Page 658 - How to Make Money in Stocks Trilogy

Success Stories 487

As a secular Soviet Jew, my first Christmas in America was amazing. The
proud display of religious symbols was a celebration not only of the holiday,
but of a population free to express their beliefs without fear of oppression.
I understand why at the beginning of the 20th century Jewish immigrants
in America wrote many beautiful Christmas songs; these songs were born
out of grateful hearts. Churches and synagogues coexist without issues.
Nobody is forced to practice or not practice a religion.
Soon, however, I noticed darker aspects underlying life in America. Political
correctness had seeped into everything like cancer. Under the pretense of mul-
ticultural diversity, suppression and intolerance of uniquely American tradi-
tions such as liberty, private property, and e pluribus unum (out of many, one),
became not only acceptable, but necessary in supposedly enlightened society.
Under the pretext of helping the needy, liberals eliminate people’s drive to
better themselves and their families. Instead, they obsess about events of the
past and exacerbate the victim mentality in the very people they claim to help.
The stranglehold of political correctness has only grown stronger. I see in
today’s governmental policies a replication of the very things I escaped from.
In the USSR, representatives of the Communist party—partorgs (liter-
ally: party organizers)—were ingrained into every aspect of civilian, official,
and military life. These political organizers controlled public order by
observing the behavior and speech of every citizen.
People who wanted a more secure and privileged life found it necessary
to join the propaganda machine. In order to survive, citizens were silent out
of fear of retaliation by the authorities.
Government-controlled medical care and poorly compensated medical
personnel stimulated corruption at every level of service. People had to
resort to bribery in order to get the help they needed, and underpaid med-
ical personnel were open to the payouts.
Those who could not pay had to beg for help. The only hospitals compa-
rable to American hospitals were in Moscow and a few other cities, where
government officials were treated. In the rest of the country, medical care
was substandard. This was the reality of free health care for everyone.
No one can dispute that America has issues with its medical system, and
here too, some people struggle to get the help they need. But the solution to
the problem is not more bureaucratic control. The quality of medical care
will inevitably decline for everyone.
I came to this country in the middle of a recession, and I saw the economy
revive and prosper when the government eased the tax burden on people
and businesses. People were free to use their talents without the interfer-
ence of central planning. Today the opposite is taking place, and we see the
opposite results because central planning results in wasteful spending, cor-
ruption, and the suppression of initiative.
I am afraid these transformers of America are destroying the future of our
children. I hope the free spirit of America triumphs.