By Jim McEntire
Friends, I’ve written recently about the rural vs. urban divide in our great state, the state of our rural economy in Clallam County, and the disturbing statistics relating to hopelessness amongst some of our young citizens in our schools.
The individual “pursuit of happiness” – one of our unalienable rights – begs the question of “what makes people happy”?
Of course, the answer is as varied and multi-hued as the number of people, but I have a notion that common to every notion of happiness is being able to live a dignified, productive life. “Productive” can mean many things: it could mean creating great art for the individual and others to enjoy; it could mean finding the medical treatment that prevents the common cold; it could mean the joy of creating and marketing products or services that delight customers and keep them coming back for more. And countless other things … . Common to the meaning of “productive” is the bedrock quality of human dignity and a deep sense of self-worth.
The dictionary definition of “productive” refers to self-respect or self-worth. In America, the opportunity we all have to find ways to stand on one’s own feet, and to make one’s own way in the world, leads to feelings of self-worth. And a common acceptance of this vital part of the idea of America deserves and requires preservation in our politics.
Preserving this idea is one of the fundamentals of political conservatism. It informs our push to restore our rural economy – it informs our sense of strong families – and it informs our sense of what is good and worthy in our concept of citizenship, our collective sense of community and “we’re all in this together”.
(Jim McEntire is currently the GOP candidate for WA State House of Representatives, and previously served as a Clallam County Commissioner and Port Commissioner.)
