The collapse of Europe continues, and to the astonishment of anyone who has the slightest bit of understanding about austerity the scenes of people celebrating their suicide in the streets of France is quite incredible.  But that mindset isn’t confined to the sad ruins of Europe.  It has extended here to America.  And all roads lead home.  For it is in the home that children are supposed to be taught that they must work for what they wish to have–a task not made easy by a media that is just as childish in demanding free everything.

In reviewing the last several years, it is apparent that the United States–once the mighty capitalist empire–is setting its sights on the ravaged wasteland of Europe, already desolated by the late 20th century’s enduring evil.  Not war…but communism, socialism, and what stems from both–a sense of entitlement.

Sandra Fluke has become the poster child for government handouts. She actually wanted YOU--the taxpayer--to pay for HER birth control! Credit: www.telegraph.co.uk

We have students in high schools being encouraged by teachers to attend rallies in support of illegal aliens and labor unions, students who want their birth control paid for, their health care paid for, their college education paid for, free housing, a job guarantee, and on and on and on.  There is even a federal program that gives people free cell phones (many don’t qualify, but receive them anyway).  The “me” mentality (that the Left, ironically, criticized during the Reagan boom years, when people actually EARNED their money rather than taking it from the taxpayer) has even extended to the homosexual “marriage” question.  The most common response you get from young Leftists who support such debauchery is, “How is gay marriage going to affect me?  How will it harm me?”  True to form, the modern young Leftist sees the world as being all about “me.”

Never mind the threat to society as a whole of increased disease, increased insurance premiums, youth who will have their innocence stripped away and be further encouraged to experiment in risky behavior, the threat to religious liberties that you can be sure would lay down the road, or the myriad of other social problems that would accompany such a ridiculous proposal.  For the Left, even when arguing in support, it still all boils down to “me.”

Thankfully, North Carolina is the latest state to put a stop to the Left’s hijinks in this area.  But beyond that, we see increasing violence among the “Occupy” crowd since they see their message isn’t resonating (and time is running out) with an America that still has its head on straight–at least as far as the average people go.  The cowardly, placating politicians are a different story.

This is the result of the "Gimme" mindset that has been instilled into our youth. Credit: www.atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com

But all roads truly lead home.  This is a generation that has been handed everything.  Their parents saw to it that they would never want.  A few escaped this dangerous “gimme” mentality–and most of them joined the service to work for something greater than themselves.  But the disturbing trend among youth today is the attitude that they are owed things simply because they are Americans.  The only things they are owed are what be guaranteed to them in the Constitution they daily malign with their socialist, anti-capitalist tirades in parks and outside banks.

It is striking, yet sadly humorous, that the same youngsters who voted for President Obama, crying that their troubles were over; that they were going to have their gas paid for; that they were getting “Obama money,” are now slaving away in menial jobs that they feel is beneath them.  Or maybe it’s just sweet justice.  Some people simply have to learn the hard way that you don’t get something for nothing in this world.  And if you believe a politician, of all people, is going to give it to you, you should have any college degree you own yanked away–because if you believe that, you clearly weren’t bright enough to make it out the door.

Someone has to play the role of adult in this country.  It won’t be those demonstrating in the streets for more free stuff–or the political party that sees things the same way.  Thus, it seems the role of adult will fall to the Republicans, who will be slandered and attacked in every way imaginable simply because they–like any good parent should–say to the politicians and the people who are behaving and demanding like children, you just can’t get something for nothing.  We can’t afford it.  We must stop spending.  It is no surprise that the Democrats, and most especially the President, are calling for higher taxes on the wealthy.  Perhaps they are now taking a cue from the socialist that has just been elected President in France and is calling for tax rates of 75%.

This sign pretty much sums up the Democrats' election strategy in 2012 (or any other year). Credit: www.prisonplanet.com

The problem is, not only is that unfair, but under Obama’s failed economic policies, there aren’t many rich people left to tax.  So to pay for his handouts, which are nothing more than a ploy to regain support from his core, misguided base, it will be the middle class that will end up footing the bill if he gets his way–the very people he and his party love to insist they want to help.  But more and more experienced Americans (those who actually spend their time at work rather than whining for a free meal) are seeing the destruction of Mr. Obama’s ways, and the late desperate attempts to revitalize his fractured base with talk of homosexual “marriage,” or increased attacks on successful, wealthy Americans and the like aren’t fooling anyone.

And the federal government, under Mr. Obama and liberal bureaucrats long embedded in the educational establishment and aided by lax parenting, keep pumping out more little robots with their hands extended to the government, which in turn slaps the hands of we, the taxpayers, for daring to believe that what we earn is our own and should remain so.

So this November, the first order of business is to throw out of office any politician who plays into this sleazy game wherein the opinions of the people, the Constitution, austerity, and common sense do not matter, and would rather grasp to power by maintaining a needy population who depends on them and votes for them to receive more handouts.  Cleaning house of these abominable creatures beginning at the top and forcing those citizens with outstretched hands to act responsibly and support themselves free of government will be the first major step toward austerity in America.