I will preface this post with the Statement: Listed below are the opinions of the author. It is not the intent to offend or discriminate. The statements are as factual as the author could check. Your choice is not to argue with or agree with the opinion, but to form your own opinion. Eleanor Roosevelt once said “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
America has lost her brilliance over the years because of the apathy of the people to care about what can be done as a group.
When our framers founded this country, the set forth how our government should operate. They made sure that there would be no “State Sponsored” religion, People would be free to practice their religion without fear of government restriction. The Press would be free to print whatever it would print, and people would have the right to assemble and speak their opinions.
The founders also based this on the Christian Bible as that was what the people of the colonies referred to. Saying a prayer in a public building was allowed, each session of Congress was started with a Prayer, The Supreme Court of the United States has on its Walls of the chamber The Ten Commandments. Before we get into that invalid argument that the constitution states there will be a separation of church and state, read “The Ten Commandments”, Tell me which of them is not common sense. For those that do not believe in God, What about the other nine? Agnostics believe in a higher power so all ten could apply.
Why then do I say that the brilliance has been tarnished? Simple answer is that our government has lost touch with the meaning put forth in that Document. The Congress is supposed to listen to ALL of the people that they represent and form their bills so that it is of benefit to all not just a few! When both houses have agreed upon the bill, they send it to The President to either sign into Law or VETO and send back to congress which then can either fix the language or override the veto. Sounds fairly simple…. It is unfortunate that the elected officials have forgotten their oath to support and defend the Constitution. In that document it enumerates the power of the Government. It divides it into three branches, Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. This is so that there is to be checks and balances to prevent One branch from taking total control of the Government and relieving the citizens of their rights and their liberties. The Senate does not have the authority to spend Money. The House of Representatives cannot ratify a treaty. The President can issue an Executive Order, but that order should not circumvent the Congress or the Constitution, nor can it ratify a treaty or appropriate money to fund something that Congress has not approved. I saved the Supreme Court for last. It was meant to be the weakest of the three. The courts duty is to hear cases that have been brought before them to determine if those case follow the Constitution. The Judges are nominated for appointment by the President and go through confirmation hearings in the Senate. That committee is supposed to determine if the appointee is worthy of the post. The committee is supposed to send the Name to The Full Senate to either be Confirmed or Declined. The nominee should remember that they are being appointed to the Bench for Life and that they are to read the case before them and see if it meets the Constitution. They should not have an agenda to change the Law or to Interrupt their vision of what the constitution should be. The Constitution was written in very Plain English and not a bunch of confusing legalese! Congress should do the same with their legislation.
I have laid a lot of issues on the Government as to the tarnishing of America’s Brilliance as they are responsible for their actions. I must now state that it cannot be all blamed on them. The people have to take ownership in that responsibility as they are the ones that sent them to Washington. I simple ask each and every American to carefully consider their choice. Ask yourself what John F Kennedy asked the nation in his Inaugural address “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. The Government was never intended to do everything for the citizens, People should not get paid for not working, not looking for work, or just being Lazy. Unemployment benefits should not last forever. People the come into this country illegally should not be able to receive benefits and services for which they have never worked for. Illegal means Illegal and people that break the law (Illegal Entry into the country) do not have the “Right” to all the benefits of those that are here Legally. Employers that hire Illegal Immigrants’ Should have to pay hefty fines. The problem is that many Americans feel those particular jobs are beneath them. Companies are sending more jobs overseas and across the border thus creating more unemployed. Why do they do that? Because the American worker expects to be paid an outrageous amount to perform the lowest entry level jobs. Minimum wage was set to protect the worker from being taken advantage of, not to give them a lifestyle that many have worked hard for many years to achieve. Common sense tells one that if the minimum wage is elevated to $10.00/hr, the effect will be felt in everyone’s pocketbook. The cost of everything will have to be increased to keep the doors open. A good many of those doors will close forever. This is not the American Dream!
If you have made it this far, it is time to provide solutions for the above problems. The task is quite simple, be proactive, get involved with helping others. Ask the hard questions to the candidates running for office at all levels. Are they for the Constitution and are willing to follow it to the letter? Do they believe that our Government should spend no more than it legally takes in? Do we believe in sending all that have entered this country illegally back to where they came from and give them a chance to enter through the legal channels? Next Make sure all that are able to vote can get to the poll to exercise their privilege without being told to vote for any one person. They should be allowed to make their own choice. That transportation should be non-partisan! Finally, it is time that we quit rewriting history so as not to offend people. Tell the truth about how this country was founded and the problems it endured. Show them how many problems were solved by people standing up for the rights of others. The Declaration of Independence states that “All men are created equal under the eyes of God” When that was written it was not to exclude anyone! So is the Constitution meant to be for all of “We the People”. Take ownership and responsibility!