by Ray Newman, radio and television commentator, attorney, educator, author

Monday, July 13, 2009

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

One of the diamonds of the American way of life is Equality...that laws apply the same to all of us regardless of our differences in race, religion, creed, gender, place of origin, etc. It was the motivating ideal behind the concept of unalienable rights. Having come originally from a class-based society, we were sensitive to the inherent unfairness of government favoritism benefitting some at the expense of others. Has equal treatment under the law always been achieved? No. But it remained the glittering ideal.

Until now. President Obama and Congressional Democrats have overtly abandoned the ideal, unleashing a torrent of programs that give preferential treatment to select groups. The poor, the disadvantaged, the minority, now compose the reigning class. Its needs preempt the property rights of others to spend their funds as they see fit. "Unalienable" is no longer recognized as a word. We are returning to our class-based roots.

It is loosely stated that the needs of the needy (whatever and whoever they are) are to be paid for by "the rich." Actually, that identification is a misnomer since it is not the rich necessarily that will bear the costs but the higher adjusted gross income earner, via increased taxes. A billionaire who keeps his or her money in a safe deposit box now pays and will pay nothing, nada, zilch, for government services and benefits (like schooling, fire and police and military protection, stimulus programs, etc.). It is the higher wage earner, the producer, the successful entrepeneur that provides jobs to others, that is illegally and unconstitutionally being singled out in violation of the principle of equal rights.

Notice that the President's nominee to the Supreme Court has stated that she will infuse compassion (aka unequal legal standards) into her judicial rulings. That could be the final straw to unify the power of all three branches of government to the destruction of Equality.

That all of this is done proudly by those in political power is a testament to their ignorance of (or worse, hatred of) the concept of Equality and why it is such a glorious ideal. It reflects a disdain for individualism and achievement. I leave it to others more knowledgeable than I to figure out the swamp of misguided emotions that is propelling America's fall from grace.

We may need another Revolution.

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