Our government has chosen not to be the example for people to follow. It has not demonstrated that it believes self-sufficiency is the proper course of action to reach a good life.

To be self-sufficient is to not require outside aid or support to properly function. In the world where we live, countries almost completely have lost self-sufficiency. The United States in particular seems to laugh in the face of self-sufficiency.

Our country has participated in the largest overhaul in defeating self-sufficiency among free market corporations. The bailouts given to America’s biggest corporations do not promote responsible living, and do not promote self-sufficiency.

Through history we have drifted away from self-sufficiency to a point of dependency. Throughout time we have grown more dependent on country after country. Our founding fathers risked their lives and broke away from the dependency of Great Britain. The U.S. even tried, to a great extent, to keep out of the affairs of other countries for years after that.

It really wasn’t until World War I that we reached the point where our government has made us feel obligated to involve ourselves with other countries. Now our citizens do not question our involvement with other countries, but rather the extent of that involvement. In fact, someone claiming — as I do regularly — that we should not involve ourselves in the affairs of others is dismissed as a radical.

We should have a world where America can produce its own goods, not only to sustain itself, but its citizens as well. Instead of allowing China to loan us money and cause our debt to skyrocket, why not simply live within our means?

We take on debt to meet our national budget every year. Unfortunately, that budget seems to be too high every year. Instead of piling up debt, why don’t we live like every American is forced to live: within our means?

The government should not be able to spend money it doesn’t have, just like its citizens cannot. You don’t spend money you do not have and cannot get and the government should be no different. It is teaching children, and even adults, that it doesn’t matter if you overspend your income because there are no consequences — the government will simply bail
you out.

Becoming self-sufficient will make life much easier for everyone. Although it will be hard for a period of time, we will become capable of recreating our industrial base and return to being an industrial nation.

Many claim that being a “global contributor” does not allow us to be closed off. This is true, but my question is: Why are we contributing to the well-being of the rest of the world when here in America, citizens are suffering?

This country owes a great debt to its industrial base. As industry rose to its absolute peak following World War II, America was the premier country in the world. Millions cherished the industrious, agrarian life America had to offer. Now those in America wonder where those industrious and agrarian jobs have gone.

It no longer is advantageous for someone to pursue an industrial job. It is not worth the costs to run a farm. These two areas that built our country have been abandoned for service sector jobs.

Our country similarly has found its way to the gutter of the world with the decline of industry and agriculture sectors. The attitude of America has become, “we are too good for those jobs.” After all, we would rather work in a cubicle entering numbers into a spreadsheet all day, accomplishing nothing rather than growing the infrastructure and industry for our nation.

The joke, however, is on us. It is those countries whose industry is strong and whose self-sufficiency is kicking into high gear that are growing and prospering. We would be wise to return to our country’s roots of agriculture, industry and self-sufficiency to regain our nation’s honor.