Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

February 17, 2012

What portion of the money we earn or inherit do we deserve to keep? The only morally defensible answer is: All of it. We do have moral responsibilities to honor contracts, pay honest prices for goods and services, to take care of our families -- and, where possible, alleviate the suffering of the unfortunate. The only legitimate role for political government ? if any -- is to deter or punish the use of criminal violence or fraud.

For those whose deity is the all-powerful State and whose creed is collectivism, however, we don?t deserve to keep any of what we earn. From their perspective, all wealth properly belongs to the government, which will distribute it according to its inscrutable ? and infallible ? will.

This was made clear in a recent exchange between Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat, and a local radio host.

?Out of every dollar I earn, how much do you ? think I deserve to keep?? the host inquired.

Shakowsky replied that ?It is not a simple question. I?ll put it this way: You don?t deserve to keep all of it.?

What this means, of course, is that we don?t deserve any of it, except for what the almighty State condescends to let us keep.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.