Rice and Republicans Condemn Politics of Envy

At the Republican convention, former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, and others, directly challenged President Obama’s infamous “You didn’t build that” speech. Rice was particularly eloquent:

[T]he essence of America, what really unites us, is not nationality or ethnicity or religion. It is an idea. And what an idea it is. That you can come from humble circumstances and you can do great things, that it does not matter where you came from, it matters where you are going.

My fellow Americans, ours has never been a narrative of grievance and entitlement. We have never believed that I am doing poorly because you are doing well. We have never been jealous of one another and never envious of each others' successes.

Although Republicans often betray the ideal of individualism that Rice forthrightly expresses here, it is nevertheless heartening to hear her and other Republicans condemn the left’s politics of envy and praise individual success.

Republicans, make this your MO.

Related:

• Individualism vs. Collectivism: Our Future, Our Choice
• Political “Left” and “Right” Properly Defined

Creative Commons Image: World Economic Forum

About Ari Armstrong

Ari Armstrong blogs at AriArmstrong.com, and he has written for publications including the Denver Post and Complete Colorado. He is the author of Values of Harry Potter: Lessons for Muggles, a book exploring the heroic fight for life-promoting values in the Potter novels.

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