They, They,
They!
In
the community lesson from last week, we noted that there was a big hole in
the chain of command when it came to preventing an accident here in Montebello. But
Montebello
is not unique, not even atypical.
In
March, a large construction crane toppled and killed people in New York. Ten days later, a crane in
Miami
toppled and killed people. On
the same day of the
Miami
accident, it was on the news that the
United States
had mistakenly shipped nuclear warheads to Taiwan. Then there was a runaway train
carrying lumber near
Boston
which ran into a passenger train during rush hour, injuring some one hundred
fifty passengers. A couple of
days later, the Federal Aviation Administration was criticized for being too
lenient with the airlines. Before
March ended, there was a report about a teen suicide possibly attributed to
the allergy drug Singulare.
All
this is a continuation of the community lesson in the March 27, 2008, E-News.
With
regard to the suicide, the tearful mother said, “I wish they had done
something sooner.”
They,
they, they! Why do we look to
government to save us? Why do we
put ourselves in the position of children and government in the position of
a parent? Good intentions
notwithstanding, government does not have the resources to be our parent.
It would be healthy for us, our families, and our democracy if we
learned to take care of ourselves.
If you answer the
multiple-choice questions below and e-mail to lessonanswers@mymontebello.com
with “Lesson answers” in the subject field, you will be credited toward
a “certificate of recognition in community affairs” to be awarded in
2007 by a local nonprofit organization.
1. What is the problem here?
(a) There are not enough government inspectors.
(b) We the people are too dependent on government to
take care of us.
2. What is the solution here?
(a) We raise taxes so as to hire more inspectors.
(b) We the people acquire the authority and institute
our own oversight, without depriving professional inspectors of their jobs.
May 8, 2008