Chicago Sun Times Columnist Terry Savage took time to write a column about little girls giving away free lemonade and snacks, consequently holding up their behavior as "What's wrong with America." (Article is at http://www.suntimes.com/business/savage/2464546,CST-NWS-savage05.savagearticle if you want to read it.)  Railing against these children who chose to, perhaps, be neighborly and provide a treat for their neighbors and friends. She shrilly points out that "That's not the spirit of giving. You can only really give when you give something you own. They're giving away their parents' things — the lemonade, cups, candy. It's not theirs to give."
 
In doing so, she fails to ask the girls why they may be giving such things away.  It could be entirely possible that these girls were spending their allowance in sharing with the community or general public.  She acknowledges the presence of a  Nanny, meaning that this home is in an above average income neighborhood, but fails to mention that detail.  She moves on to the inevitable assertion that everyone (except she and her cadre of well off friends and family) expects free benefits and how society is all about "free lunch". 
 
Regardless of what she chooses to espouse politically, the fact is that she cannot wrap her mind around the concept of compassion.  She has spent a lifetime getting from society and focused building wealth that she cannot conceive that someone would give something away without asking for anything in return.  This is what is wrong with America. People like Savage cannot muster the courage to take a loss in corporate profits for a quarter (or even a decrease in profits,) to keep others working.  They cannot abide the thought of us having our neighbors over for steaks when we find ourselves able to do so, without expecting a payback or some other gain.  Heaven forbid we shovel the neighbor's walks or cars out when there is a sudden snowstorm without demanding a payoff. (They would be shrilly demanding that everyone stay out of the spot they just shoveled after piling their snow in front of another's vehicle.) They scream Socialist when someone dares to bring up that there is a social responsibility to improve the lives of our countrymen in order to improve our own quality of life.  Instead, she would see an America where the vicious, petty and greedy are rewarded and those who give to the betterment of their community are reviled.
 
With this type of attitude, we see a "I have mine, so I'm good with everyone else being hosed" mindset.  Should an artist only create work for hire?  Would we have Picasso, VanGough, or Manet today if they followed that line of reasoning?  While economics can drive society, it is not the whole of society.  Reducing individuals to their economic value removes the divinity of the Human spirit as well as the basic decency that they deserve.  Savage is quick to spout that there was nothing free about "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." but fails to realize that they are but a small portion of the original document, which also includes provisions to accommodate the "Safety and Happiness" of citizens. 
 
 

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