Our forefathers were strong, independent entrepreneurs, who made their own way and depended on no one to survive. These pioneers raised their own food, hunted or trapped the meat that they put on the tables and delivered their own babies. If they had extra vegetables or meat, they would trade for weapons, tools or cloth to make their clothing. Yes, life was tough, but these were proud, self-determined people. 
Today, the government takes care of us from cradle to grave. We, as a nation, no longer are independent or self-reliant. Why should we be when the government does everything except hold the spoon for us to eat from?  
Forty-seven percent of U.S. families pay no income taxes, even though some of these families earn in excess of $50,000 a year. Some families can get welfare and food stamps without ever trying to find a job. Why aren’t these people paying their fair share?
And let’s not forget “Obama Care.”  Our every ill will be taken care of, courtesy of taxpayers.
According to an article posted on www.dailyfinance.com, Warren Buffett, one of the richest men in this country, supports a tax increase for the wealthy.  Why?  The tax system in this country lets him pay fewer taxes than his secretary. He doesn’t care how much the rich are taxed because of the tax loopholes established by Congress.
Taxing the rich actually means taxing the middle class. The rich really pay very little in taxes because of loopholes, and General Motors pays nothing — even after earning $5 billion in profits. But the middle class does not benefit from these loopholes. We — the people who can least afford it — pay for all of the social handouts, not corporate America or the rich.
All of this taxation goes back to the fact that we in America have lost the independent spirit. We no longer depend on our own drive and dreams to make our lives better. We have become children again, and we look to our new parent, Uncle Sam, to provide for our every need. 
There is an old saying that goes, “If we do not study history, we will repeat it.”  Socialism and communism tried to be everything to everyone. Governments that promoted these concepts took from those who had and gave to the have-nots — and they gave, and they gave until there was nothing to give.
Communist Russia collapsed while China moved from communism toward capitalism. There are riots in most European countries because the same socialistic programs that Washington is instituting here have failed there. The philosophy in our government appears to be:  If it moves, control it. If you can’t control it, tax it. If you can’t tax it, give it a billion dollars.
With run-away spending and a national debt about to crush the nation, we Americans must bring back the pioneer spirit and help ourselves rather than let our great country collapse under the weight of its debt. 
Of every tax dollar collected, the government spends more than 40 cents on interest alone. This is our money — money taxpayers worked hard for — and it is being given away by our government. This dependence on government must stop before we do not have a government on which to depend.

Calderone is a conservative who lives in Midway. He is a professional salesperson and for 30 years has written articles for trade publications in various fields.