FreeTroll.com

232 years ago a simple pamphlet was published in the fledgling United States. It’s title, Common Sense. It’s author, Anonymous. As I write almost two and a half centuries later, I feel it my turn to put pen to paper, as it were, and share a few of my feelings concerning “common sense” in America. Within these pages I hope to identify Common Sense, where it has gone, and what we can do to get it back.

What is the one thing that most Americans concern themselves with at this point in our history, above all others? Is it global warming? The war in Iraq and Afghanistan? The high price of gasoline? The natural disasters in Asia, the fires raging in California, the storms and tornadoes of the Midwest, or hurricanes of the Gulf Coast that tug at our tender mercies with images of dying and the dead? Or perhaps it is something quite simple, yet very, very close to home.

I am of the opinion it is the latter. To be precise, it is the personal welfare of ourselves as individuals and the welfare of those to whom we hold the closest of bonds, our family and friends. The one thing we all concern ourselves with each and every day is this: how am I going to survive, and if I can sufficiently take care of survival, how can I then go on to thrive? It is this same concern that has been in the thoughts of man and woman alike for thousands of years.

Freedom is the keystone of all progress, whether it be the progress of the individual (who in absolute practical terms is the only true thing of value in this universe) and the progress of the society as a whole. It is freedom that leads one to pursue the greatest self that is within, and it is only when this, the greatest self is found that society at large may benefit. And it has been and continues to be to a certain extent, this great American Experiment that has led so many millions of people at home and abroad to revel in the pure satisfaction of that personal achievement that brings hope to self, and hope to fellow humanity.

In all respects, it is freedom that concerns Americans most. It is my freedom, as an individual, that concerns me. Am I free today to a greater degree to pursue my dreams? Am I free today to a greater degree to assist my neighbor in his pursuit of personal freedom? The genius of this, our American capitalist system is the recognition by our founders of that most compelling of philosophies that has led to the most spectacular acquisition of freedom and wealth this planet has ever seen. The philosophy is that of the “invisible hand”. The philosophy is this: that I, the divine Self, can work for my own self interest in the best possible way only so far as I am able to please my neighbor, to serve my neighbor. By providing a service, a product, to my neighbor, I am providing service to myself.

In 1776 was published another work of great importance to the American Experiment: “An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”. In the book a Scotsman, the great Adam Smith, set forth this notion of the invisible hand: that an individual pursuing his own self-interest (and in todays terms his or her self-interest) is led to improve not only his own interest and lot, but those of his neighbor as well. It is freedom that makes this possible. It is freedom that brings this about. It is freedom that we, as Americans, most concern ourselves with. And it is freedom that this, our broken government, must be repaired to preserve.

And so we have come, in 232 years, from the common sense of our founders to the dismal despair of a lost child. Where has my freedom gone? I live in America, the greatest of countries, the most admired of all nations in spite of her imperfections, yet I do not feel that I am free. I feel that I am living in a slough of deep, despondent mud, trudging to work day after day for the advancement of someone else’s wealth. Day after day we hear the cries of blame: the greed of the oil companies, the stupidity of our President, the worthlessness of our Congress. And yet the blame is to be found in only one place: ourselves.

It is my fault that America is what America is. It is my fault that America is paying now four dollars for gasoline, five dollars next month, six, seven or more next year. It is my fault that there is not enough corn to eat, that poor nations still groan with hunger. It is my fault that our President has an approval rating of 30 percent, that the approval ratings of the grand Congress of these United States has plummeted to 15 percent.

It is my fault, for the founders of this great nation put it within my grasp to build the life I want. This country is no longer the one I believed I was living in as a child. It is no longer the one my father went to war for in Vietnam, the one my grand-uncle died for at Perl Harbor, or the one our great-great grandfathers fought to preserve on the battlefields of the great war between the states. It is all my fault, for I have not stood and declared what I know to my fellow countrymen and countrywomen.

And this is what I know: America is still the greatest hope for all humankind. America is still the shining city that Reagan saw. America is still the desire for millions of our fellows of foreign birth, striving to reach this glorious place, striving to touch the face of Lady Liberty and hear her gentle words: “Come, my tired, poor and yearning, come and rest in the fellowship of our glorious, shining city!” America, with all her shortcomings, with all her foibles and faults, is still the great love of my heart. She still beckons with open arms for all desiring freedom to come.

The stewardship has been passed. The legacy of our fathers is upon us. It is our turn to make of this great nation the hopeful light it has been ordained to be. Let us put aside our hatred, our anger, our contempt, our enmity. Let us come together as Americans, as the great citizens of this great land, and let us repair the cracks, let us mend the holes, let us destroy the vices that have eaten at the foundation of this, our fair and glorious city.

Together we will restore our trust. Together we can repair our land. Together we may bring the great governing hand of Common Sense again into our midst. This is my hope. This is my dream. And this is the dream we all share, as Americans. Together, let us uphold the arms of Liberty, that she may evermore continue to beckon for those who need her most.