There is a not so distant sound of drums –
drums echoing in this land –
drums whose rhythm is seductive
who’s resounding beat is socialism-
the camel’s nose is health care.

Ask Americans if personal freedom
is critical to their happiness-
would not most answer yes?
Yet ask the same group-
should government provide free health care?
Would not many say, “free is good.”

That the contradiction seems not to
register is a mystery of sorts-
do not all know there is no free lunch?
Deals that sound too good-
in all probability are not true.

Socialism is an unstoppable progression-
benefits once in place become entitlements-
nearly impossible to withdraw-
even if proved unworkable-
or even detrimental.

Political suicide-
even to suggest an entitlement be cut-
yet voters respond favorably
to promises of even greater benefits.

The result is ever increasing government-
increasing in size and power-
while losing its fear of its people-
fear of its people that is good.

To paraphrase Ronald Reagan:
Government big enough to give its people
all they want- is big enough to take
all they have, their freedom not withstanding.

Only so long as the majority are self-sufficient-
can a democracy long endure-
when the majority favor free lunches-
that democracy sooner or later must collapse-
and a dictatorship invariable follow.

Great nations rise and fall-
The people progressing-
from bondage to political enlightenment-
to great courage-
from courage to liberty-
from liberty to abundance-
from abundance to selfishness-
from selfishness to complacency-
from complacency to apathy-
from apathy to dependence-
from dependence- full circle-
back to bondage.