Eulogy for America

Brothers and sisters we gather here today to remember a great mother, a great grandfather, a great friend. To each and every one of us America meant something different. Some of you youngsters never knew the young and vibrant America, Oh the light still shined brightly right up until his death but the America of old was something unique something special. America was born at a time when kings and despots ruled the world. From his early days he was a rebel. Self reliance and an unending belief in the individual over the state are what made her great.

America would not want us to shed tears over what was. America would want us to look to the future, find ourselves and struggle to make the world a better place. America's journey brought freedom to more people than any other nation in the world. Things were not always perfect. In his early days slaves worked his fields, Native Americans were violently brushed aside to make room for the ever increasing number of Europeans he welcomed to his home. The Chinese were exploited to make her railways. No his history wasn't perfect but the truly remarkable thing about this man, this nation, this entity was that he faced up to his shortcomings.

A million or more men died rectifying slavery. It took years to fully integrate the former slaves with the citizens but through great men and the patience of America it has truly materialized. The descendants of Slaves are now free to make their own fortunes, their own ways, their own America. And they have contributed mightily to her glory. They have become poets, artists, athletes, captains of industry.

The greatness of America was evident in who rose up from within her. There are first generation immigrants that are wealthy businessmen. There are second generation descendants from immigrants that are doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and teachers. America was a place where the possibilities were endless to those who were willing to work for their dreams.

But as is the case whenever great success and wealth makes its way into the world accompanying it is often petty jealousy, envy, a desire for what hasn't been earned. This jealousy is what killed our dear friend America. The desire to have, without earning, the desire to take rather than build is the cancer that eventually ate away at the great man.

The cancer started small it was just a barely audible cough, no one thought it was serious. America smiled on bravely as the cancer grew within his borders. Socialism always has good intentions, social security, Medicare, Medicaid all seemed like the right thing to do. Older citizens deserved to be taken care of even if they had failed to plan for themselves. People should not have to rely on the kindness of strangers when bad fortune hits them they should be taken care of by the government. In fact not just the unfortunate should receive help in their old age but everyone should. People were asked to contribute to their own social welfare through a small tax but this tax grew. And soon America began using the dollars it brought in for its day to day needs instead of saving or investing and soon America was spending more than she brought in.

The cancer was allowed to fester and spread. Soon America had new ideas. It wanted to care for all of its citizens. This was another noble idea but she had no money to pay. 40 million new dependents were added in one stroke of the pen. There were no new doctors, No new hospitals, the 40 million new dependents were given access to what the other citizens had paid for or earned through their labors. The new dependents having never earned the money that was used to cover their expenses took advantage of America's kindness. They flooded the doctors and hospitals with minor complaints; they demanded medicine when all they needed was rest. They insisted on being seen equally with the people who were willing to spend their own money on care. The doctors offices became crowded and unpleasant. Citizens that had previously paid for their care became frustrated with the long lines, Doctors who had been fairly compensated where now being overworked and underpaid. Rather than helping sick people they spent most of their time reassuring the ignorant that they weren't in fact dying.

Committees where formed to save expenses, medicine was rationed; surgeries had to be approved by committees. Costs were fixed, Medical device companies had to get approval from the government to get paid for innovations. The process became long and difficult and innovation fell off. Lobbyists became more important than doctors as companies manipulated the system to make sure their drugs were the government approved treatment for various diseases. All medicine and treatments had to be approved by the committees.

This is the cancer that grew unchecked in America and eventually led to her death. The power of life and death for her citizens was firmly in the hands of the government and whether you lived or died was decided by an actuary in a government office whose only concern was whether or not the proper forms had been filled out and if in fact the doctor was prescribing the government approved treatment.