I am responsible. As a citizen of the United States, I am responsible for the actions of this country, through the elected representatives I have allowed to inhabit the hallowed halls of government. You are, too. Each and every one of us has the duty, as citizens, to let our representatives know when we agree and when we disagree with their words, deeds, and actions. We, the People, are ultimately accountable for who is sitting in the seats of power, and what those people do while in the seats of power.

It does not matter what position a person is elected to, it is the responsibility of the electors to make sure that the electees are following the will of their constituents. Not just some of their constituents, but the majority of them. We live in a representative republic that We, the People, have allowed to degenerate into a democracy, or mob rule. Each of the electees is in a position of authority that We, the People, bestowed upon them. But our job does not end when we exit the polling places of the United States.

For too long, the representatives we have been sending to the Hill over and over again have been turning their backs on us once they have promised us the moon and delivered dust. For too long, we have allowed them to treat the position of governance as their own personal piggy banks for themselves and their deep-pocketed backers. For much, much too long we have been getting the government we have asked for, instead of the government we as a nation need.

It does not matter if the electee holds the position of dogcatcher or president – the People who allowed the electees to assume those positions are responsible for the actions of that office. It does not matter WHO the People placed in the office, either through direct action or indirect inaction. We are all responsible, each one of us, for the actions of that representative.

What does this mean? It means that We, the People, must communicate our feelings, thoughts, and options – yes, even alternative solutions to problems we as a nation face – to these electees. When was the last time you smacked yourself in the forehead and said “I can’t believe that representative just did that! That’s not why I voted for them!” (alternatively, “See? This is why I didn’t vote for that person!”)? Is that where it ended? Or did you, like most citizens today, shrug your shoulders, say “Whaddya gonna do?” and walk away? Did you commiserate with your like-minded friends about the sad state of affairs in the nations capitol (or the city council chambers), or did you communicate with your representative?

Too many of us are shrugging our shoulders. Too many of us are drowning our worries and concerns in the next round of beverages, or turning the channel to a mindless pseudo-reality show and distracting ourselves from what we should be concerned about – the State of This Union. Don’t like the fact that the fees were raised at the pound? Letters to the Council would get your point across much more effectively than griping to your bar buddy. Concerned about your state allowing illegal immigrants to practice law at the State level? Letters to the Governor and the State Senators are more effective than flipping over to “American X Factor Dances on the North Shore with Ducks”. Indignant that the Office of the President has effectively funded the very groups that are mad at the United States and wish to do us harm, using money and weapons that we supplied to them? Letters and phone calls to the Office of the President and your Congressperson(s) carry more weight than a shrug of the shoulders.

Since the mid 70s, the effective turnout at the polls has been dropping precipitously each election cycle. That means that more and more of the decision as to who is representing us is being decided by fewer and fewer of the people that are affected. Meanwhile, more and more of the professional politicians are promising more and more largess to those who will vote for them, while fewer and fewer of the people who make that largess possible (through the paying of taxes) are available to make those tax payments – mostly through job losses brought about by economic downturns that lead to industries reducing their workforces. Economic downturns come from many factors, most of which are a direct result of legislation or decisions by the elected leaders of this country.

See the connection there? I’m not trying to beat you to death with obvious statements, but people who make a living by promising the moon to sectors of the populace just to curry favor with them and win their vote (“buying” votes, as it were) so they can continue to dip into the public funds are not concerned with long range results – they want theirs, and they want it now. And it is YOUR decision, to either vote or not vote, to either tell the person who represents your interests at a local, state, or federal level or ignore them, to either get involved or wonder what happened, YOUR decision that allows that behavior to continue. Problem is, if enough of you decide to abdicate your responsibility, then the whole country gets to suffer the consequences. We are seeing that right now, with the results of the last few administrations starting to pile up, one on the other, to create a whole landslide of unintended consequences.

It comes down to this – if you do not involve yourself in the politics and governance of this country, you are not going to like the end results. When ALL the people are heard, then the country will head in the right direction. It will not happen overnight – it may not happen for a couple of election cycles – but it must happen. The people who are elected to represent us must hold the Constitution above all else as the guidance and direction of this country. The amount of governance must be reduced. The business of politics must be removed, and serving the country must be returned to a duty, an obligation, and a short term of service. We as a nation must get to where the phrase “career politician” is banished and “statesman” can be used for former representatives once again.

It has been a long while since I was last … “inspired” is too lofty … uhm, motivated … to write an essay like you just read. I think I’m getting my blogging wind back, and I can see which direction it’s headed. I hope you will stick around for this long ride I see in my future.

Chat ya later…

Thanks for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, and Wear Red on Fridays!

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This is going to be the fault of the US taxpayers, isn’t it? It’s not going to be the responsibility of the people who knowingly and illegally crossed into the US, worked jobs illegally, and had children here, is it?

It’s never about personal responsibility and accountability for your own actions, is it? Even if you have more kids than you can support it’s not your fault, is it? “Somebody” needs to take care of the problem, don’t they?

Here’s where I probably piss off a few people and make new enemies.

Stay in your country. Do not bring your small children here illegally and then hope they can deal with the issue when they grow up. Keep your private parts private unless you can support the result of sharing your private parts. We, the People, are sick and tired of being blamed for the woes of the world. Got a problem of your own creation? DEAL WITH IT! Do not blame anyone else, you caused it, you figure it out. Grow up, and take responsibility for your actions. Most five-year-olds in this country already know the difference between right and wrong – have the sense of a five year old, at least, when you are making life decisions.

And quit blaming the US and expecting them to help you.

Chat ya later…

Thanks for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, and Wear Red on Fridays!

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Yes, he’s the President. That doesn’t mean you have to blindly obey him, or, worse, adopt his methods.

I am referring to a tempest in a teapot that has been brewing in the Dear Abby column of late. It started when a worried mother rightfully asked for advice from Abby about her “multi-tasking” teenage dauaghter and her newly acquired driver’s license.

First, some clarification: (1) I believe that if you are writing to Abby about how to handle your life, you have bigger issues than whatever you are writing to her about (Dear Abby: I can’t decide if asking a total stranger a common sense question will damage my reputation. What do you think?) (2) “Multi-tasking” is another way of saying “doing many things in a half-crap way” which is a wordy way of saying there is no such thing as multi-tasking. You can only do one thing at a time. You may have several things going on at the same time, but your attention and your actions are only concentrated on one thing at a time. (3) I read Dear Abby because it’s in the same section as the comics, and that’s what I read while sitting – well, let’s just say even THAT isn’t a true “multi-tasking” environment.

Anyway – the mother of the teenager figured there was nothing she could do about her daughter texting and talking on her cell phone while she was driving, and the grandmother was very harsh in her criticism of the mother’s parenting skills. Several readers wrote in, with the usual pablum about “If someone calls me while I”m driving, they know to leave a message…” and “Texting and driving is a danger to all on the road!” to which I say “DUH!!” And, to the mother, I say, take AWAY her cell phone, or her license, and tell her she can have it back when she grows up and realizes what the dangers are.

Obama rears his ugly head in the last letter published in the column today. A woman who works for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wrote in to report that Obama has asked that all government employees pledge to not drive while using tech devices. She then went on to say that the grandmother should report her daughter (the mother) to the authorities for child endangerment.

Now, I believe that if you are using your phone (talking or texting) while you are driving then you are a complete moron. Yes, I have answered the phone while driving – in order to tell TMBWitW that I would call her right back – but I do not initiate calls while driving. Having a three year old in the car is distraction enough, thank you.

The point I am leading to is the lady who works for the Obama administration is adopting his tactics of reporting your loved ones to the authorities. Hello? Anyone else think this is just a touch controlling? How about shades of Big Brother? First, we have the snitch line, now we are thinking we should report everyone around us to the authorities? Whatever happened to raising your own children IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE RAISED without government interference? Personal responsibility, anyone? Holding people accountable for their actions? Having control over your children is not only necessary, but imperative for their safety, and if at the age of sixteen your child isn’t aware of the dangers around her, then the child shouldn’t have a cell phone, much less an automobile, to further distract her from the world. It also sdoesn’t say much for you to be letting her continue to operate in a state of obliviousness.

I sure miss the days when people could straighten their own families out because everyone involved knew the difference between RIGHT and WRONG.

Chat ya later…

Thank you for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, God bless you all, don’t buy or breed cats or dogs while homeless pets die (spay, neuter & adopt a pet, one by one, until there are none), Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!