Letter writer asks: Who are we?

To the editor:

We are all facing the same issues today, especially in the loss of property rights, security, economic and social decline, as well as, outrageous growth of both pro-regime corporations and governments which directly affect our condition. Millions of people agree on these debilitating conditions in our nation and around the world and realize that unless we put aside our petty differences, we are going to lose a stable way of life.

Individual freedom and personal property rights are among the most cherished freedoms in our world and the primary reason most people came to America in the first place. The very idea of “opportunity” is supported by these two fundamental factors, and if these two essential elements of a free society are not upheld, all elements of freedom such as the free-enterprise economy, any facet of property rights which includes not just your land, but your vehicle and personal belongings, the idea of civil rights, free government, personal and family security, freedom of conscience, religious freedom, justice and even our national security are subject to destruction. All of these elements are currently being attacked, corrupted and diminished.

As former President Ronald Reagan stated, given our present circumstances: “government is not the solution, government is the problem.” However, that statement is often misunderstood. Every state’s constitution states that the people are the source of “all” political power. That being the case, the people are the problem. If we are willing to tolerate corruption of our laws, politics, our social morals, our borders and our way of life, then we will reap the whirlwind of destruction based on our own apathy.

So, who are we? We are the problem.

We have given away our power and surrendered our freedoms. We typically find any excuse to blame some other entity for the conditions, yet, rarely ever take responsibility ourselves. In our apathy, we have surrendered our power of reason and representation to those who have made a career out of political failure but manage to keep their popularity with the rhetoric of false positives. Meanwhile, the nation burns and thus does our way life.

If we are the problem, then we are also the solution.

—Russell Bolton

Addy, Washington