A Comment Response - Personal Responsiblity and Wealth - American Citizenry

In response to the rather large comment left below the Milton Friedman link; it's a bit too large to quote directly, but I want to give a few general thoughts about what I have read.

First off, let me say thank-you to whomever you are. You are the standard for what a concerned citizen of this country should be; active and vocal, looking to make a difference. I applaud your efforts. I would, however, like to make some points for you to consider. Feel free to contact me either through this page or by my email; kelbylovelady@gmail.com.

First off, I want to remind you directly that wealthy does not in and of itself equal evil. Wealth is a product of hard work. (Of course, there will be exceptions at every level, but I'm speaking generally now.) These people spend every waking moment working, or attempting to figure out what to do with the wealth they've acquired. It's not easy to see from a middle class perspective, but wealth creates it's own monster. Having millions, or billions, of dollars creates wealth by itself (interest); not to mention that the mechanics of that money making are probably still continuing to make money as well. Being wealthy is having a constant burden. The Reverend Frederick Gates said it best to John D. Rockefeller Sr. when he said, "Mr. Rockefeller, your fortune is rolling up like an avalanche! You must distribute it faster than it grows! If you do not, it will crush you and your children and your children's children!" Just think of that immense burden.

Secondly, greed is not inherint in all wealth. Greed is in a corrupt soul, not following in the steps of God's will. Greed is the taking over of the spirit by human corruption. If the people of this world were to follow their moral calling to perfection, we would never have issue. But, then again, we live in a broken, fallen world, corrupted by the sin we all live in every day. Wealth may breed greed, but wealth is not the creator of greed. Sin is the creator of greed. The 1% club, as you so aptly call them, are constantly burdened by there wealth, and yes, many are burdened by there greed as well. That is where my next point comes in.

I am very pleased with how you talked on personal responsibility, (though you never called it that, you went on at length about it in the second paragraph). This is the key to freedom and liberty, not just for the rich, but for all citizens of the country and the world. If people don't like something, don't partake in it; simple as that. If people have a problem with clothes that cost $100 dollars, don't buy them. The company making the clothes will have to change or fail. And that, my friend, is the whole of capitalism. If people remember their personal responsibility, they would have never signed a contract for a home loan that has payments doubling in 5 years. That's utterly ridiculous. Do they honestly believe they would make twice as much as they did when they signed the loan 5 years down the road? NO. They were looking for a government handout, which is what this administration is doing. They are giving out exactly what the irresponsible people of this country wanted. A handout. An easy way through. This is rewarding irresponsiblity. If every single American were to carefully consider purchases, this country could straighten itself out very quickly. But people don't want to think. They want the handouts this administration has promised. This is the greed in the middle class. This is greed of the impoverished. Don't work your way out, stand in line for a handout. Scary to think of how this type of thought pattern will progress in this country.

So once again, thank you for your comment and inspiring me to write this post. Lets all, each one of us, keep talking about the situation in this country, keep working for ways back to freedom, responsibility, and liberty, and take hold of ourselves through personal responsibility, so we may experience what liberty is like in this world.