The Modern-Day Patriot

No, she doesn't have an American flag sewn on like a cape.  He doesn't break out in random bouts of the Star Spangled Banner.  There is no fanfare played when she walks into the room.  He doesn't trot along to the tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy.  Red, white, and blue glitter does not lace every word that comes out of her mouth.

He's intelligent.  Well-versed.  Votes in every election.  She has actually written (using pen and paper, envelope and stamp) to her Congressmen.  She can tell you about current issues.  He knows that our forefathers were not the ones to abolish slavery, and that Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.  Who am I describing?

The modern-day Patriot.

This post is the second in a series I started last week regarding patriotism.  You can read the first post here.  To be patriotic does not require one to quote the Preamble to the Constitution, nor does it mean that "USofA" is every third word coming out of your mouth.  It means that you pay attention to what's happening.  You don't buy into the "birther" crap.  You aren't afraid to say "I'm an American."  You understand that your country isn't perfect (really, what country is?), but it's a pretty darn good place to be.

Sure, maybe you didn't vote for Obama.  But you know what?  He's your President too.  He doesn't just lead the ones that voted for him.  He leads us all.  He has to listen to the Republicans and the Democrats.  One decision may have been suggested by the Republicans, but that doesn't mean it doesn't apply to the Democrats as well.  And the same with the Democrat-backed proposals.  Why all of the Obama-bashing?  Like it or not, he is President of the United States.  So why not suck it up and say, "You know what, Mr. President?  Even though I didn't vote for you and I probably won't vote for you in the next election, I'm going to stand behind you while you're in office.  I believe in this country, and I believe that we can make it the best place on Earth.  So cheers to you, Mr. President!  I will make known my opinions and what I'd like to see happen while you're in office so you can have as much knowledge of what the American People want while you're in office!"

Stand up!  Set an example!  Be an active American!!  Patriotism has to do with loving your country, so naturally you should do whatever is in the best interest of your country, and if that means jumping on board and supporting those in office while they're there, so be it.

Budget, Shmudget

As I write this, our entire country is sitting on the edge of their recliners and sectional sofas, counting down to the government shutdown that could happen at the end of this week, should the Republicans and Democrats not reach an agreement on how we should stop spending because we need money.

Earlier this week I read about presidential campaign fundraising goals for 2011.  Some of the projected goals top a million dollars.  If these guys (and gals) are so eager to raise funds for promoting their personal agendas, then maybe we should give them an offering plate to start passing around on behalf of the Federal Budget as well.  Can you imagine the silence in the chambers of Congress if they all were staring at the plate looming before their eyes, dreading its arrival?  What if we were to shave a mere $10,000 from the salaries of each Representative, and $15,000 from each Senator?  Let's see...that would total to...$4,350,000 from the House, and...$1,500,000 from the Senate.  There are almost 309 million residents in the US right now.  What if we each gave $10?  If my math is correct, then that would total to over 3 billion dollars.  How much money are we trying to raise/save/stop spending again?  That'd be a pretty good start.  And then we could stop all new dog park construction for the year (I have nothing against dog parks.  I just believe that they shouldn't be priority in a year of economic crisis).  And what about the refurbishments throughout the corrections department of each state?  Do our prisoners really need new refrigerators right now?  Seeing things like these listed on my state's budget make me question the seriousness of our nation's crisis...or at least question the methods being used to "fix" it.

I don't claim to be perfect, or to have all the answers.  But with a little common sense and a fair amount of intelligence, I don't think our budget problem would be that difficult to solve.  How would you modify the federal budget to cover the deficit?

What are YOU?

Today most politics somehow seem to revolve around the parties involved.  The Republicans and the Democrats.  The Conservatives and the Liberals.  Right-wing, Left-wing.  But should all issues be separated into those categories?  Should we have to vote with a particular party just because "that's how we registered," even if we don't fully agree with certain items on a politician's platform?

I am not registered as a Democrat, nor as a Republican.  I am currently registered as Independent.  Why?  Because I don't want to be pressured to fill out a ballot in a certain way just to be in line with my "party affiliation."  It's not that I don't believe in small government, like the Republicans do  It's just that I believe in merely holding my government accountable.  For using my vote to demand accountability from my government.

My friend asked me today if I believed that the forefathers of our nation knew what they were doing when they wrote and signed the Constitution, setting the plans for their new nation.  My answer: To some extent.  They thought things out well.  They accomplished what they set out to do; they set the groundwork for a government limited by...itself.  Checks and balances.  Her opinion?  "I think they gave us a perfect blueprint for a successful government."  The kicker? The club of our forefathers eventually formed a political party (to go against Hamilton's bank nationalization plan, no doubt) called the "Democratic-Republicans."  And over the last 200 or so years, we have separated from that unity which formed our country, and, well...look at us now!

Are we better off now than we were then?  I'd say yes and no.  "Yes," because we have progressed in defining our Constitution in so many ways.  Has it been easy? NO!  But now women can vote.  People of colored skin can go to the same restaurants and the same schools and use the same water fountains as the whites (they can even be President!).  I have the freedom of speech to write blogs about whatever I want.  We are all entitled to a fair trial process.  And much, much, more!  But on the contrary, a country that was founded by immigrants and prisoners (including murderers, thieves, those declaring bankruptcy) is now trying to close its doors to foreign nationals.  A country that was formed because we didn't agree with another country's government is now trying to impose our democratic beliefs upon other nations.  Here in the "land of the free and the home of the brave," we still don't have marriage equality.  Here in the "land of opportunity," the unemployment rate is at 9% or so.

So what can we do about it?  Does it depend on your party affiliation, whether you coincide with the President or not?  Does it depend on whether your state is red or blue on the political map? NO!  It starts with one voice, speaking up for what is believed to be right.  I guarantee you're not alone!