John Kennedy's Oratorical Fraud
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It was one of the most memorable statements ever made by an American orator: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
But how sincere was that?
The thesis behind the chiasmus in John Kennedy's inaugural address was that our nation would "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship ... to assure the survival and success of liberty."
In other words, on Jan. 20, 1961, six months before Barack Obama was born, John F. Kennedy described the United States as a nation of citizens serving America, but not dependent on its services. He also described a citizenry ready to endure extreme hardship to keep the independence that was the product of liberty.
But Kennedy did not mean one word he said.
In 1963, he declared in a New York speech, "There are hundreds of thousands without resources, and we have a responsibility for all of them." That "responsibility" turned into an entitlement once Kennedy and successor Lyndon Johnson created the modern welfare state. By 2012, those thousands became 44 million receiving food stamps alone.
In 1960, just before the inaugural, the federal government spent $92 billion, or about $715 billion in present dollars, adjusted for inflation. Today, that spending is $3.8 trillion, or about an adjusted 5.3 times higher than that spent in 1960. In that year, we spent 52 percent of our outlays on defense, and we were at peace. Today, we spend 21 percent on defense, and we are supposedly at war.
So what has happened since 1960? The American government has been transformed from one whose primary mission was national defense to one whose primary mission is social welfare.
We are a people who ask not what we can do for our country. We demand to know what our country can do for us.
Next year, out of $100 billion spent on "agriculture," $80 billion will be spent on food stamps. This year, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget, out of $3.8 trillion in total spending, $2.5 trillion, or 66 percent, is dedicated to the support of human welfare.
Now, no one wants to have people starve. We need some food aid. But today, 15 percent of America's entire population receives food stamps. In 1960, the federal government spent about $50 billion in today's dollars toward supplementing income of people other than Social Security recipients. Today that spending is $579 billion.
1960 was not all that bad. In order to get money, most people had to work. There was no earned income credit allowing a tax filer to receive a refund even if he paid no tax. While there were not very many channels on television, one channel still showed Lucy and Desi together. And, that was better than Charlie Sheen in any role.
Every once in a while, aging Gene Krupa would show up on a variety show secretly under the influence of banned substances playing drums better than Ringo Starr would play a few years later while publicly announcing his consumption of other banned substances.
Nor was 1960 a panacea. The federal government, indeed, had work to do. The Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act needed to be passed. Taxes needed to be lowered to create more private commerce and increase revenues. But what really happened after 1960 is that the federal government freed minorities with civil rights legislation and quickly enslaved them again with a welfare state that gave them subsistence, but robbed them of a desire for excellence.
Within a few decades of Kennedy's address, the system that created enough talent to put an astronaut on the moon abandoned the moon in favor of free condoms. The country that created the most massive road system in world history, the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System, dedicated its resources to substandard public housing.
John Kennedy's inaugural speech was a combination of poetry and alliterated prose crafted by a genius, probably Theodore Sorenson, and delivered by an oratorical master who made legs tingle before Barack Obama could speak.
But, like much poetry, its meter was more memorable than its message. Its thesis reflected what many people wanted to believe, but it was delivered by an orator dedicated to its antithesis. It was an oratorical fraud.
Robert M. Levy is chairman of the Moore County Republican Party. Contact him at Law52@prodigy.net.
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Comments
kzowens 9 months, 1 week ago
In this column, the Chairman of the Republican Party of Moore County has again vividly displayed his rigorous adherence to the principle called "doublethink" ("the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them ... To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient…”). Mr. Levy must have just finished watching a marathon of shows of his soul mate, Rush Limbaugh, when he wrote this column. I recall that in his March 11, 2012, column he acknowledged that at the end of a difficult day he needs Rush Limbaugh and that he is “in awe of Rush’s talent and intellect….. Rush came into my life as the intellectual companion I needed but never knew.” In that March 11 column, he also stated that Rush Limbaugh is the essence of his Republican Party. He writes, “We cannot let our leaders forget how necessary [Rush Limbaugh] is to the core of our conservative soul.”
pgericson 9 months, 1 week ago
President Kennedy issued a challenge to all Americans in his inaugural address, a challenge to step up and be counted. Mr. Levy addresses this challenge through his particular political filter. The President's challenge resonated with many reaching maturity in the early to mid 1960s. Many young Americans stepped up to join the Peace Core , undertake public service, or to serve in the Armed services in a war whose purpose was, at best, unclear to them. President Kennedy's sense of putting the country first undoubtedly would include financial sacrifice by the well-to-do to ensure that the less fortunate were adequately educated, housed, clothed, fed and had access to basic medical services. In the minds of many Americans this remains part and parcel of the American way. I understand that this is not the case with others who disparage entitlements for the less fortunate while expanding entitlements for the very rich. Disagree if you will with the philosophy, but do not disparage the challenge to step up for your country. To do so debases the sacrifices of those who chose the military, teaching, or other public service in an effort to make a difference.
alladat1 9 months, 1 week ago
Sorry Mr. Levy - I can't be a part of your Sunni vs. Shiite mentality - where all people of one political party are good and the other party is all bad.
nothingspecial 9 months, 1 week ago
Mr. Levy I am gratified that the head of the Republican Party is also a leader of our party in guiding us with well written, thought provoking columns. Pay no attention to the drama queens above, we appreciate you. Thank you, Sir!!
getreal 9 months, 1 week ago
Great posts pgericson and kzowens! Isn't Limbaugh the fool who ranted about the Bat Man movie having a hidden agenda against Romney because the bad guy was named Bain? Incredible!!! The name Bain has been used in the comic since the 70"s! What an idiot! I tried to listen to Limbaugh while driving the other day and started thinking what a genius he was. He came up with an idea to spoon feed the weak minded the most inflammatory garbage he could imagine, be it factual or not and Pied Piper those sheep all the way to the bank! I'll bet he lies in bed at night and snickers at his ability to pull the wool over so many eyes and become rich as a result. Everybody needs a gimmick, he picked a doozy! Making a good living inciting division and hate among the people. You gotta hand it to him, as distasteful as he is, he found a way to make money on those who cannot think for themselves. If Levy believes Limbaugh and follows his creed, I have no respect for anything he says and neither should anyone else.
RodHarter 9 months, 1 week ago
This column is an embarrassment to anyone who thinks.
Toyboy52 9 months, 1 week ago
@RodHarter: Your embarrassment may come from your own inability to tolerate people who do not think like you. The job of a writer is to examine history critically. The job of a Writer's critic is to intellectually challenge the thesis criticized. Simply writing insults fails to foster critical thinking. But, that is next week's topic, "the failure to tolerate divergent views within the 'liberal' arts"
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Bentpan 9 months, 1 week ago
Mr. Levy It is disappointing that so many refuse to see conservatism as the true path to freedom, They feel they are getting something for nothing when it is supplied by the government, they fail to see apathy and compliance, the loss of ambition are the lotus blossum of those who would enslave them,. The modern Democrat party offer them nothing, they do not steal from others first.
fugitiveguy 9 months, 1 week ago
Interesting read. Good work Bob.
clarabelle 9 months, 1 week ago
As I always suspected - the far right (or left - for that matter) will accept/condone/praise etc anything produced by their party leaders ( a term used very loosely here) - even this piece of crap!
Bentpan 9 months, 1 week ago
Clarabell did you really read Levys' column, or are you having a kneejerk reaction? Read it again and tell me what it is that is inacurate or unfair, The leap from "Ask Not" to "Demand or Entitled" from America is a pretty broad one, Make no mistake my inquiry is genuine.
geoffcutler 9 months, 1 week ago
Another zinger, Bob. Looking forward to your next. Nice to read some elevated thinking on the opinion page.
JimRussell44 9 months, 1 week ago
Mr. Levy's column appears under the heading "opinion" and he is entitled to his. I believe that President John F. Kennedy was one of our greatest presidents. In my view (and I was a young adult at the time), he brought the country together and made us proud to be an American. He challenged all of us to set goals that benefited mankind, to make the world a better place, to lift the downtrodden up, to set our sights at the stars. Well folks, we're not in Camelot anymore. We're not that shining city on the hill either. Where once we admired, even loved our leaders, today we have nothing but hate and disdain for them. I'm glad I'm old, because I don't think I could take seeing where this downward spiral takes this country. I do know that Mr. Levy and his comments in this article just add speed to the decline. Jeers to him for trashing one of my heroes.
mjwillman 9 months, 1 week ago
Truly, one of the most interesting dynamics to be borne out of the American experience, land of the free and home of the brave, is that of the fascist Jew. There simply is no other explanation in the Honorable Judge Levy's case. The utter absurdity of Judge Levy's proposition is exemplified by the state's assassination of their own president, who's documented policies were inimical to the status quo.
elenkhos
justpassingby2 9 months, 1 week ago
... he brought the country together and made us proud to be an American. He challenged all of us to set goals that benefited mankind, to make the world a better place, to lift the downtrodden up, to set our sights at the stars...
now look at obama's record and you see the exact opposite! He has widen the already great divide in this country. Pride in America? obama? Too obvious! He has hurt the downtrodden of THIS country and demonizes the most successful among us. If you and the other lefties would for once quit comparing obama to bush and remember YOUR ideals, you soon will realize backing obama makes you part of the problem and gets us no closer to solutions.
Easygoing 9 months, 1 week ago
The usual rhetoric we all have come to expect from Mr Levy. Pity he cannot find any good in anything, trashing just about anyone who actually believes in human compassion or a better country. I suppose it's not appropriate to ask those who have benefited from outrageous tax breaks, lobbyist special treatment, and government corporate hand outs to ask what they could do for the country rather than themselves.
teufelhunden 9 months, 1 week ago
Anyone is allowed to analyze a quote and make that the basis of an article, right? Mr. Levy did just that. What is wrong with that?
Politics is fair game. All presidents have had good ideas and bad ideas. No one is immune to failure or bad choices.
The law is reason unaffected by desire.-Aristotle
That is a quote I could both agree and disagree with, neither opinion necessarily disparaging.
Good article Mr. Levy, IMHO.
teufelhunden 9 months, 1 week ago
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
Today it's pretty much the other way around people. Welcome to reality.
JimRussell44 9 months, 1 week ago
justpassingby2, the article written by Mr. Levy focused on trashing JFK, to which I take exception. Your response, quoting from my comments, immediately switches to President Obama. Why? We are not discussing President Obama in this article. You idiots are one trick pony. Open your mouths and the same garbage comes spewing forth. I am now at the point where I actually hope Romney wins and you get to experience what will happen to this country when we put money ahead of people. I'm old and could give a crap who wins because I won't have to live with the long term consequences.
teufelhunden 9 months, 1 week ago
Sir, I believe you missed the whole point of the article!!! He took a quote from JFK and wrote an article about it. He didn't "trash" JFK!!!
teufelhunden 9 months, 1 week ago
Words may not have supporting actions! Great president but there's irony in the statement given what follows.
teufelhunden 9 months, 1 week ago
Politicians give empty promises all the time. Great orator but just like those before him and after him-mostly hot air. Believe it or not no man walks on water!!!
smoochielarue 9 months, 1 week ago
Unless his name is Ronald Reagan?
Noluv4thugs 9 months, 1 week ago
Politicos lie all the time in their speeches. There was this thing about "hope and change" and I am sick of the change taking place and all out of hope. Mr. Levy did not intend nor did he tear down JFK, instead he critically thought about words from a speech and gave his opinion.
Toyboy52 9 months, 1 week ago
Blasphemy defined: Criticizing the Trinity, Mohammed or JFK.
Thatcher 9 months, 1 week ago
At least JFK was on the right path when it came to tax cuts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEdXrf.... Many liberals here probably have never heard this, especially from the mouth of JFK. Can you imagine Obama ever uttering these words? And for those who really want to dig deeper into what JFK believed about tax policy, here's his "A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats" speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmHdqW.... I disagree with alot of what JFK did and believed, but on tax policy, he was pretty much spot on. Cheers!
nothingspecial 9 months, 1 week ago
Comedy break time
http://michellemalkin.com/2012/08/20/obama-crowd-sizes/
justpassingby2 9 months, 1 week ago
JimRuss..you summed up so well what JFK did for this country. Now you are defending a President who has done the exact opposite! If you can't see the relevance than you obviously don't want to. Although you sure wasted no time taking a shot at romney. Hasn't obama shown us what happens when you put money ahead of people? Of course he has.
OldPilot 9 months, 1 week ago
mjwillman: you may not agree with Levy's opinion, and I for one do not, but when you to use the term "...fascist Jew..." you lose all credibility. One has to feel sorry for those who are unable to express an opinion but fall back upon prejudice and narrow minded, bigoted idealology. To put in in simple language that even you might understand religeon has nothing to do with Levy's column except in your obviously tiny brain.
Thatcher 9 months, 1 week ago
Well said, OldPilot. Cheers!
Toyboy52 9 months, 1 week ago
Thank you OldPilot. You can disagree with me anytime.
Bob Levy
mjwillman 9 months, 1 week ago
OldPilot,
As Socrates declared, the beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms, obviously you never got off the ground. The term, "fascist Jew", is borrowed from Peter Drucker who witnessed the the well-to-do Jews turning over their less fortunate brothers to the Nazis.
In forums like this, as in life, there are opinions and there are informed opinions, I'll defer to the latter.
Sadly, for Pilots whose oratory output far exceeds their learning input, ignorance is not bliss and strange bedfellows are made.
Thatcher's, Levy's, and OldPilots, oh my!
JimRussell44 9 months ago
As boscoe50 points out, times have changed during the last 50 years. We no longer pull together. A Kennedy Presidency today would meet the same resistance and hate that the Obama administration faces. The sad fact is that a Romney administration will suffer the same fate should he somehow get elected. We are in a death spiral, headed for oblivion at an ever increasing pace. The phrase "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" has never been more prophetic.
geoffcutler 9 months ago
"A Kennedy Presidency today would meet the same resistance and hate that the Obama administration faces." Jim Russell
Balderdash! There can be no comparison made between the Democrat Kennedy and the current Democrat occupying the White House. Two completely different Democrats. What's changed in the last 50 years is the Democratic party. It's moved way to the left and could now be more accurately described as some form of Statist/Socialist Party. Kennedy appealed (and still does to some degree) to both sides of the latter day aisle.
justpassingby2 9 months ago
Now you are just making excuses Jim. obama took over with low expectations and the hope of people for real change that we could live with. He had majority support in Congress and with the citizenry. He immediately shut the citizenry out by not holding the promised hearings for obamacare and turning his transparency promise that he would give the govt. back to the people into a complete joke. The 3 stooges also shut out the other side of the aisle because they didn't need their votes and they went on a major spending spree paying off the 1%ers involved with Solyndra and others. obama said he could bring the two sides together and he failed miserably. He was hardly doomed from the start which is proven by how awful his presidency has been and he probably will get reelected! Please Jim, I believe you mean well but from one dem to another, you are embarrassing yourself!
OldPilot 9 months ago
mjwillman: spare us. Peter Drucker said that taking action without thinking is the cause of every failure and your out of context quote "fascist Jew" proves he was right. Drucker also said " I use anecdotes to make a point, not make history". You need to come up with an original thought or comment that adds to the discussion. If you so admire Socrates I ask once again, using the Socratic method, what does religeon have to do with the discussion or the subject matter except in your tiny brain?
Thatcher 9 months ago
Oldpilot-- Again, well said. I've found that those who cite Socrates do so to appear as brilliant as Socrates, while never realizing they sound like Joe Biden. Cheers!
geoffcutler 9 months ago
Oldpilot: Good work. We don't agree on much, but your integrity is shining through on this one. And it's integrity and honesty that will once again bring this nation together. Nothing else will do it.
Thatcher 9 months ago
Oldpilot-- I agree with Geoff 100%. You and I have disagreed on many topics on these threads. But here, you appear to be the only liberal with enough class to condemn a stupid comment...and then again condemn a response where the poster was claiming to be an intellectual. He is not. And you were right for calling him out on this. Cheers!