Ed Rutledge for Lieutenant Governor

By Ed Rutledge

We, as citizens and as individuals, are at a crossroads, and we must choose between two distinct and competing philosophies. While there may be some overlap, these philosophies are, for the most part, diametrically opposed.

The first philosophy says that we are our own keeper, as well as our brother’s, neighbor’s friend’s, community’s, etc. In this philosophy, we, as individuals, have the ultimate responsibility for taking care of ourselves, and we have the moral obligation to take care of those around us who are in need.

The second philosophy says that government is our keeper, and our brother’s, neighbor’s, etc. In this philosophy, government has the ultimate responsibility to take care of us and, as individuals, we must do as we are directed for the benefit of the whole.

The question is, Who is your keeper? You, or a bureaucracy? This is important, because with responsibilities come rights. Shun a responsibility, and you give up a right. Shun your responsibility to take care of your neighbors, and you give up your right to compassion. Shun your responsibility to protect yourself, and you give up your right to self defense. Shun your responsibility to think, and you lose your right to choose.

Once you have shrugged off your responsibilities, you will have surrendered your rights. But keep in mind that it is easier to retain rights by retaining your responsibilities, than to reclaim your rights once they are gone. Government will always want to assume responsibilities that are currently yours, because this is how government feeds itself; just remember that the more it eats, the more insatiable its appetite becomes.

So we are approaching a crossroads. Do we feed the beast, or do we starve it? Do we abdicate our rights, or do we claim our responsibilities? Do we choose to live in the security of servitude, or in the uncertainty of freedom? Because this is the choice we must make, for ourselves and for our children.

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