EVERYONE, Liberal, Conservative, Green, Libertarian residing in the United States needs to realize ONE thing. Capitalism is a cruel and unforgiving economic model. However when compared to other economic models such as socialism and communism it is by far the best system we've come up with.
Trouble is that at least since the inception of the Federal Reserve Bank we haven't had true Capitalism. We've had a rigged deck that gets even more rigged as you read this post. Slowly and for to many reasons to mention here we have gone from a nation of pioneers having a "Can Do" attitude to a society that seeks to avoid risk at all cost. Even to the point of not being outraged by the Patriot Act, NDAA, NSA, TSA and on the list goes.
As what I'll call the Crony Capitalist/Bankster Conspiracy is gradually sucking the life's blood out of the middle class. Iceland bailed out the citizens and jailed the Banksters to great success. Here we do the opposite and wonder why our economy sputters along.
I find the sport of Boxing a near perfect metaphor for work life in the US. Particularly the pre fight instructions where the referee says, "Let's have a good clean fight and remember protect yourself at all times." Over the years we've seen bankruptcy after bankruptcy destroy pensions and workers lives, be they union or non-union. We've seen laws enacted that limit the ability for workers to organize and often these laws are created and passed under the guise of "Fairness" yet in a true capitalistic society "Fair" is not taken into consideration. It's what you negotiate that counts. Ergo, the worker must in the words of our referee must "Protect yourself at all times".
This is where those like myself fall down while preaching Individual Liberty they ignore the most important part of a life of Freedom and Liberty. That's the part called Individual Responsibility. Without responsibility there can be no real Liberty. YOU have to be held accountable if not to others then yourself. Obama and all manner of events around you happen that can and very often do have a negative impact on your life. YOU as an individual citizen of the Republic have a moral obligation IMO to follow the referee's instructions. It's no one elses role to solve your sorry assed problems unless they choose to do so voluntarily.
Conversely we as in each of us are our brother's keeper. We cannot outsource our duty as citizens to the government when it comes to taking care of our fellow citizens. It's part of the price you pay to live as you choose. Most of us are where we are due to our own actions.
