sit around and wait for them to do something for you? When's the last time your government challenged you, other than to vote for the guy with the biggest bag of goodies? Would you rather hang around a bunch of people who have high expectations of you, as this program does? Or would you rather hang around a bunch of people who think you're worthless and claim they are going to take care of you? This program and this host, ladies and gentlemen, obviously choose the former.
I'm often asked, "Rush, if you were running for President what would you say?" Well, I would give a speech that would end my candidacy - at least in modern-day America - on the spot. I would go to the podium and say to the American people:
"I can't make your life better. I don't intend to convince you that I can. What I am going to do is get rid of some of the shackles that this government has placed on you. I can't be all things to all people. And I'm not going to try. I'm going to do my job every day ... but it doesn't include taking care of you. That's up to you. The more of you who accept the responsibility of the gift of life, the better off the nation will be. Because it is the people of this country, endeavoring to improve their lives and the lives of their own children, who make this country work, who make this country what it is."
"I don't believe that one policy we enact in Washington will contribute to the greatness of this country - unless that policy is one that gets government out of your life. America depends on you, not me, not any member of Congress, not any member of the Supreme Court. The greatness of this country results from the combined responsible efforts of all of you."
And, that would be the end of my candidacy. Because I would be portrayed as a cold-hearted, unfeeling, insensitive moron who doesn't understand the trials, tribulations, and problems most Americans face. Oh, but that would be wrong. I do understand every one of those problems. And I understand the solutions are within.
Now, that's what The Rush Limbaugh Program stands for in a nutshell. Day in, day out - that's the guiding belief, foundation, philosophy of this program. And fundamental to all of that is truth and honesty, decency and standards.
A country ceases to be great because no longer do the people attempt to be great.
Some of the greatest people in this country are people whose names we will never know. And it is those people who make the country work. And you, whose names are not known by anyone, know who you are. And I just want you to know that I'm in your corner.
What does The Rush Limbaugh Program stand for? In essence, this program tries to tell its audience every day that:
* you don't need government;
* all that you need is yourself;
* that you're capable of far more than even you know;
* your future is in your own hands;
* this country is robust with opportunity.
This is a program which attempts to convince people to believe in themselves, not government. This is a program which instead tells people that it is your responsibility to care for yourself and your family. It is a program which attempts to say that your life can be far more than even you think it can be - but it's up to you to make that a reality. It's a program which attempts to instruct people that if you sit around and wait for other people to do things to make your life enjoyable or prosperous, you'll be waiting forever. And you will end your life disappointed and regretful.
This is a program which promotes, sponsors and celebrates rugged individualism and self-reliance. It's a program which believes that far more Americans are capable of those two character traits than does Washington. It is a program which defines compassion by counting the number of people who no longer need Washington, rather than by counting the number of people who are being subsidized by Washington. This is a program which does not have sympathy for people who claim to be helpless without government. It is that lack of sympathy which sometimes results in this program being accused of having little compassion. But real compassion is showing people just what their potential really is. And motivating them - inspiriting them to realize it themselves. Because this program believes that therein lies true contentment, satisfaction, self-worth, and happiness.
As a result, this program cringes on a daily basis at the realization that seemingly more and more Americans think themselves helpless, wandering aimlessly through the forest without guidance. In need of child care here, and child care there. In this program's mind, if one is going to engage in parenthood, one should understand beforehand that this is a tremendous responsibility - the parents' alone, not the village's, certainly not the government's. In certain places in this country, that philosophy is looked at as heartless, when, in fact - that philosophy is called love.
This program believes in people, in individuals. I believe in people I've never met far more than Washington will ever believe in you. When's the last time your government inspired you to do anything but
