The Rules

In the beginning there were the rules, and the rules were good.

WE learned the rules.

WE were taught to respect our elders.  WE were taught to respect authority.  WE said "Yes Sir" and "No Ma'am".  WE called our friends parents "Mr. Jones" and "Mrs. Smith".  WE said "Please" and "Thank You".  The Policeman was our friend and WE loved and respected our Teachers.

WE played sports and learned that even games had rules.  WE were coached by the parents of our friends and WE were taught about teamwork and sportsmanship.  WE learned that sometimes WE had to "take one for the team" and put our personal achievements behind that of the team.  WE learned that when WE lost, WE should be gracious and congratulate the winners and even when WE won WE should be humble and thank the losers for playing a good game.

WE learned rules from Scouting to "Do your best" and "Be Prepared".  WE were taught to be honest and loyal amongst other things, but always to do the right thing and be honorable and live up to what WE said WE would do.

WE learned rules from Church to "Do unto others" as WE wanted done to us.  WE learned to respect that there was a power greater than ourselves.

Even when WE played with other kids, WE set our rules before WE began.  WE made it clear where "home base" was and what was "out of bounds".  WE knew the difference between playing "two below" and tackle.  WE enforced the rules and followed them.

When WE got to be teens, WE tested the rules.  WE stretched them as far as WE could and yes, even broke a few.  WE got a little wild, but WE always knew the rules were there, and if necessary, WE paid the price for breaking them.

One thing that WE were taught, that WE always believed, even if sometimes WE said WE didn't:

If WE played by the rules and worked hard, WE would succeed.

So eventually WE settled down and played by the rules of the adult.  WE worked hard.  WE minded our own business.  WE took care of our families and expected others to do the same.  WE thought that everything was fine with the world.

But then, small groups of people began to challenge the rules.  They said that this rule wasn't "fair" because everyone couldn't play the game as well as others.  They said that this other rule was "discriminatory" because it kept less able people from playing the game.  They said that some other rule was "racist" because it kept a certain minority from succeeding in the game.  Others said that some rule was "hateful" because failure was cruel and indiscriminate.

WE didn't want to be unfair or bigots or racists or hateful, so WE allowed the people to be exempted from the rules that WE had played by all of our lives.

One morning, WE woke up and realized that WE were the only people playing by the rules anymore.  WE were working hard and contributing our taxes to a government that not only allowed people to avoid the rules, but actually encouraged them to do so.  WE found ourselves being responsible for other peoples mistakes.

WE began to wonder why.

The final straw came, after years of making exceptions for all of the people who for one reason or another, couldn't or wouldn't pay by the rules, WE began to question whether WE could continue to pay more and more of the money that WE earned to take care of a larger and larger class of dependent people.  WE expressed concern that, as a nation, WE could no long continue to borrow money to pay for all of the things that those people wanted

WE were called ignorant, stupid, close-minded, backward. provincial, uninformed, hateful, bigoted, homophobic, xenophobic, islamophobic, and worst of all: racist.  Not just by the people who WE had been so understanding and tolerant with over the years, but by the political leaders that WE elected to office.

Now, WE have finally had enough.

In November, WE THE PEOPLE will have our say, and WE will begin the process of putting the rules back in place.