A young man lived with his parents in a public housing development. He attended public school, rode the free school bus, and participated in the free lunch program. He entered the army, then upon discharge retained his national service insurance. He then enrolled in the state university, working part time in the state capitol to supplement his GI education check.
Upon graduation he married a public health nurse and bought a farm with an FHA loan; and then obtained an RFC loan to go into business. A baby was born in the county hospital. He bought a ranch with the aid of the veterans' land program and obtained emergency feed from the government.
Later he put part of his land in the soil bank, and the payments soon paid off his farm and ranch.
His father and mother lived very comfortably on the ranch on their social security and old-age assistance checks. REA lines supplied electricity; the government helped clear his land.
The county agent showed him how to terrace it; then the government built him a fish pond and stocked it with fish. The government guaranteed him a sale for his farm products at highest prices.
Books from the public library were delivered to his door. He banked money which a government agency insured.
His children grew up, entered public schools, ate free lunches, rode free school buses, played in public parks, swam in public pools, and joined the FFA. He owned an auto-mobile so he favored the federal highway program.
He signed a petition seeking Federal assistance in developing an industrial project to help the economy of his area.
He was a leader in obtaining the new post office and Federal building, and went to Washington with a group to ask the government to build a great dam costing millions so that the area could get "cheap electricity”.
He petitioned the government to give the local air base to the county. He was also a leader he movement to get his specific type of farming special tax write-offs and exemptions. Of course, he belonged to several farmers' organizations, but denied that they were pressure groups.
Then, one day, he wrote to his Congressman:
"I wish to protest these excessive governmental expenditures and attendant high taxes. I believe in rugged individualism. I think people should stand on their own two feet without expecting handouts.
"I am opposed to all socialistic trends, and I demand a return to the principles of our Constitution and the policies of States Rights."
Do you happen to know this man?
-- The Brookville American, Pa.