For the good of the nation

Posted by Moderate August 25, 2012 at 2:25 p.m.

I remember back in the old war movies where that line was frequently used just before a character sacrificed himself for the survival of the group. You do not hear it much today.

Elsewhere on here I have posted a series of opinions as to just how we are all sharing in supporting the future of our nation. The wealthiest among us have an effective tax rate lower than that levied on the middle class. Almost half of us draw or anticipate drawing federal benefits but pay no federal income tax. The investment of public funds for personal aggrandizement is rampant and growing. The clamor in this space and the national media is focused on more- much more - for me or for my friends. The collusion between elected officials and the overwhelming numbers of “rent” seekers is flaunted – whether it be the enacting of selected tax breaks, the provision of unsustainable public pensions or other costly largess (like maybe a new recreation center).

We seem to have lost focus. However we may perceive the need for some public service somebody has to pay for it. There are few volunteers. Can we really expect that those who our involuntarily anointed to pay will not reciprocate by finding their own way to avoid paying? After all, is that not what is happening. To quote Mrs. Helmsley “only the little people pay taxes”. It has become everyman for himself and somebody else can take the consequences.

I wonder just how long this can continue before we are once again confronted with a scene where somebody must “take one for the gipper”. Will there be a volunteer? I am beginning to think not.

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KSWingman 8 months, 4 weeks ago

"I wonder just how long this can continue before we are once again confronted with a scene where somebody must “take one for the gipper”. "

The line was not "take one for the gipper". Knute Rockne said, "Win just one for the Gipper," claiming George Gipp said it to him on Gipp's deathbed.

Moderate 8 months, 4 weeks ago

Actually I found both versions on the web with alternate focus. I used it my way.

KSWingman 8 months, 4 weeks ago

The original, correct quote was meant to inspire Notre Dame to play their best and win in George Gipp's honor.

At Robert Gibbs' last briefing as White House Press Secretary, President Obama misquoted George Gipp, Knute Rockne, and Ronald Reagan. He said, talking about Gibbs at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, "eventually he was willing to take one for the gipper, and so he took off his tie, and I put it on."

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/02/11/obama_refers_to_himself_as_the_gipper_in_farewell_to_gibbs.html

The meaning of Obama's misquote was that Gibbs made a small sacrifice in order to make Obama look good.

"Take one for the Gipper" may also mean "sacrifice yourself in honor of George Gipp's memory", although I can find no use of the phrase with that meaning.

What, exactly, were you trying to say? Perhaps you meant "take one for the team".