An Ignoble Death

After hearing the results of the primaries that took place yesterday, I am at a loss to understand what has become of the infamous "Yankee Spirit." Up through even the 1970's we were known for and proud of the heritage that taught us we were responsible for ourselves and our families. We were generous in caring for our friends and neighbors, faithful to the tenets of our constitution and accepted the Bill of Rights as sacrosanct. We believed in ourselves, in the strength of our character and the dignity of perseverance.

None of us expected the government to take care of us or our families, that was our job. We didn't ask for or accept the government stepping in to usurp what was rightfully our own, the self-respect we earned through hard work and diligence. When disaster befell one of us, our family, our church or our neighbors were there to offer the help we needed to get back on our feet.

We raised our children to have an intimate knowledge of "consequences" and they grew into adults who shared the values we held dear.

We valued education but that didn't mean that college was the only education that had any meaning. The farmer, the mechanic, and the plumber were as respected for their knowledge and ability as the engineer who lived down the street.

We prepared for the future, saved our money, were frugal, valued self-reliance over "things." We were the opposite of a disposable culture.

Unfortunately, that "Yankee" no longer exists. His heart may still beat somewhere in the far reaches of one of the colonies but he cannot be revived. He has died an ignoble death. In his place has arisen a citizenry who has been taught that the individual is either too feeble to take care of one's self and one's family or too greedy to care what troubles come to our fellow man and therefore need a the powerful, strong hand of the government to equalize everyone; a government who will distribute to each according to their needs. Hmmm, where have I heard that phrase before?

It is indeed a sad day when our children are taught that someone else is responsible for meeting not only their needs but their every desire. That child will suckle at the teat of Mother America until the teat is dry at which time they will be ill equipped to sustain themselves. They will pass from this life without ever having known the pride that comes from being a strong, self-reliant Yankee.

 

My little New England village had revolutionary troops march through in the 1700's. In the 1970's there were 7 large working dairy farms. It now has 1. The village had 1500 residents most of whom had several generations of ancestors buried in one of the town's graveyards. We had a Town Meeting form of government, probably the closest thing you will find to a true democratic republic. Our selectmen were working people who often came into the office with manure on their boots and sweat rings under their arms. When faced with a mandated fiscal year conversion that left us with only 60 percent of our tax revenue available for a year's operation, we set aside a fiscal year conversion fund and for 10 years, prepared for the shortage by adding 1 mil to our tax rate and putting it in that fund. We did this so we would not have to borrow money to keep the town afloat during that period. We attended town meetings and actively participated in every decision that affected our community.

Today we have over 6,000 residents, most of whom know each other only from the little league field. We have a town manager and voter participation is around 10%. The farms have been replaced by McMansions. The farmers have been replaced by corporate executives. There are more Jaguars than Fords, Chevy's or Farmall's

Yesterday I read that 62.6% of the current resident of this town voted for Bernie Sanders. That is what this thread was all about.

 

The loss of small town America is being felt across all of this country. People want....but fail to participate in nor contribute to their communities as they used to. Call it a another sign, that the end is near......

Times are changing....and not for the better!!!