The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1961-05-04
A PLEA o POLITICAL
HEALTH

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should do for the individual is
a problem that raises some
very fundamental questions.
The basic ideas of the Consti-
tuition, In my opinion, make it
clear that our founding fathers
intended to create a nation in
which citizens would be able
to do as much for themselves
as inclination and ability would
permit. The founding fathers
thought that the individual was
the chief recipient Of this new
freedom, the keystone of which
was responsibility to God, to
neighbor, and to self, unrestrict-
ed tyrannical power.
The experience Of our fore
fathers and all other freedom
loving peoples has been that
governmental power is most
likely to be wilfully misused.
That is perhaps why the great
residue of action and choice was
left to individuals Cor to the
states where they live) to chart
out such courses of action as
they felt necessary or needful.
In his first inaugural address.
Thomas Jefferson described our
American government in 1901
as a wise and frugal one.
which he declared "shall re-
strain men from injuring one
another, shall leave them other
wise free to regulate their own
pursuits of industry and i'm
provement, and shall not take
from the mouth of labor the
bread it has earned"
THAT WASHINGTON LOOK
Through its power to tax (and
also it power to restrain), our
federal government is today
looked upon by many as both
sources and stimulus for leader
ship of the masses and for full
authority over the individual. In
effect, whatever is good for the
group or the Individual, that
should the government do or
cause to be done. Whatever it
is, if it is desirable and costs
money, let us get Washington
to do it, is the cry. These de-
velopments in political thought
have not been ignored by prac-
teal politicians.
Perhaps political parties have
helped most significantly to
make these ideas popular. At
least, opportunities for spend
ing and electing" are as evident
today in modern politics as was
the necessity of being "wise and
frugal" in Jefferson's day. The
extent to which this "let-the-
federal government-do-it" atti-
tude can go is well shown by
the proposition that the De-
partment of Health. Education,
and Welfare assume full respon-
sibility for the physical fitness
of the nation.
A FITNESS PROGRAM
Writing in the December 26
issue Sports Illustrated, Mr..
Kennedy as President-elect pro-
posed that the fitness of youth
become the direct responsible
ty" of the federal government
and described lack of fitness as
a. "menance to our security"
Youth would not be regimented
under such a program. he said,
but he did not explain how it
would be possible for the fed
eral government to conduct a
youth fitness program without
our Recommendation.
The Wall Street Journal COM
mented sensibly: 1t is hard
to disagree with the idea of ply
steal fitness or to dispute Mr..
Kennedy's prescription of more
exercise for our adolescents.
However, it might be noted in
passing that American children
are the healthiests in the world,
and are getting healthier all the
time.
"Still, if he knows a way of
getting Junior to shovel a snowy
driveway or run an GRAND glad
ly, he will win the gratitude OF
parents, never mind what it
means vis-a-vis the Russians.
NOT ENTIRELY MUSCLE
"Ofs course lauding the
strenuous life and getting our
youngsters to live it are two
different things. Mr.. Kennedy
would. make the Department OF
Health, Education and Welfare
responsible for the fitness o.
American youth. He would as
semble experts at the White
House and summon the nations
governors to Washington. And
we suspect Junior would still
ask for the car to 60 to the
corner.
"Flabbiness doesn't afflict the
younger generation only. Nor is
it just a matter Of muscle. II
his elders are really bent on
toughening up Junior, they
might begin by emptying hi.
head of the notion that he does
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