because we are able to have those discussions, even though they aren't always easy, convenient or fun. For my part, in the 30-60 seconds before I waded into their heated conversation my introverted self was already trying to get the extrovert I knew was about to say something to shut up. But the extrovert was right to speak.
We are supposed to talk. We are supposed to listen. We don't have to always agree.
What are some of the discussions going on in your lives?
Health care! Health care! Health care! We can't seem to talk about anything else at this point. ;)
Posted by: Frankie Gregorio | Sep 25, 2009 at 06:51 PM
"the public option"--Same here, Frankie!
Posted by: Jessica Sanchez | Sep 26, 2009 at 08:31 AM
We've been talking about our schools. We want our kids to have extra-curricular activities and a superior education. Surely there is a way?
Posted by: Heather M | Sep 29, 2009 at 07:24 PM
We are wondering if low gas prices will make everyone forget how important energy reform is!
Posted by: Mark A | Sep 30, 2009 at 08:41 AM
@Mark. I hope not ;(
Posted by: Alex | Oct 01, 2009 at 01:00 PM