Just 9 more days...

Yes, it's been a long time since I've written anything on this blog -- work, school, more work and just general life got in the way. Fortunately, others have taken up the banner -- and the fury over what is going on in our government is not fading.

Today, our economy is weaker, the value of the US dollar (as both a currency and symbol of the US's status as an economic superpower) is declining, our real estate market is in the tank, foreclosures are rising, and the affordabiilty of the American dream is fading. Small businesses -- the backbone and catalyst of a growing economy -- cannot gain access to credit. Personal responsibility has become a less attractive choice than taking the easy way out. People can collect unemployment for nearly two years.

Is it just me...or is something seriously wrong with this picture? What are we teaching future generations when we tell our children that we can't be held accountable for our mistakes?

An old camp counselor of mine used to say "Camp is not fair. Life is not fair."...and it's true. Life is not always fair...sometimes, we make a choice (like I did with the stock market) and we lose. That is the cost of true freedom -- the freedom to choose both wisely and foolishly. But without learning the lesson of the consequences of bad choices, one cannot become wise. When we let someone else take the blame -- whether it is the banks, lawyers, politicians, teachers, our parents, etc. -- we give up our personal power. We become pawns for someone else to control.

On November 2, 2010, Americans all over this country will have the ability to exercise their right to vote. Some will do so blindly, others will do so intelligently and still others will not do so at all. Each person will have their justifications and reasons for doing so. We have only ourselves to hold accountable for what we end up with after that day, just as We the People are responsible for how we got to this point today.

Maybe you did or you didn't vote for Obama in 2008 -- but either way, you are part of the collective whole who are responsible for where we are today.  Maybe you were at a dinner and rather than speak your mind, you chose to remain silent. Maybe you just voted how you always did -- checking down the boxes on one side of the column without much thought as to the people behind the names.  Or maybe you didn't show up at all -- maybe you figured "my one vote is not going to make much of a difference."

They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again -- and expecting a different outcome. So this fall, maybe instead of doing the same thing -- whatever your "same thing" may be -- try something different. Speak up. Read. Listen. Dialogue with that person you'd never speak with. Vote.  Be an example of the change you want in our government.

Now, for some more lighthearted (but educational) entertainment...check out this video from RightChange.com!


If You Give a Democrat a Cookie from RightChange on Vimeo.

They have some other great videos on the website...be sure to check them out.