Okay, so I had told myself that I would not be one of those bloggers who took the lazy way out by reposting content from other sources. I mean, what kind of crappy jerk does that and still feels good about themselves? However, when I heard this read last Friday, on the Dave Ramsey radio show, I knew I was going to break my own rule.

The words ring as true today, if not more so, as when they were first published. They do not speak of Republican or Democrat, nor do they serve as an endorsement for John McCain or Barak Obama. If anything, they serve as an indictment against both men and their respective parties. Instead, the words of this creed declare the wishes of those who wish for the unhindered pursuit of life, liberty, property and happiness. We who are not willing to trade individual liberty in exchange for security or a life without hardships. We who realize, that a life without the ability to fail, is a life without the chance for success.

An American Creed

I do not choose to be a common man.
It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

By Dean Alfange

*Originally published in This Week Magazine.
Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.
Copied for this blog from DaveRamsey.com.

The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1922.

Be sure to head over to the Irritated Tulsan’s site to check out this week’s Food Offering. IT really outdid himself this week with the product shots. That man deserves the delicious treats he reviews.

The looters are growing in number and power. A nation of economically ignorant people are letting their government take more power not apportioned to it, all in the name of a crisis. To add insult to injury, there are those pointing to this as a sign of the supposed failure of capitalism. This has nothing to do with capitalism, rather it is the direct result of government interference through actions like the Community Reinvestment Act. Blaming capitalism for the current crisis would be akin to blaming a baker for making a bad cake, after you forced him to add ingredients he did not want to add in the first place. Strike that, because this situation is worse. Not only are you blaming the baker for the results of your interference, you are now clamoring to find new ways to, “improve” upon your already disastrous recipe.

Have we officially reached that pivot point where we are choosing to forsake the economic system that created more wealth and prosperity than any other system in history, in exchange for socialism? Have we truly become a nation of infants, ever dependent on the government to solve all of life’s problems? Do the vast majority of Americans truly believe, that a Democrat or Republican in Washington can do a better job of managing their lives and money than they can? Should we never have to face the consequences of our own actions, painful as they may be?

I will be the first to admit that I am prone to hyperbole, so only time will tell if I am over reacting. For now, I sit and wonder, where is John Galt? Where are Hank Rearden and Dagny Taggart? The looters are here and they are having their day. It is time for Atlas to shrug.

Click the pic to read about.

I am writing to you from the shores of Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas. The mrs. and I are on a mini vacation, anniversary retreat. Less than two hours ago we set up camp by the dam. We arrived a little later than planned, after a two hour, “scenic detour”.

Naturally, once camp was made we headed into town for provisions, and by provisions I mean beer. A couple of New Belgium varieties and a pumpkin ale from Utah to be exact.

Tonight we plan to make a fire, as is the custom of man when in nature, and cook some rib eyes and baked potatoes. All cooking this trip will be over the fire and with cast iron, since doing it any other way would be incredibly Bobby Flay of me.

Well, my beer isn’t going to drink itself, so I must go for now. Look for new posts over the next few days.