The Power Of No

To the Editor:

I believe Mr Deschermeier’s opinion on those “saying No” [“Growing Vitriol in Newtown,” Letter Hive, 5/16/11] does less to underscore supposed incivility in Newtown but rather highlights several issues negatively impacting our democracy and the character of its citizenry.

Saying No does not mean that I dislike police, government workers, or those in need of health care; it simply means that I am unwilling to blindly and without challenge provide my hard-earned pay to a government (federal, state. or local) that has proven to be a poor steward of our money. Simply put, it is immoral for a government to take money from a dwindling number of citizens to pay for an increasing number of programs that fall well outside its historical and constitutionally enumerated powers. Case in point, if social security is forecasted to be insolvent prior to my retirement, should I not have the right to stop contributing?

Except for basic functions such as national security, I want government to be as unobtrusive as possible. I do not want nor expect government to pay for my retirement, health care, or any other entitlement; and I am inherently skeptical of any mandate that forces me to fund these services for others, particularly given its track record of poor management.

As a Marine infantry officer who has made several post 9/11 deployments and been shot at enough to appreciate the freedoms we have, I have fully earned the right to challenge the policies and practices of any government that has expanded beyond its mandate and consistently performs in a manner that is counter to the long-term financial health and security of the citizenry it serves. Conversely, it is clearly apparent that the majority of liberals live in a fantasy land where a small subset of citizens are expected to blindly and continually fund programs for the masses without end, with minimal oversight, and with no clear end-state or measure of success (which would of course remove the reason for the spending in the first place)...all while being pilloried as being too selfish, too rich or “not paying their fair share.” My defense to this unsustainable and immoral path is to say and vote No on all issues that run counter to this country’s historical ethos of hard work and self-reliance. Failure to do this has caused many of our citizens to become dependent on and in many ways subservient to the state, as well as a political party that is all too willing to provide everything to the masses on the backs of the few.

I believe that reversing this culture of entitlement is critical to the long-term prosperity and international standing of this nation, and if my willingness to say No offends Mr Deschermeier, so be it. In the end, better men and women than he will defend his right to make idiotic statements and continue a comfortable life in Newtown.

Lt Col R.D. Franson

15 Winding Brook Road, Newtown                                June 5, 2011