Michael Moore in “Sicko:” Is he right, wrong or both?

Michael, you say “we are a nation of 'me,' and should be a nation of 'we'.” I disagree. Our nation is based on individual liberty. The Founders shouted “Don't tread on me.” Their individuality created the economic engine we call “The American Dream.” Each individual “me” worked to serve others, prospering “we.” There is no power more effective than individual initiative dedicated to serving others. Every truly selfish person knows the best way to be selfish is to serve the interests of other people – to be selfless. That serve-others idea was empowered when our Constitution promised we are secure in our homes and property. Our Constitution's Republic prevented government from issuing a Bill of Attainder against the creative “me.” That meant government could take nothing from “me” unless a jury of “we” ordered it. Empowered by this protection, my duty is to take care of myself. So, I disagree with you. I should care for my own health needs. Government should not take money from “we” and give it to “me.”

But wait. All “me's” live today under a cloud of forbidden “Bills of Attainder.” What jury has charged “me”with the duty to have money withdrawn from my paycheck and handed to the IRS? What jury forces me to file a 1040? What jury allows the IRS – with only an administrative audit as its authority – to take from “me” whatever the IRS would like to give to “we,” whether papers, money or home belonging to “me?” What jury authorized the private banking system known as the Federal Reserve Bank to disconnect gold and silver from money and to reduce its purchasing power year by year?

Yes wait. There is a problem. The definitions have changed. We are no longer a nation of “me.” We are not allowed to be. “We” dumped “me” into a sea of “we” making of “me” a “peewee.” Under a nation of “me” what is mine would be mine. I would be scorned by my neighbors if I did not save enough gold or silver to pay for my family's medical needs. Those neighbors would scorn themselves if they did not band together to help “me” pay for emergencies. The problem is that today's money, when “saved,” disappears. Money is controlled by a “Federal Reserve,” that is not Federal. It is privately owned. It has no reserves except the GNP and GDP created by “we.” The Fed erodes value from the dollar, in a system of theft protected by judges who ignore law, preferring “Public Policy.”

The “me” is taxed twice: first by the penalty of inflation, with continuing price distortion (gas prices don't go up; money goes down); then by an income tax forbidden by the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. Government pays its bills by writing checks on accounts with unlimited overdraft privileges, never needing to deposit a dime. With no need for money, the government's “we” comes to “me” this second time, pretending poverty.

If I am allowed to be “me,” I must pay my doctor's “fee.” However, if my money is taken, its value taken by “we” of Democracy, why shouldn't the “we” pay the fee for “me.” Take the foundation of Individual Liberty from “me,” force “me” to live in a system of price increase caused by unlawful fraud, and what choice do I have? The “me” is forced to depend upon “we.” So if government insists I cannot be “me” I must admit I agree with thee.