In our self-obsessed, entitlement age, politicians send the message that if
you're breathing you should expect a government check. Few want to hear a
message about personal responsibility and accountability. The Obama
disciples want to hear more about what government will do for them, not what
they can do for themselves in a free country that offers opportunity to
those who will seize it. They want to punish "the rich," who they used to
want to emulate, but now just envy. And so those few who are already paying
more than half the taxes are told they aren't paying enough.
John McCain might mimic Ronald Reagan by saying that America is struggling,
not because government is doing too little, but because it is doing too
much; sapping the strength of the country, which is not found in Washington,
but rather in "we the people." If McCain can lower expectations from
Washington and raise them in individuals, showing them what tenacity and
hard work can produce, he might win.
Should we expect such a message from him? We should, but will he deliver it?
My own expectations aren't very high, which means he might exceed them.