I am amazed at the failure of President Barrack Obama and his followers to recognize and respect the basis of US America's greatness. I am equally alarmed that the President, his unelected czars, and many advisers have a vendetta against the rich and a desire to promote class warfare.
From the earliest days when Europeans landed on our shores our "exceptionalism" has been our outstanding record of economic innovation and gains. The Spanish in Florida and later the English in Jamestowne Virginia came to our shores to find treasure. While gold and silver eluded the earliest settlers they found great fortune in their enterprise and hard work. In my opinion, personal liberty, religious freedom, and all the other rights and privileges we hold dear would follow the yearning to make money. In 1607 the only religion in Jamestowne was Anglican and even the Puritans of 1620 were interested only in the freedom to practise their unique religion. As British subjects, American Colonists were afforded a good measure of free speech, self rule, and most of the rights accorded other British citizens at the time. However, the opportunity to break the bonds of serfdom and indenture ship and make a lot of money were unique to those in North America at the time.
Early settlers discovered the possibility of gaining economic security without the heavy hand of royalty, excessive taxation, and regulations. While we clung to the British model of economic classes many loopholes to those willing to work hard and take chances were available. The harsh lines between the lessor, middling, and gentry groups were blurred by the initiative and industry of risk takers. A man in Williamsburg or Charleston could ascend from being an indentured servant to a skilled craftsman or shopkeeper much quicker in America then in England. Humble but hard working tobacco farmers in Virginia and traders in New England became rich beyond their wildest expectations. Unfortunately, in the main, Africans and Native Americans would be the sad exception to these early opportunities.
By the mid eighteenth century Britain demanded more tribute from it's colonies. In response to larger and more diverse taxes to pay for it's wars, the kings subjects in America became alarmed. Their alarm grew to anger when our trade was blunted by the closure of the Boston Harbor and the implied threat of closing America's other ports. Also, leading patriots grew increasingly irritated at governance from a British Parliament of non Americans thousands of miles away.
But, even as we began a revolt against the greatest power on earth, some Americans were more interested in profits then patriotism. It is recorded history that many farmers in the prosperous growing areas around Valley Forge opted to sell to the British in Philadelphia rather then the quartermasters of Washington's beleaguered troops because of payment in the more valuable sterlings of the British Crown. There are many other examples from our early days revealing, that perhaps, Americans were entrepreneurs before they were patriots.
Nonetheless, our nation was born and prospered on the combination of great personal liberty, great natural resources, and an atmosphere that encouraged and enriched the likes of Robert Fulton, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Bill Gates. Before we became the greatest military power and the most charitable nation on the earth we became the richest nation on earth.
A free population operating in a free market has given us the ability and courage to secure and maintain the many privileges of our citizenship. We have lead the world in championing liberty. We have tirelessly endeavoured to correct and compensate fellow Americans down trodden and mistreated in our early history. Though far from perfect, I believe we are a good people because we have always been a prosperous nation with the energy and resources to share our wealth.
While high mindedness has helped America to greatness, I would suggest that the root of our generosity lies in our unique economic system. The traditional American economic model has historically encouraged and enabled willing people to get rich, provide jobs, and set an example for more creative, intelligent, and risk taking entrepreneurs to follow.
As we cast off the serfdom, royalty, and strict class system of a British Empire several hundred years ago we must also reject the Obama assault. In his words and actions, President Obama seeks to demonize the rich and champion a classless America totally dependent upon the federal government. Whether at the ballot box or, God forbid, with bullets we cannot allow America to abandon it's most basic claim to an "exceptionalism" which still inspires billions of people around the globe.
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