Let's Retake What's Ours As A People
On this Memorial Day holiday we should reflect on all those who served in our military and gave up their lives to protect our freedoms and values. Whether we believed in the conflicts in which they fought is not important, the price they paid was extreme, and we should pay them the respect they are due for making the ultimate sacrifice for us. With that said, I think we should also reflect on our own lives, and some of the sacrifices we've had to make over the years to continue to support this country in good times and bad, in peace and in war.
Many of us have made substantial personal sacrifices in order to retain our freedom and values. We have paid our taxes each year, and helped to finance those conficts and wars in which we have participated and contine to participate in. Many of us find ourselves in debt and/or facing tough financial times, but we should never forget those who made a conscious decision to fight to allow us to keep those freedoms and values, so we could make the choices in life we make. After all, it was and is our choice to in many cases get ourselves into a financial quandry. We can blame the government all we want for the current economic plight we face in this country, but just remember we are the government at least in theory. We have allowed ourselves to become dependent on foreign oil, and pumped billions of dollars into helping underdeveloped nations over the years. In the years following the end of the Second World War, we used the spread of communism as an excuse for becoming involved in conflicts in foreign nations. Recently we are using the threat of terrorism and the 911 attacks on our soil as an excuse to be involved in foreign conflicts.
No matter the reasons, as a result of poor economic planning and the relying on foreign interests to help fuel our economy, we find ourselves in a financial dilemma. We also have outsourced jobs and careers to people in foreign countries who are willing to work for much less than us, and as a result we have cut down on the number of good paying jobs available here at home. We have spent billions of dollars developing the Alaskan Pipeline, and export that oil to countries like China and Japan, leaving us virtually dependent on OPEC nations for our fuel. With rising gasoline and food prices, and anything else that is even peripherally dependent on petroleum products for manufacture or transportation, it is not surprising that most of us middle class Americans are feeling the pinch. We are fast becoming a nation of two classes at least economically, the haves and the have nots. Is this spelling the end of the middle class in American society? I sure hope not, as we are the ones who keep our country going, not the big corporations or the poor.
While we provide the major support for this country in terms of taxes, I believe we should have a larger say in how that money is spent. Unfortunately, in this writer's opinion our senators and representatives seem to think we are stupid and can't discern which projects are in our best interests. It is definitely time for a change, but I don't think one person can do it alone. I have listened to all the campaign rhetoric in this upcoming election, and how the candidates each think they know what we as Americans want and need to take back control of our country, and it is just as I stated rhetoric. The same rhetoric we have heard in campaigns before, and the same never fulfilled promises we have all heard before. Depending upon what you believe, you may choose to vote for one candidate over another, but until and unless they have the full support of the Congress, and the American people, as well as surround themselves with advisors who truly have our interests in mind, nothing is likely to change. They may have their heart in the right place, but can they produce what they promise is the big question. All too many times they get caught up in all the politics and pressure brought about by big business interests and special interest groups, that they lose sight of what they originally promised the American people.
I believe that we do have at least some control over our own destinies and should take control of what we can in our lives to make them better. We have no control over what OPEC nations decide to charge us for a barrel of oil, but we can certainly choose to find and use alternative energy sources. We can make a conscious effort to control what we spend on food, and personal transportation costs. Instead of driving outselves to work each day, we can carpool, or use public transportation, or even work from home wherever possible. We can recycle products, and purchase products which are environmentally friendly. Most important we can write our representatives and senators and demand an accounting for all the tax dollars being spent overseas, and our oil being exported rather than used here where we need it more. We can stop outsourcing jobs which would normally pay an American citizen a living wage, and importing cheaper and lower quality products from abroad. Just because something is made cheaper doesn't mean it's as good or better than a product made here in the U.S. Stop all or as many of the illegal immigrants from crossing our borders and working dirt cheap, and sending the money back home instead of contributing to our economy.
These are just some suggestions and my opinion, but I think there are many who would agree at least with some of these suggestions. I welcome your feedback, and perhaps we can put together a dialogue on this issue and see if we can't come up with some other ideas on how we may be able to make an impact on our government leaders as individuals if not a as a group.
