When I think about the dysfunction we see in American government today, I like to look back in history and see from whence we came. America wasn't always this way. At our founding, the early patriots knew that the road ahead toward a democratic republic would be difficult. After all, the Founders were laboring against both a largely disinterested group of Colonies and a fearsome and powerful England which they knew would not give up their distant geographic possessions easily. They started with only about a 25% share of the American population favoring their cause, yet they pursued it vigilantly by telling the truth about what was being done to them while also honestly portraying the hardships ahead.
Over the years, America became "fat, dumb and happy". The idea of sacrifice became alien to many of us, although our military forces withstood many hardships and struggles to maintain our freedoms. But by and large, the general population wanted to find an easy way out of all problems. As a result, over the more than two centuries that our country has been in existence, we have became a nation of "wants' not "needs". We expected immediate gratification for everything imaginable and the result has been both a spiraling government debt as well as spiraling family debt for many.
No one is quicker at picking this up than our political class. When the lifelong holders of office realize that by pandering, by putting off until tomorrow those critical things that need to be done today and by either explaining what they are doing with flat out untruths or "little white lies", they will take that course any time. For you see, they enjoy power, an opulent lifestyle with many perks and favors and the opportunity to enrich themselves easily at public expense. Power does indeed corrupt and with corruption comes the seed of destruction.
Why do I bring this out? Well, until we face our true problems and the pitfalls of our human nature, we will never turn this formerly great nation around. I say formerly great nation because I guarantee that if the Founders saw our balance sheet and the lack of interest that many of our citizens show for the reality of our plight today, they would be appalled.
Somehow we must awaken ourselves to the values that made us great and bring them back. It has to do with what is good and right for America. We must start admitting the truth about ourselves and our politicians and start demanding truth and honesty both from them and from ourselves in evaluating both our own shortcomings and the shortcomings of our nation. Only the truth can lead us to the solution and the sooner we defrock political correctness and admit the truth the better.
Bringing our Creator back into the picture is paramount in all of this. God created us with a brain to use effectively. Instead of always looking for a hand out, first we must use our own bootstraps and lift ourselves. Oh, there are times when we need help, but to allow politicians to put a nation in a situation where more people are on assistance than not is a situation we cannot ignore the problem any longer. And to create a supposedly new and improved healthcare system which no one understands nor can they afford is a good example of what I am talking about.
Changing things will be tough. It will be literally a political and economic war for the hearts and souls of mankind. But unless we bring back the pioneer spirit of America with citizens taking the time to learn and understand what is happening, educating themselves about our politicians and demanding less government and more individual initiative, our republic will not be able to sustain herself much longer. We must demand much more from our elected leaders than "free stuff", because things are never free. We have to pay for them. No, we must demand truth and honesty and if this means replacing the entire cast of characters so be it.
We need to quit using Jon Stewart as our source for news, stop expecting Oprah to solve our problems, and take some time to read and learn what our politicians are doing with our tax money and where it is going instead of memorizing the football statistics. And then, we must let the Spirit of God not man infect our lives and guide our decision-making. If we start changing our direction toward the truth, we will begin to realize our frailty and shortfalls and start a new future.
Think of the alcoholic who always says he can stop drinking easily who then continues on a path leading to his demise. We are in many ways just like him. We allow the politicians to stay "drunk on power" as long as it frees us to have just one more drink. The problem: the beer tap is running dry and when it's empty there is no more. Let's not let America find herself like this. Let's get to work. If each of us just starts facing reality and if we love the freedom that so many suffered for to give us, we'll know what to do. Reading a little history of America will help in this regard. Make it a family exercise, just like many of us do our daily prayers.
God bless you all and God bless America. May we always be able to pray openly and freely and may we always live in a land proudly flying Old Glory, the red, white and blue.
Over the years, America became "fat, dumb and happy". The idea of sacrifice became alien to many of us, although our military forces withstood many hardships and struggles to maintain our freedoms. But by and large, the general population wanted to find an easy way out of all problems. As a result, over the more than two centuries that our country has been in existence, we have became a nation of "wants' not "needs". We expected immediate gratification for everything imaginable and the result has been both a spiraling government debt as well as spiraling family debt for many.
No one is quicker at picking this up than our political class. When the lifelong holders of office realize that by pandering, by putting off until tomorrow those critical things that need to be done today and by either explaining what they are doing with flat out untruths or "little white lies", they will take that course any time. For you see, they enjoy power, an opulent lifestyle with many perks and favors and the opportunity to enrich themselves easily at public expense. Power does indeed corrupt and with corruption comes the seed of destruction.
Why do I bring this out? Well, until we face our true problems and the pitfalls of our human nature, we will never turn this formerly great nation around. I say formerly great nation because I guarantee that if the Founders saw our balance sheet and the lack of interest that many of our citizens show for the reality of our plight today, they would be appalled.
Somehow we must awaken ourselves to the values that made us great and bring them back. It has to do with what is good and right for America. We must start admitting the truth about ourselves and our politicians and start demanding truth and honesty both from them and from ourselves in evaluating both our own shortcomings and the shortcomings of our nation. Only the truth can lead us to the solution and the sooner we defrock political correctness and admit the truth the better.
Bringing our Creator back into the picture is paramount in all of this. God created us with a brain to use effectively. Instead of always looking for a hand out, first we must use our own bootstraps and lift ourselves. Oh, there are times when we need help, but to allow politicians to put a nation in a situation where more people are on assistance than not is a situation we cannot ignore the problem any longer. And to create a supposedly new and improved healthcare system which no one understands nor can they afford is a good example of what I am talking about.
Changing things will be tough. It will be literally a political and economic war for the hearts and souls of mankind. But unless we bring back the pioneer spirit of America with citizens taking the time to learn and understand what is happening, educating themselves about our politicians and demanding less government and more individual initiative, our republic will not be able to sustain herself much longer. We must demand much more from our elected leaders than "free stuff", because things are never free. We have to pay for them. No, we must demand truth and honesty and if this means replacing the entire cast of characters so be it.
We need to quit using Jon Stewart as our source for news, stop expecting Oprah to solve our problems, and take some time to read and learn what our politicians are doing with our tax money and where it is going instead of memorizing the football statistics. And then, we must let the Spirit of God not man infect our lives and guide our decision-making. If we start changing our direction toward the truth, we will begin to realize our frailty and shortfalls and start a new future.
Think of the alcoholic who always says he can stop drinking easily who then continues on a path leading to his demise. We are in many ways just like him. We allow the politicians to stay "drunk on power" as long as it frees us to have just one more drink. The problem: the beer tap is running dry and when it's empty there is no more. Let's not let America find herself like this. Let's get to work. If each of us just starts facing reality and if we love the freedom that so many suffered for to give us, we'll know what to do. Reading a little history of America will help in this regard. Make it a family exercise, just like many of us do our daily prayers.
God bless you all and God bless America. May we always be able to pray openly and freely and may we always live in a land proudly flying Old Glory, the red, white and blue.
RSS Feed