Oaths

Ran across something from five years ago, an essay by John Gray, “Under Western Eyes,” in  “Harpers Magazine.” He said

“Most human beings, most of the time, care about other things more than they care about being free. Many will vote readily for an illiberal government if it promises security against violence or hardship, protects a way of life to which they are attached, and denies freedom to people they hate.”

Way back then, I read that the same day I saw where “Governor” Sam Brownback of Kansas proposed to address the financial catastrophe he created by tapping public pension funds.

Long time ago. Afraid it's gotten worse since then. Much worse. I read yesterday where the president of the United States paid a huge fine for defrauding charities.

Yep. It's much worse. Not for me. I don't have to work. I just do so when I feel like it. Don't have to hold two jobs to get by. Have no debts. Healthy and can afford health care supplements. The market is still on its “sugar high” from the tax cuts. Our investment accounts—much of them from money made during the eight years of peace and prosperity during the Clinton presidency—are soaring. All I have to do is catch it when someone notices the deficit and it’s time to bail out.

Why do I care when so many who will be devastated financially, choked on noxious air, and destroyed by the frying of the planet don’t? I’ll probably make it a while, give a final salute, and let them suffer. So why care?

I dunno. It’s just that I took an oath once to protect our country from the kind of people who are bent on destroying it. Oaths kinda stick to me. They don’t seem to for other people.

So I’ll care, as long as the air is fit to breath.