Everyone who is over sixty-five probably remembers JFK saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country.”
Any child who possibly isn’t familiar with this memorable piece of advice should have it put on a plaque and hung in their bedroom by their parents or grandparents. Why? . . . because it is becoming more and more ironic that the wisdom of this iconic Democratic president is not just being ignored, but is being actively tossed into the trash by the liberal “me first” generation now being catered to by Democrats. What I am hearing now is less of “what’s best for the country,” but rather more of “what can my country do for me.” [We are already now seeing this with the vaccine, and who should be given priority to get the limited supply. “Me (us) first.”]
The same attitude is now occurring in the more liberal areas of the country where there are those who are advocating the removal of the names of Washington, Jefferson, and even Lincoln from schools and public buildings. “What I want is the only thing of importance . . . the hell with the country.”
What’s next? Predictably, those on the left want to have all student loans forgiven. It doesn’t matter that these unfortunate individuals voluntarily signed contracts of repayment, as they are unfortunate “victims” of this pandemic. The Democrats are now saying that what’s best for them is to forgive their debt . . . the hell with what is best for the country.
Not so fast, Joe!
If those who voluntarily took on student loan debt are now going to be considered as unfortunate “victims” of the pandemic, should the country not first look at those who are the real innocent economic victims of the pandemic? What about those small business owners who went belly-up or who are teetering on bankruptcy, mostly because of government imposed lockdowns. Would it not be best for the country to try to help them? What about those who cannot pay their rent and will probably never get back on their economic feet through no fault of their own? Should the country not consider their debt before the debt of the airheads with degrees in gender studies?
Perhaps in this cancel culture milieu, I should be more careful, but wouldn’t it be best to ask, “What would be best for the country, Joe?”