People need initiative and motivation, not government handouts
by Cal Thomas · The Washington TimesOPINION:
Two years after voters tossed the Democrats from power in Washington, polls show they are ready to switch sides again. Does it make sense to welcome back a party and ideas that were so recently rejected?
The reason so many voters are frustrated with both parties is that they have placed too much faith in government and too little in themselves. It is called initiative, and its absence has contributed not only to dysfunctional government but also to a loss of the things that built and sustained America through challenges greater than high gas prices and “unaffordable” groceries.
One standard definition of initiative is “the energy, motivation, or independent judgment to start a task without waiting to be told what to do.”
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In his book “Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World,” motivational speaker Zig Ziglar wrote: “Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis.”
The list of Americans who succeeded without government help but with considerable motivation is long. In his book “The Wright Brothers,” David McCullough writes about the owners of a small bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, who turned their dream of building airplanes that humans could fly into reality without government help.
In fact, Washington initially turned down the brothers, prompting them to negotiate a contract with a French consortium to sell their aircraft, marking the first major commercial deal for their invention.
A Google search provides only a partial list of people who used initiative and motivation to achieve what the government was unable or unwilling to do.
Cornelius Vanderbilt built his early shipping empire by competing directly against state-chartered steamboat monopolies, consistently lowering fares and improving service. He later applied that same ruthless efficiency to consolidate and expand major private rail networks without relying on government handouts.
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Andrew Carnegie revolutionized the steel industry by adopting cutting-edge technology and pursuing cost efficiency. He later dedicated his life to philanthropy, using his private fortune to fund the construction of more than 2,500 libraries worldwide.
John D. Rockefeller created Standard Oil through aggressive efficiency, vertical integration and waste reduction. His innovations drastically lowered the price of kerosene, making affordable lighting accessible to working-class families before modern philanthropy emerged.
Henry Ford transformed American manufacturing and transportation by pioneering the moving assembly line and introducing the Model T. He did not rely on government subsidies; instead, he focused on paying workers high wages and offering the Model T at affordable prices.
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery and repeatedly risked her life to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people via the Underground Railroad over some 13 missions.
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery and taught himself to read and write. He became a leading abolitionist, orator and editor of The North Star — the anti-slavery newspaper he co-founded with Martin Delany in 1847 — driving major societal change through his own intellectual influence and private organizing.
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Madam C.J. Walker, born to enslaved parents who were freed after the Civil War, built a hair care empire for Black women entirely from scratch. She is widely recognized as America’s first self-made female millionaire, using her wealth to fund scholarships and civil rights organizations.
The list goes on to include modern tech pioneers who turned initial personal initiative and private investment into industry-defining enterprises before becoming federal contractors. We apparently no longer teach, much less study, the value of initiative and motivation. Politicians would lose power over us if we did.
Yet there are many ways to offset higher costs, and those who adopt them can achieve satisfying results. These might include riding a bike for short distances instead of driving a car, choosing a more fuel-efficient vehicle, shopping at food co-ops or changing one’s diet to lower food costs — and enjoying the possible side effect of weight loss.
Initiative and motivation can change lives. Politicians promise they can do more for you, but they never mention what you can do more effectively for yourself.
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Changing party majorities will not change outcomes. If politicians had that power, they would have used it by now.
• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books).
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