One of Our Cherished Fables

North Miami Beach, Florida 9-6-2000 Aaron H. Schectman

THINKING ALLOWED

Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome.
ONE OF OUR CHERISHED FABLES

I must point out that a segment of our country's managers of intelligence
are exploiting a fable. That fable is the notion that we are a people with
a glorious history of individualism. Granted, we talk a lot about ancestors
who forged a nation out of the wilderness with their bare hands. These same
ancestors slogged across countless miles of wilderness and wrested prime
prairies out of endless waves of grass and created dustbowls while
annihilating the free ranging animals subsisting on that grass. I could go
on. Where is individualism in this? Invoking individualism is fable,
cherished of course, but still just a fable.

I don't know much about the finances of retirement. I do know that it
would be wrong pushing me to take a part of my savings out of Social
Security to invest it in the stock market or (my teeth ache on this one) in
some business venture. This is not individualism. It is a political ploy
cobbled by a party blinded by the vision of a John Wayne movie. Circle the
wagons folks, the Washington bureaucrats are attacking in waves.

I believe: despite evidence to the contrary when ham-fisted and oblivious
functionaries frustrate simple questions, that our government employees are
the servants of the people - that is, servants of you and me. This is
proven somewhat in this electoral season when we hear from all parties -
Elect Me! I Want to Work Hard for YOU! The bigger the office the larger
the promise to serve you and me. Don't you get it? Elections are about
issues and these are mangled when fables are invoked.

Most of our ancestors from Europe came here looking out after their own
interests for sure. Immigrants from all over the world continue to do so.
However, they had to come together and cooperate if they hoped to survive.
Just think of all the indentured servants and "criminals" who were brought
over here against their best interests. And, just think of the millions of
slaves, those of color and those females, who slaved for the fortunes of the
"individualists" while these worthies claimed credit for what others
accomplished. Indeed, individualism is a fable. Carol's Evaluation 10 out
of 10.