Every now and then, someone on the editorial staff of the Minneapolis Star Tribune makes a serious error and allows something that is not egregiously left-wing to sneak through.
Today is one of those days.
Kenneth Cobb, a Minnesotan insurance agent, says that there are two Americas - but that John Edwards is incorrect about what distinguishes the two.
The central message of Democratic vice-presidential hopeful John Edwards is his belief in two Americas. He preaches that there is one America that is privileged and gets everything it wants and another America that shoulders all the burdens and struggles to get by.
Edwards is right about there being two Americas. There are indeed. One America is inspired by ideals of our country and of our founding fathers. This America understands that all people are free and in control of their own destiny, and that America is a place where anyone can realize his or her dreams.
Then, there is another America that has been told over and over that they are the little guys, the people who will always be at the bottom, the people who cannot make anything for themselves without the helpful hand of Uncle Sam. This America has been led to believe that they cannot succeed; they cannot make anything great for themselves; they can only take the handouts they have been given.
I was very privileged to be born in the better of the two Americas. No, I'm not saying that I was born to a wealthy family. In fact, it was quite the opposite. What I'm saying is that I was raised in the America that believed in individual responsibility -- that all people in America have the opportunity to pursue their dreams and be successful. Although my parents were quite poor, they taught me to work hard and take responsibility for my actions. Because of that, I now have the opportunity to work my way up the economic ladder and be successful.
Unfortunately, many Americans are not as fortunate as I. They were brought up in the other America -- the one dependent on always getting handouts from other people -- the one that believes that they are the victims in society and that their lot of life is outside their control.
If Kerry and Edwards wish to merge the two Americas, they must do so by abandoning their principles of ever-increasing government involvement in people's lives and instead preach a message of personal responsibility, opportunity and hope. That's what America is all about.
My good fortune was to be born into the same America as Mr. Cobb.
If only all Americans could appreciate that this America can be their America, too.
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