Living the Life of Riley

Hi America,

Yes, I am talking to YOU. Americans have the highest standard of living ever known to mankind, and the greatest freedom ever given to one nation under God. At least that is according to our government and what we hear throughtout the main news media. .

Whatever happened to the words from Thomas Jefferson that we are promised as one of our God given inalienable rights, namely "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness?"

I would like to address each of these individually. You may never hear this analysis before, but I, unlike many, am able to:"look at the forest without being among the trees." In case you’re wondering, I am not trying to be condescending; I just mean I do not live in the 50 United States of America.

Life.

I would like to talk about LIFE in the USA. We are told, and I hear it almost every day, that we Americans are living longer than any generation that ever existed to date. I agree. Except, I would like to qualify the words "Living Longer" and maybe use the words "Surviving more years of agony" or "Existing more years with drugs that keep our hearts beating." But are we REALLY "LIVING" longer, or are we just being kept artificially in a state of existence, with aches, pains, and stress pressure?

Dictionary.com first adjective definition of "Living":

1. Having life; being alive; not dead: living persons.

Having "LIFE" the dictionary provides us with a noun described as:

"The general or universal condition of human existence: Too bad, but life is like that."

Is that what WE want out of "LIFE?" Maybe we need a new word in English to better describe my definition of "LIFE." "LIVING LIFE to its Fullest" or "LIVING LIFE in a fulfilled state of mind until we pass on". Can anyone help me with this?

By the way, that should be without pain, suffering, or a stressful state of mind. Shouldn't matter if you are young, old, or in the middle, you should have the right to be.....anyone hear the word "HAPPY"? I would like to include that in my definition of "Living."

Liberty.

Let’s start out with a few definitions:

1.Freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control.

2.Freedom from external or foreign rule; independence.

3.Freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice.

This one word I could spend a large book talking about. How much liberty have I seen ourselves give up (or the government take away) just within my short number of years on this planet? And for those of you that don't remember, you will never know what you missed! If you never have had it, you never missed it.

When I was a kid, I would go to the community pool, and I could swim, lay in the sun, or dive. No not off the side of the pool, BUT off of a choice of 2 diving boards, "High Dive" or "Low Dive." Anyone want to tell me where there is a public pool today like that in the USA? For those of you that were injured or know some one that was due to a diving board accident, I am not putting that down as any less of a tragic event. I also know many more people that have been injured or killed in auto accidents, and that did not do away with cars.

I was able to actually EARN a living from someone other than my parents at age 12 years old. YES, they even had paperboys at that time, which not only delivered the papers, BUT had to collect the money also from adults that were not always willing to pay you! WOW Are there any out there today under the age of 16? I had at one time 150 papers that I delivered everyday of the week, except Sunday.

When I turned 16, I got my own car. I got my own insurance. I got into my own accident (thank God no one was hurt). I also LEARNED responsibility at an early age. I learned I must take responsibilities for my actions. I am not saying that we need to allow people to hurt themselves, but, are we as a society being too protective? Are we letting our young people grow up now, or are they still living under the same roof of dear old mom and dad at age 26?

After I am an adult, and I learn the American Dream of "owning" your home, what a rush! I was able to have something of real long-lasting value that no one could take away from me or ask someone permission before I did something to "MY" house. Oh, was I wrong. When I needed a new roof, because the old one was seeing its age, can you believe what I had to do?

I need to get permission (a permit) from the county court to put on a roof on MY house. And, the color may not meet the standards of the neighborhood so, do not forget, I also need permission as to the kind and color from my community development board. So much for freedom and Liberty.

I will save the BEST for last:

With Pursuit of Happiness