To the editor:
Growing up, I was lucky.
I was raised by both a mother and father who cared about me and wanted me to have a better life then they had.
They were strict and usually fair. They expected certain chores to be done and certain rules to be followed. This was a give-take-give relationship based on nurturing and caring.
This parents-child relationship is a very unique relationship and is based on love. It simply cannot be duplicated once you become an adult unless it is with your own children.
Government seeks to become our parents by offering "free" stuff just like when we were kids.
However, the government's "free" stuff is not free and we are actually paying for it. That false generosity disguises thievery. Nevertheless, everyone, including myself, likes something that is perceived a "free."
In the economic conditions of today, "free" is particularly appealing. But we all really know nothing is "free" — and, really, why should it be?
Everybody, including the government, wants something for their efforts. For those who want government to take care of them, they must blindly be obedient and concede to the requirements set by the government. Sooner or later, the government is going to tell you exactly what to do, where to do it and when. As is human nature, in time you will want more and better "free" stuff from it. As a result, government's requirements will become even more demanding and oppressive.
Some may view this as a small price to pay for being taken care of. They may justify their actions by convincing themselves that "freedom" is overrated. If more and more people believe this, there will be a shrinking number of people paying for it. As history shows, inevitably the society will collapse.
Do you want your children and grandchildren to inherit this debt and decay? This has happened in past communistic and socialistic countries.
The USSR and the East Block nations failed in the early 1990s because of socialism and the oppression of freedom. Many of my relatives had to suffer through this ordeal.
The socialistic European Union is failing. Despite the obvious socialistic failures throughout history, our country seems poised to make this same mistake.
This past week, on the Fourth of July, I was personally inspired by the reading of the Declaration of Independence at Dock Square in the town of Rockport.
This country and its people are still very strong. I do believe we can make a difference and impact this country and its government for the better. Each one of us can make a difference.
I hope we don't squander our slim opportunity to remain free.
JOHN T. KOLACKOVSKY
Rockport
