The "Rights" of Citizenship? What about the "Duties?"

Are you old enough to recall President Jack Kennedy's inaugural address? "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

When was the last time you can recall any other American president or candidate asking a similar question?

Is that what the 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls are asking? Or are they, without exception, asking, "Don't ask what you can do for yourself or for your country; ask what your country can do for you?"


Sen. Bernie Sanders believes Medicare-for-All is a "right." Sen. Elizabeth Warren believes there is a "right" to universal child care. Candidates Sanders, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Warren, Kristen Gillibrand, et al, believe black Americans have a "right" to reparations.

Warren believes the "right" might also properly be accorded to Native Americans, and couple days ago she added that she thinks reparations should also be paid to the LGBTQ community.

Sanders, Warren and Harris believe that that there is a "right" to free tuition at community colleges, and a "right" to free tuition at four-year colleges for families with incomes less than $125,000.

And, of course, there are those who promised to pay for their college education and then accepted room, board and education. Now they claim a "right" to have their college debt forgiven, and Sanders, Warren and others would support that "right."

Gillibrand, Booker and Sanders, believe every American "seeking work" has a "right" to a government job that would pay at least $15 per hour.

Then there are those who believe in a "right" to two-weeks paid vacation, paid family leave, and the old favorite, the $15 minimum wage.

Last Thursday night, Harris told the nation that she wants a new refundable $6,000 tax credit for families earning up to $100,000. If the family paid less then $6,000 in federal income tax, it would get a check from the U.S. Treasury for the difference. At a time when liberals are suddenly decrying "Trump deficits," this would cost the Treasury a mere $762 billion annually.


So, which candidate has spent even 30 seconds discussing the "duties" of citizenship? Or are they all too busy playing Santa?

Can we even agree that there still are "duties" of citizenship in 21st century America? If so, what are those "duties" in modern America? To vote? To do jury duty? To serve in the armed forces? I do not attempt to make a comprehensive list. I leave that to you.

I suggest that it is the "duty" of every able-bodied citizen to pay at least 1% of his income in federal income taxes. I suggest that no citizens should vote to increase the taxes paid by his fellow citizens, unless he votes to increase his own taxes in the same percentage.

I suggest that no citizen should demand his fellow citizens afford him "rights" that he is not willing to help pay for himself. And I suggest that it is the "duty" of every citizen to treat his fellow citizen -- rich or poor -- as he insists they treat him. Unless the Golden Rule is practiced by all, taxation degenerates into plunder; citizenry into a mob.


If no politician is discussing the "duties" of a citizen, why aren't they? Or do "rights" now come without "duties?"

Kennedy and Harry Truman were the heroes of my youth. At last week's debates, they would have been jeered off the stage. Their seats have been taken by socialist like Sanders and Marxist-sympathizers like Bill DeBlasio.


                 (If you doubt me, read JFK's Dec. 14, 1962 address to the Economic Club of New York.)


Posted: QCOline.com   July 4, 2019

Copyright 2019, John Donald O'Shea