Ask Not What You Can Do for Yourself but What Your Government Can Do for You

In one of the most quoted lines of any President, John F. Kennedy in his Inaugural Address beseeched us to "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." Today, ironically on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, Congress and the President have pushed through the granddaddy of governmental spending packages and have labeled it a stimulus bill. Other than the government check writing machinery, I'm not sure what else will be stimulated by the excessive and unnecessary spending.

We are fully capable of bringing about our own resurgence and recovery. We - the American people - are resourceful. In fact, Lincoln said:“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” This is fantastic advice in light of this tremendous spending plan that is about to be undertaken. He is telling us that we need look no farther than ourselves, our resolve, our capabilities, and our desire to bring this about.

As entrepreneurs, we are the strength and future of our country - not the government. We require no governmental meddling or financing and prefer no regulation. The market forces are quite good and strong when it comes to deciding which businesses get to succeed and thrive and which ones will fail and disappear. We don't need to look to government for protection or life support.

As entrepreneurs, we create our own opportunities. We create the jobs. We create revenue. We supply charity.

I am dismayed at the number of Americans who have abandoned our core principles and now seem to think that slogan of the land should be "ask not what you can do for yourself but what your government can do for you."

We have been issued a challenge by our government. We owe it to America to succeed and show that big government is not the panacea.

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