The Golden Rule: However you desire for others to treat you, you should also extend the same level of respect to them.

The Book of Matthew, the twelfth verse of Chapter seven in the Bible ...clearly states how Jesus would have us treat one another.

In a famous speech, President J. F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

We may want our government to keep laying golden eggs for us, but I think we would be much better off with adhering to the Golden Rule.

Yet, our interpretation of it may have a great divide of understanding.

Let's take a closer look at one of the first colonies established in our country.

John Smith took a disorganized and unprepared group of people and organized them for survival in an inhospitable climate. 

He introduced communism to the group, establishing a communal warehouse where food and other essentials were collected and re-distributed based on need. 

He established and enforced rules, requiring each settler to work according to his/her own ability, for the common good.

John Smith may have had good intents, and may have found much value in the Golden Rule ...yet, there were those who seemed to want a golden egg served to them on a golden platter.

His response to that was this: "He who works not, eats not."

It was not a cold, hard response ...it was evident that there were those who were able to work who just preferred not to.  Some of them found it easier to allow others to work, while they shared the fruits of the labors.

Would we prefer to have someone else sit idly by ...while we work hard to accomplish that which is seldom appreciated??

If we all were openly honest about doing unto others as we would have them do unto us ...then we would likely all work hard, and there would be no need for insurance companies.  Everyone would chip in to help someone in need, also knowing that the same would be done if the shoe were on the other foot.

Somehow though ...it seems the idea has never really hatched.