Rereading the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth, I again marveled at the Founders' courage. While we cherish the declaration as our founding document, they undoubtably viewed it less sanguinely.
They pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to each other because they understood that their work was treason against their king, thus a death warrant for them all if their enterprise failed. America was founded by history's greatest risk-takers.
Unfortunately, the same can't be said of some of today's politicians. When George W. Bush proposed a modest plan to save Social Security from collapsing like all good Ponzi schemes, Al Gore screeched "risky scheme."
When Bush offered a minimal tax cut to allow people to retain a small portion of their earnings in an era of record budget surpluses, Gore whined "risky scheme."
Gore's risk aversion is somewhat understandable. His biggest "risky scheme" was teaming up with a lowlife like Bill Clinton, and we all know how badly that turned out. Being Clinton's vice president has cost Gore his integrity, decency and honor, and will probably cost him his political career come November.
Of course, Gore's loss will be our country's gain. A Gore administration would mean at least four more years of Clintonism as if eight years of lies, deceit, corruption and perversion weren't enough.
Americans are the world's greatest risk-takers, but a Gore presidency is a truly "risky scheme" that we as a people should avoid.
James M. Wallace
Greensboro
Original unedited Letter to the Editor as submitted to the News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
To the Editor:
Rereading the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth, I again marveled at the Founders' courage. While we cherish the Declaration as our founding document, they undoubtably viewed it less sanguinely. They pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to each other because they understood that their work was treason against their king, thus a death warrant for them all if their enterprise failed. America was founded by history's greatest risk-takers.
Unfortunately, the same can't be said of some of today's politicians. When George W. Bush proposed a modest plan to save Social Security from collapsing like all good Ponzi schemes, Al Gore screeched "risky scheme." When Bush offered a minimal tax cut to allow people to retain a small portion of their earnings in an era of record budget surpluses, Gore whined "risky scheme."
Gore's risk aversion is somewhat understandable. His biggest "risky scheme" was teaming up with a lowlife like Bill Clinton, and we all know how badly that turned out. Being Clinton's vice president has cost Gore his integrity, decency, and honor, and will probably cost him his political career come November.
Of course, Gore's loss will be our country's gain. A Gore administration would mean at least four more years of Clintonism as if eight years of lies, deceit, corruption, and perversion weren't enough. Americans are the world's greatest risk-takers, but a Gore presidency is a truly "risky scheme" that we as a people should avoid.
James M. Wallace
