I have seen so many things in the news lately that really scare me with regards to the directions that our country seems to be headed. We seem to be headed down a path of socialism and centralized control over larger and larger portions of our individual lives. I find it very interesting and disheartening that we seem to be headed down this path, supposedly in the name of very freedoms and rights that the constitution and this country were founded upon. As an ardent patriot. I believe in the power of individual freedom and democracy and power of the free market and the ingenuity and individual self sufficiency that made this country great. I also believe that some of the rights that we tend to take for granted as Americans were granted to us by God (yes, I used His name) God. I specifically mentioned God here because the "rights" that we as Americans claim to have make up the foundations for us as human beings to have free will, (the ability to chose between good and evil). These rights combined with that understanding are the fabrics that make the moral compass that we claim to follow.
Now while I believe in all of these things, I am not an idealist. I fully understand that with all of these freedoms, comes great responsibilities. We as Americans must take make sure that we take these responsibilities personally and do everything that we can to protect these freedoms, so that we can pass them down to our children. The government can not and will not do this for us. Let me repeat the government CAN NOT and WILL NOT DO THIS FOR US. It is up to each of us INDIVIDUALLY, to stand up, follow our moral compass, take responsibility for ourselves, and protect these freedoms. The government is nothing more that a group of INDIVIDUALS banded together for a common purpose. A saying my uncle used to tell me seems very poignant right now. "A real man runs toward responsibility, not away from it. You have to. How else can you convince your family that you will be there by there side to provide and protect them when times are tough"
How did we get to this point?, you might ask yourself. Well it is true, "absoulte power corrupts absolutely" I think that we as individuals have gotten lazy, and allowed our leaders to believe that they control far more of our lives than they really do. I it very easy for our elected officials to get power hungry and get fooled into the sense that they have all of the power. By contrast, it is also very easy for us as individuals to become lazy, by having all of our decisions made for us, and becoming perpetual victims of our own inaction, and refusal to shoulder our own responsibilities.
What can we do to correct this situation? THINK FOR YOURSELF, WAKE UP, STAND UP AND BE COUNTED. Read, pay attention to the news, be aware of your souroundings. Do not believe everything that you see, or hear on a single news source as the complete truth. Get your news from several different sources, and discern for yourself what the truth is. Remember just because one, or a couple of new sources may tell you something that you disagree with does not mean that the things being said are a lie or some sort of conspiracy. Do your homework and make up your own mind for yourself.