This is a really good essay, go read the whole thing. Its short. Still I think the opening line is the best one:
When I was a kid, about a thousand years ago, I made a terrible vow never to forget what it was like, having your life—your body, your belongings, everything about you—controlled by another human being. That, more than anything else, is probably what made me a libertarian.
I’ve known some people who longed for their childhood. No responsibilities, no job to do, no chores, no need to procure the necessities of survival.
I’m not one of those people. Every year of my life is essentially better than the previous one. Sure there are rough patches, and years that are harder than others, but I’m an adult and the master of my own destiny. You can’t beat that!
While she doesn’t understand me yet, I’m constantly telling my daughter how much better and better things will get. Even now as a happy smiling baby, she’ll get more and more experiences, and tho those things can cause more pain and strife than simply playing with toys and enjoying long naps, the joys will get even more intense.
Hell as happy as she is playing and laughing, she can’t beat the joy I’m feeling playing with my little girl in a house I own, earned from years of hard work and determination.
The Nanny State simply promises you will have a more child-like existance, and while that appears to some more feeble-minded folk, I reject it!
For some on the Left, the desire is Perpetual College. No real responsibilities, someone else pays the bills, you have to do some work like stuff, but you get to party and mess around.
I met a few people like that when I was in school.
Me? I got my BS in 4 years and got the hell out. I was in college so I could get jobs doing things I wanted to do, so I didn’t waste any time once I got my sheepskin!
It’ll need to be a damn low “glass ceiling” for me to ever go back…and frankly after 12 years in the job market, and one major career path change, I don’t think I’ll ever feel it.