Bernanke's 'luck' is really hard work

There is no shortage of topics to gripe about today. Whether it is another political scandal, a further weakening of our nation’s sovereignty or more politicians caught in blatant lies to the public who elected them to office; our nation is under constant attack from within, especially from those working within our federal government.

Let’s talk about Ben Bernanke. During his commencement speech at Princeton University recently, the Federal Reserve chairman confirmed his belief in the Marxist philosophy: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” Only Mr. Bernanke went further in his remarks by attributing success to “luck”. He told the graduates, “The only way for even a putative meritocracy to hope to pass ethical muster, to be considered fair, is if those who are the luckiest in all of those respects also have the greatest responsibility to work hard, to contribute to the betterment of the world and to share their luck with others.”

In other words, if you choose not to work hard or even work at all, generous Ben thinks you are entitled to share the rewards of those who do. Go to hell, Mr. Bernanke — this is America, not some failing, Third World communist dictatorship.

I am retired now after a successful engineering/entrepreneurial career. I inwardly grimace when I hear people I meet tell me how lucky I have been. These acquaintances have no idea of the sacrifices, dedication and years of hard work that go with the creation and growth of a business enterprise. Luck has nothing to do with it.

But to have the person who oversees our nation’s money supply equate success with luck is an insult to me and many others!

Freedom means choosing your own path in life rather than obeying orders from someone else. When I was in college, I watched as the political science majors partied hearty while I stayed up until 3 a.m. solving complex advanced calculus problems. I reasoned that by foregoing the pleasures of youth I would reap rewards tenfold later in life that the slackers wouldn’t.

My personal sacrifices continued after graduation. My first full-time job was the most interesting but lowest paying out of five offers. Later in life, the hot-dog dinners at home after long hours at my struggling small business, while my neighbors and friends with less demanding jobs dined out and vacationed, were a harsh reminder that my disciplined work ethic would someday pay off.

Finally, in my retirement I am living a comfortable lifestyle. But now I find myself dealing with the “looters” (as Ayn Rand called the government), who covet what I worked so hard to obtain. If I were graduating from high school today instead of 1964, I wonder if I would choose the same path in life knowing what I do now. The capitalist system of reward for one’s effort is rapidly vanishing. But then again, without my dedication, amputees wouldn’t have the options for high performance prosthetic feet that I invented.

Unless attitudes change, I fear we, as a nation, are doomed to the same fate as all the previous failed socialist societies.

Merlette is a resident of Bigfork.