Quotable Quote

The interesting thing about what we see happening in our country today is that it's happened before. You know, "history repeats itself" and all that good stuff. It really does. Mankind is just really not very original in our societal tendencies. We rise, we fall, we know what's right and don't do it, then we get into trouble and start doing what we know we should have been doing all along.

What's unique about our situation in America is that I'm not sure anymore that many of our citizens have much of a compass. The family is breaking down along with personal responsibility for one's actions. Nobody knows relative current events, much less historical events. I heard this quote earlier in the week and it struck me for a number of reasons:

"In the end, more than freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all – security, comfort, and freedom. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free and was never free again."

Edward Gibbon, "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", 1776

I thought the word choice of security, comfort, and freedom was on the mark. This is what everyone seems to want today and feel that they deserve. There is a catch though. If someone else provides the security and comfort you desire, then you have forfeited some degree of freedom. As our country creeps closer to the tipping point of more people receiving than giving (remember right now 46% of Americans do NOT pay federal income taxes and more than 30% actually make money from the government from the tax system), the latter part of the quote seems fitting. Americans today do not want to "give to society" but prefer "society to give to them" and freedom from responsibility is the most en vogue trend out there.

I think these attitudes are so prevalent that it's easy for some of us who even agree with concepts of fiscal responsibility and self reliance can stand a good look in the mirror. There are times when I catch myself kicking against the very habits and decisions that would keep me free. Nobody is entitled to comfort and security. The attitude is everywhere and it's very catching!

I'm hoping this week's news, particularly in the financial markets, is very boring...