From the haves to the have nots?

When we meet someone needing help, our hearts go out to that person and most of us willingly offer to help.  When I think about the slaves or serfs - working with no hope for freedom or advancement, under the yolk of Kings and despots, I know I would have been one of those rebels rising against the unfairness of it all.

Yet, when I think about private property, I know for certain that no person has the right to hold a gun up to another person demanding that they give some of what belongs to them to others.  The government has a gun.

So, where's the balance - where's the point at which we help those needing it - but not at the expense of those earning it.  I struggle to find the magic line in the sand.

What I do know is that private charity is the best answer.  To persuade those inclined to be benevolent is the most desirable means I know.  Voluntary charity was the foundation of this country.  We've lost so much of it because we've allowed the government to take over more and more of the responsibility of taking care of the needy - and the rest of us have gotten lazy believing that the government will do it.

One of my clients, running for office is concerned about people needing affordable housing - but shall he demand that developers create this housing at their own expense?   Should they create it at the expense of the others who will be living in the development?  In other words amortizing the costs to everyone else.  I don't think that's right.

Yet, I know there are many deserving people desperate to live in Silicon Valley 'cause that's where they work - who can't afford our insanely high prices.

What's the answer?   I'd love your input.

Burning the American Flag

Watching the news tonight is frightening. "Occupiers" broke into Oakland City Hall and destroyed property - that's bad - but then they deliberately and maliciously burned our American Flag.

If you are so opposed to America - GET OUT. Move elsewhere. I love this country. I know it isn't perfect, but we work together to continuously improve it - not to destroy it or its symbols.

In my lifetime I've seen enormous positive changes. For example,
--integration of schools, workplaces, libraries, etc. in the south and the rest of the country.
--Gary Rights
--Equal rights for women.

What's gone wrong!
--Too much government intervention into business causing huge failures - and causing a crippling economy. We need to fix it.
--Also too many jobs going away and not enough customers coming here. We need to fix it.
--California's education system (K-12) becoming among the worst in the country. We need to fix it.
--Newcomers to our shores not learning what America is all about - our love of freedom, liberty, and opportunity for all. We need to fix it.
--Loss of private charities - of individuals taking responsibility for reaching out and helping our neighbors. Again, we keep thinking it is "big brother's" responsibility - not true - it's ours as individuals. We need to fix it.

Let's fix it. Let's not destroy this country I love - or each other - or what it stands for.