The article you are about to read was written four years ago. Though some names have changed and new programs have been initiated, in view of the Supreme Court’s ruling that government health care, (a misnomer, should be called medical care) is now constitutional, though it is not, the article is deemed to be very appropriate since the more things change the more they stay the same.

Former Senator from Texas, Phil Gramm said, “We have sort of become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, …” Later he clarified what he wanted to say by adding, “The whiners are the leaders. …, the American people are victims, but it didn't quite come out that way in the story.”  Phil Gramm is right on all three counts and here’s why.

We have become a nation of whiners through a large portion of the populace whining about the following: Business is ripping us off — charging enough to stay in business always rips off the customer; Oil companies are making obscene profits — profits are always obscene when the complainers aren’t making them; The government needs to do something about the gasoline prices — they already have by disallowing oil production in this nation which limits supply, driving up the price; The government won’t pay my medical bills — meaning, I’ve spent so much on foolish things I can’t afford health insurance; My welfare benefits aren’t enough to live on — meaning, the “rich” and well off aren’t being taxed enough to support the life style to which I would like to become acustomed; I need help from the government to pay my mortgage or I will lose my home— never mind that I bought an unaffordable house which I shouldn’t have bought in the first place and now I have a mortgage that I knew I couldn’t pay with my present income; The Bible bangers and the unenlightened are going to end abortion — the attitude should be called supporting the slaughter of the innocents; Homosexuals are being denied rights — no matter that nowhere in history have homosexuals been recognized as a class of people who should have special rights, but sin means nothing to them or their supporters; The religious types want to impose religious rule on all of us —  meaning we don’t want to be told how we should behave by anyone, including God. Now that you have gotten the picture, add your own favorite whine and translation.

Phil Gramm hit the politicians right on the head when he said the leaders are whining. The likes of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their ilk whine as follows: The Republicans want to drill and that isn’t the answer to our energy problem — if we allow drilling it will prove that we are fools for preventing the drilling which has forced up prices. I think they will look good with rotten eggs on their faces; Oil production off the coast can cause the beaches to be foul and destroy the tourist industry — never mind that fouled beaches aren’t a problem. The truth is that the tourist industry thinks it is more important than the security and welfare of the whole nation, and the Democrat ilk are carrying the water for them. Can’t spoil the view with oil rigs, now can we?; All the Republicans want is tax cuts for the rich — meaning, those tax cuts are preventing us from having the money to spend on all of the wonderful social programs that we want to install; Those dastardly oil companies are getting filthy rich and they need to pay a windfall profits tax — translation is, we want more money to spend on foolishness and the oil companies are a prime source for our windfall.

With the whining by the foregoing groups, it can readily be understood that all the mollification of the first group is making victims of all the citizens. The politicians are aiding and abetting all kinds of conduct and even instigating it by not allowing reasonable solutions to the problems. The most reasonable solution is to follow the Constitution and stop granting privileges to all the whiners — remember that the term “granting privileges” means we will do this for you to get your vote.

Whining and the consequent acts to appease are making the nation sick. It isn’t oil or global warming. In Sorting It Out, the sickness comes from politicians pandering to the whiners. And who are the whiners? All of the ones who are demanding that the government give to them more and more of the property of others, that’s who.

© 07-17-2008 DEC