So, I took my Star-Tribune to Dunn Brothers the other day. Whilst sipping my medium full-city roast, I read, again about all the stupid ideas the federal and state governments is trying to impose on us. Of course, there are the TRULY STUPID IDEAS like sending troops and billions to the middle-eastern country du jour, decreasing funding of poor, disabled and elderly, or messing with Social Security.
Today, I am addressing those GREAT ideas people bring up and everyone gets on the bandwagon. The stories today addressed the following issues: Government regulation of the amount of salt in prepared food, taxing pop, bullying, putting obese children into foster care, texting while driving, missing children and adults, making sure the morning-after contraceptive is restricted to prescription status, investigating a nursing home where Alzheimer's patient were having SEX!, and on and on.
Back home again, I talked with my brother. His new motto is: "If you don't look out for yourself, no one will." I am giving him license to preach this after his year of medical mismanagements
First let me say I have been obese since I sprang from my mother's ample loins. I was blessed with parents that loved me and loved each other fiercely. I had such a wonderful childhood, I feel guilty. My family supported me, didn't force me to eat vats of lard and chocolate, but instilled within me a sense of self-esteem. Of course, they tried incentives to make me loose weight. They took me to specialists.
The thought of anyone taking me away from my family because I was obese makes my blood run cold. Would I have had a successful career, a beautiful life, great friends, stability? Would I, in retirement, work my massive ass off volunteering for humanity and all life? You decide.
Was I bulllied? The fat kid? Again, you decide. No, we didn't have the internet in the 50s and 60s, but we did have bathroom walls. We had real words - titterings, giggling, and nasty insults; we had cliques. Was I ever chosen for a Red Rover team at recess? Nope.
OK, I am not athletic, I am even less graceful. But I had a beautiful soprano voice. And I cultivated that, I accumulated 7 years of college, developed an interest in a world outside my own arm's length, and the Red Rover thing was probably the last hardship I encountered.
So, enough about me.
Now the governments want to legislate against bullying.
How?
The government wants to legislate against obesity.
How?
The government wants to legislate what foods I eat? My sugar, my salt intake?
How?
They government wants to make unplanned pregnancies easier for people.
Huh??
The government wants to legislate against missing persons - just as long as they are cute, blonde, and white.
How?
The government wants to legislate against texting whild driving.
How?
The government doesn't want patients with dementia to have sex.
Why?
And it goes on. I have one question.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY???
Bullying, diet, driving habits, using drugs in kids? This is NOT a legislative matter, it's a matter of PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. No, I didn't say TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY. PARENTAL!
Teachers are hired to teach, not parent.
So I am saying to the Governments of the United States, Minnesota, Olmsted County, and City of Rochester:
We do not need your parenting. We don't need your sanctamonous scolding so we can feel bad about our choices. We do not need you to tell us how to live our life if we live it within the boundaries of the constitution. Sure, these personal things are EASY to legislate, and it makes you feel like you are doing something for us.
What we need is for you to stop fighting, start talking, start listening, and take responsibility for yourselves. We have some MASSIVE problems and if you want this great country/state/county/city to continue concentrate on legislating issues which will do just that!
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