What You’re Owed

The American dream is, in part, responsible for a great deal of crime and violence because people feel that the country owes them not only a living but a good living. - psychoanalyst David Abrahansen, San Francisco Examiner and Chronicle, November 18, 1975

What are you owed, really, by America? Not a thing, other than what’s dictated by law. You are owed the right to remain silent if you’re arrested. You’re owed freedom of religion. You’re owed the ability to cross a street in a cross walk with the light without getting run over. Other than that, what are you owed?

Are you owed a living? No. Are you owed happiness? Sorry, again no. You’re offered life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but not happiness itself. And you have life, since you’re reading this, unless you’re dead and reading this, in which case contact me, I’d like to talk to you. And if you don’t have liberty, then either the system screwed up or you did. But you’re not owed a living. You’re not owed a great job. You’re not owed the right to do whatever you want at the expense of other people.

And the sooner you realize this, the happier you’ll be. Or, if you refuse to realize it, then work on making the changes necessary so that you are owed it, because it isn’t true now.