The Conservative View: Where's the Work Ethic

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Where's the Work Ethic?

One of the virtues that has defined us as a nation is our desire to go the extra mile and have pride in our workmanship. We Americans owe a lot to our ancestors; they did the hard work that made our standard of living possible. I was raised to believe that if you were willing to sacrifice and do the work and devote the time that most people refused to do you would get ahead in life. I believe that prosperity does not come cheap; it requires sweat and a willingness to get our hands dirty. I have noticed that many Americans have gotten into the mindset that we are too good to do hard work.

A few days ago I watched a report on how we Americans are not building anything anymore. Our manufacturing base has been on a steady decline for several years. One example given was on the building of computers. Most all of the computers today are built in countries like Korea and China. The proponents of the current system claim that we make the money on the software and programming of the computers. While that may work today, we Americans had better start to look at the potential problems that can bite us in the backside in the future.

We would be foolish to think that the people building the computers lack the intelligence to design the software and programs that future generations will need. Information can be one of the least kept secrets in the world. Just look at any of our major universities and you will see students from all parts of the world enrolled there. When other countries build their research and development facilities, we could find ourselves outside looking in. It would be a perfect world if we Americans could all work in air conditioned offices and just type on a computer and make six figures a year, but we live a long way from a perfect world. Our parents and grandparents knew the need to roll up their sleeves and be willing to get their hands dirty. During WW 2 it was the manufacturing capacity of our nation that was the deciding factor in our country winning that war. For a country to be strong it must have the ability to build the things that its people need. Government handouts are not the answer, the embracing of freedom and allowing people to prosper or fail on their own merits is the only answer.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.