they are the takers.

The western front of the United States Capitol. The Capitol serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. It is located in Washington, D.C., on top of Capitol Hill at the east end of the National Mall. The building is marked by its central dome above a rotunda and two wings. It is an exemplar of the Neoclassical architecture style. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let me get this straight, people like Romney are upset that 47% of people are supported by the government in some way?  I guess I did used to see the government as becoming more intrusive away and taking care of people too much.  Still worried about that.  But the fact that so many people are on government assistance tells me that something else is going on.  We are not a country of lazy people.  People put in more hours than ever.  What is really going on here?  Perhaps people like Romney have gathered so much power and wealth that people need that government assistance.  Like a lord in a feudal system complaining that his serfs are keeping some of the grain they farm in order that they have enough sustenance to live. 

The republicans have usurped ideals that American have of being independent, working hard and even learning from their suffering to justify what corporations used to do  In the good old days, government did not play such a big role in people’s lives.  Is it because people are so different today?  I don’t think so.  What has changed is the way people earn a living.

In an agrarian society such as the United States was at our founding, a person’s survival could be an independent endeavor.  There was always a land to go to and work.  Those that were not farmers.  Those that did not farm could do well by learning  a trade and opening their own business.  However, in the late 19^th century man-power decreased in value and human became just equipment in a factory and was valued as such.  The robber Barons prospered and many people suffered.  They had that American spirit of independence and working hard to become a success.  For many, that did not get them too far.  The robber barons amassed great fortunes in unethical ways. 

This appears to be happening again.  The difference this time is that we have learned from the industrial revolution and have ways to protect people from harm.  It is this safety net that keeps the super rich from being labeled robber barons.  Conservatives are being successful in framing this question as Do we want a country of makers or takers?    In asking this question, it makes people yearn for a time that has passed.  What time?  The 1940s and 1950s?  That was perhaps a sweet spot of honest workers and respectful employers.  This time, I contend was created by the backlash to the practices of robber barons and the subsequent legislation that protected the workers.  Yes, the unions.  So we do we want government to go back to hands-off in the affairs of business in America?  This will drive us back to the time of robber barons.  In effect, through the ineffectiveness of government, we have something close to laisses faire.  The conservatives are seizing on this and trying to grab power.  They want more makers and less takers because they are the takers. 

If we try to make things too fair by handicapping business with too much regulation, we will all suffer.  Our country will not be able to move forward.  However, if we unfetter corporations we will return to the 19^th century.  Then we will have to pull the safety net away and let people suffer, children grow up with opportunities, and cause civil unrest.  Of course we cannot do that.  So what would we do? Decrease taxes, remove regulations and increase the safety net.  We are already stretched to our financial limits.  This would also result in more people receiving assistance from the government.  More takers. 

Romney and his cohorts want an easy answer.  There never is.  They want a return to a simpler time.  There was never a simple time.  Just different problems that history has glossed over.  They want someone to blame.  Romney blamed 47% of the population.  They are not innocent.  The 47% perhaps need to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.  However, in laying the blame, I would say he should be balming 46% less people.

I used to be concerned that the united states was heading towards socialism.  No I am more worried about the split between the have and the have nots that lead to revolutions that resulted in socialism.