Mr. Indebt and Mr. Nodebt

This is a story about two men, Mr. Indebt and Mr. Nodebt, but I think they represent two distinct groups in America today.  [Disclaimer:  Mr. Indebt and his wife are composite characters, they do not represent any one real person or couple.  But if you see yourself here, perhaps you need to do some personal reflection.]  Both men live in the same state, are close to the same age, both are married with no children living at home.  Both men are smart, both have jobs, both have hobbies.  Mr. Nodebt thought they were good friends, until one day ...

But before we get to the end of the story, let's go back a few months. 

Mr. and Mrs. Indebt are, well, in debt.  They are worried about their financial situation.

Mr. and Mrs. Nodebt invited the Indebts to their house for dinner one evening.  When the Indebts arrived, the Nodebts met them at their car and welcomed them to their home.

Mrs. Nodebt is a very intuitive woman, and she immediately noticed the look on both Mr. and Mrs. Indebt's faces.  The look said, "This is your house???  This is where you live???"  Mrs. Nodebt had seen the look before.  Translated the look means, "Someone in your position, in your profession, lives here???  This is not what we expected."

Mr. and Mrs. Nodebt live in an 18 year-old three bedroom house in the country.  The Nodebts do not have a mortgage, they do not owe anything on their two 11 year old automobiles or their old fishing boat, or their old pontoon boot.  Years ago they did live on the nicest street in their town, their house was on the Christmas tour of homes, and their neighbors were prominent business leaders in the community. 

Years ago the Nodebts decided they didn't need the big house or anything that went with it.  They spent each weekend on the river, so they sold the big house, got rid of the mortgage, bought the smaller house near the river, and are perfectly happy.  They don't buy designer clothes and they don't buy new cars every couple of years.

Mr. and Mrs. Nodebt are happy.  They like where they live, who they are, the decisions they have made.   They spent years doing without, sacrificing to get an education and a profession, putting up with crap from teachers and employers.  They like their lives.  They spent years paying their mortgage, their bills, their school expenses on time in order to be where they are today.

Now, back to the present.  Mr. and Mrs. Indebt could be in the same position that Mr. and Mrs. Nodebt are in, had they made different decisions.  The truth is that Mr. Indebt and people like him, resent people like Mr. and Mrs. Nodebt.  Whether it's jealousy, envy, whatever label you want to put on it, it's there.  The resentment puts a wedge between the two supposed friends. 

This is where we are in the United States today.  Those who have made bad decisions resent those who have made good decisions.  The Nodebts, and those with debts who are living within their means, are now being asked -- forced -- to pay off the debts of those who made bad decisions.  The government has placed a wedge between these two groups of Americans.  We are a house divided.

The people who should be resentful are the Nodebts and the many Mr. and Mrs. Reasonable-debts out there who have done everything right all their lives and are now being punished. 

The Indebts may approve of the changes coming out of Washington, but mark my words ... The Nodebts are not going to sit by quietly much longer.  The United States of America stands for individual rights and the Federal government cannot continue to pass bills and make laws that abuse and punish the good law-abiding citizens and reward those who tried to live beyond their means.  Something is terribly wrong when we do good, are faithful stewards of what God has provided us through His grace, our good decisions and hard work, and we are resented and punished for it.

Americans are generous people.  Those who have are more than willing to help those who need and cannot do for themselves.  However, we resent being forced to support those who can and should support themselves.

What say you?

Other reading, not necessarily related:

America Circling the Drain, J.D. Longstreet at FaultlineUSA

Afghan National Indicted for Alleged Ties To Terrorists - Los Angeles, National Terror Alert

Weekend Weasel - San Francisco Liberal Stephen Fowler, Watcher of Weasels Council

Weapons In or Out of Our Hands Forever?, and

Another Of BHO's Appointees: Otis Moss, Jr.   FaultlineUSA

Trackposted to Nuke's, The Virtuous Republic, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Rosemary's Thoughts, third world county, Political Byline, Faultline USA, Woman Honor Thyself, The World According to Carl, The Pink Flamingo, , Democrat=Socialist, Conservative Cat, Nukes, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Comments

[Faultline USA]

Very, very well-said. I hope you are right that we Americans won't continue to stand by and watch our rights be taken away!!!

[Katie]

And Mr and Mrs Indebt will now get a free home curtesy of Obama.

It isn't fair!

[Grouch at Right Truth]

Well, I know who the Nodebts are but who are the Indebts?

[Debbie]

Disclaimer: Mr. Indebt and his wife are composite characters, they do not represent any one real person or couple. But if you see yourself here, perhaps you need to do some personal reflection.

Debbie
Right Truth
http://www.righttruth.typepad.com

[Steve Nesich]

A commentator---whose name escapes me at the moment---said that the recent bailouts aren't about justice but survival. Like it or not, our "private economies" are interwoven with everyone else's. If our biggest financial institutions go down, we're all going to go down as well.

Am I angry that our money is being used to bail our irresponsible people who took insane risks? Absolutely. But I'm not asking my political leaders to make a moral judgment here---I'm asking them to do what's effective.

We live in the messy, contradictory real world, not the ideal one we might all imagine. And our economic fates are largely tied together, unfortunately or otherwise.

[Debbie]

Steve Nesich: Yes, unfortunately you make a good point. I just pray that somehow we will get through this and come out smarter on the other side.

Debbie

[Grouch at Right Truth]

I'm sure glad Mrs. Nodebt loves living on the river with Mr. Nodebt.

[Rosemary]

Exactly. I have waited 10 years, saving every penny I could by not going shopping (no new clothes), not eating out (too much), never going to the movies, etc. All so I could catch the downturn on the housing market. Yup, what goes up must come down.

When Pres. GWB stepped in, he made a helluva mistake. He put a stake not through the heart of those who deserved it, but it went through me. I'll be 50 this year. I have no more dream than to live in my home. Tell me, how now? That's why I'm not writing about it. It's too personal. I want to cry. I actually saved pennies. I would have my change put into coins so I wouldn't spend it. Let me shut up...after all, isn't that what they expect us to do? Maybe I'll go talk about race...that Jeff Gordon is pretty hot on the road!

[nancz]

how appropriate, debbie. we spent a goodly portion of the past ten years getting OUT of debt and decided to buy a new car almost two years ago and are refinancing this house, but we're not debt hounds - i can live without both to go back to my mountain any old time!

here's a good one on understanding the stimulus:

http://alg31blog.timberlakepublishing.com/default.asp?Display=981

[David]

I often cite Romans 13 (and other passages) to fellow Christians who act as though they believe themselves to be above the law ("What? Speed limit? I can drive safely 10-20-30 miles/hour faster than that!" etc.):

Romans 13:1-4 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

But what if the civil government instead punishes those who do good and rewards those who do evil? Are we then to obey laws that punish good and reward evil? Are we to give respect to rulers who use the law to oppress common folks seeking to do good and reward fat cats and lazy dogs who do evil?

The Founders thought not. See the "long train of abuses" in the Declaration of Independence and compare it to today. Striking similarities.