Happy Birthday America!
I have been contemplating this great nation and the state of affairs a lot lately. I am not a particularly political person. I would much rather read US Weekly than the newspaper, :) but I am very patriotic. On this most patriotic of all days I thought I would share a few of my thoughts in hopes that moms and women who are busy with raising children, working, and caring for families and others might take a minute to think a little bit more about what's happening in our nation today and how it is affecting us and our posterity.
I am concerned about the freedoms and rights that we currently enjoy...that many of them are on the verge of being taken away from us. I keep hearing talk of our constitution being "out of date." I believe that the reason people are saying this is because their agendas are unconstitutional according to the current constitution. If you take the time to truly study the document itself, something I have been starting to do, you will find this to be true. In my humble opinion the constitution will NEVER be out of date. I believe that it is an inspired document ...one that has resulted in the greatest nation in history.
Senator Orrin Hatch said:
"the constitution is not out of date. It is no more out of date than the desire for peace, freedom and prosperity is out of date. The Founders were not custom building the Constitution for any particular age or economy. They were structuring a framework of government to fit the requirements of human nature. These do not change. What protected the freedom of George Washington will protect freedom for you and me."
The Founders wanted to create a government that was by the people and for the people...with enough government to protect us and maintain order, but not enough government to abuse the people. I am afraid we are heading toward the latter.
Thomas Jefferson wrote: "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
"In spite of the blessing accrued to the average American, many hate this nation's form of government, and are dedicated to destroying it, while others are indifferent, apathetic, and could care less about its rapidly deteriorating condition." Ronald Mann, Deputy Director Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution
I believe that most of us fall into the category these days of "expecting to be ignorant and free." Many of us know more about what has happened in the life of Michael Jackson in the last week than what has happened in our nation ....important things that will impact all of lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren. Do you know THE FACTS about Cap and Trade? How about the taxation of health benefits? These are both VITAL bills that will hit you and your family directly in your pocketbook. Presidential candidate Barack Obama stated: "You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket." In the middle of a global economic crisis, why would we even think about trying to pass a bill that the Wall Street Journal says would be "the biggest tax in American history"? Maybe because many of our representatives that are voting on these types of bills stand to profit from them. Our Congressmen were handed a 1300 page document packed full of pork in the middle of the night last week and asked to vote on it the following day. No one knows what they are voting on, not our representatives, nor us. We are quickly headed down a slippery slope and no one is paying attention. I am guilty of the same, but today I am changing that. I LOVE this country and it is time that I start paying attention to what is going on around me and the laws and regulations that are being passed under my nose on a weekly basis. I want to know what's going on. I want to flood my senators' offices with call and emails. It's time to make them work for us. We need to tell them what we want and make them do it. And if they don't do it, we need to replace them with someone who will. But first, we need to KNOW what we want. It's time to wake up my fellow citizens. The days of sitting idly by are over. If we don't wake up and pay attention, we will be paying for it for a long time.
I am inspired to make a change on this most patriotic of days. I'm not trying to force my views on anyone...I mean you're reading this by choice, right? ;) I'm simply saying...no matter what you think you want...pay attention and actually learn about it and have a voice. Then, most importantly, contact those that have the vote and let THEM know what you want. Here's a link to ALL of our states' senators' info so it is easy for you to reach them...
Contact Your Senator
Did you know that with each phone call or letter that they receive they assume that there are at least 1,000 other voters out there that feel the same way you do? Your time and energy really DOES make a difference. You carry the weight of 1,000!!!
Here are a few facts that I was reading the other day that I found inspiring...
-The US represents approximately 5% of the world's population, but has created more new wealth than all the rest of the world combined.
-Americans have been responsible for more discoveries and inventions in science and elsewhere than any nation on earth.
-The US has given more dollars in aid and relief than most of the world's nations combined.
Let's help lead this great nation into another century of progress, not of one of stagnation or, even worse, decline. Know what is going on in our country, educate yourself about it and have a voice. Study the constitution. Learn about your rights and how it protects you. I believe you too will come to know that it is truly inspired and will never be out of date.
God Bless America!!
Have a great Independence Day!
-t
