The Coveted Commandment

Wayne Lewis discusses strategies and perspectives to revise the 10th Commandment. He looks to have released from the Biblical Vaults, the one and only, Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build Wealth, in an effort to open wide the doors to prosperity for all. Consult your clergy, legal, or financial expert for relevant information before making investment decisions. Information revealed within this blog while deemed to be from reliable sources, is not guaranteed.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU’RE MESSING WITH © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

How do we correct an America that is like a teen-aged girl?

As parents of daughters, especially teen-aged daughters, we know the challenges that we have faced or, are facing. And if we are parents of boy(s) and girl(s), we know that there are differences as they both come of age. My point of reference here is to focus on raising a teen-aged girl. Why? It would be relative as we discuss America and her continuing development as a country. At an approximate age of 237 years old, that should make America a teenager in comparison to many of our earlier and older civilizations. Therefore, America can claim a very young status as a country that is still growing, and is still in need of nurturing, and guidance. But who is going to guide America? Who is going to tell America when she is doing well, and when she is doing wrong? And is America, like so many of our teenagers in general, so involved, so obsessed with not being told what to do, that no one can tell her anything? Even her own citizens?

If we are citizens, particularly those of us who vote, we have to appreciate our roles in America to a greater degree. If we are cognizant of the wrongs that our country is doing, and we would like to see America at her best, then we have to take the same position as we would for our teen-aged daughter, especially if we love her. And I would like to believe that we all do love America, our country. And if we love her, we have to be prepared to take measured, corrective steps equivalent to taking America over our collective knee in order let America know that her attitude is becoming her downfall. As parents, we sometimes have to take pro-active steps to correct our children, who sometimes think that they are too big to be corrected. So it seems with America.

The proverbial phrase that continues to haunt me, even as it only applied to one point in time of American history is, “Too Big To Fail!” We should never allow America to believe that this applies to her. As parents, we have to sometimes take steps to remind our children, that they are not too big to be taken out to the woodshed. We often have to remind our children that their behavior may sometimes be counter-productive, and that if our children don’t straighten up and fly right, that they could be headed down a very dangerous path.

And so the same has to be said for our country, our America. That if she (America) doesn’t straighten up and fly right, that she is putting herself and all that she holds dear in grave danger not only within her own borders, but also abroad. It is just as important to remind America, the way that we might remind our children, that everyone is not supportive of who they are, even if someone smiles in your face. It is just as important to remind America, the way that we remind our children, that someone is waiting for them to fail. And as quiet as it may be kept, they may be aware of our children’s impending doom and will not dare say one word to save them from themselves. Why wouldn’t someone save them from themselves? Because of arrogance; because one presents themselves as too full of oneself, or that our children present themselves as having an attitude of superiority that is only self-serving, and condescending. If this behavior would apply to your daughter, whom we love so dearly, wouldn’t you tell her? Would you not risk the love between the two of you and warn her that she carries herself precariously close to self-destruction, and that if she wants to be the very best that she can be, she needs to change her attitude soon, if not sooner. So it behoove us, as parents, the same way it behoove us as citizens, to take America over our collective knee and give her a stern disciplinary talking to. Two questions:

How do we as citizens discipline our country?
What is it that is most critical at this time that we should take America over our knee and remind her to change her attitude?

Question #2, first

I’ll take the second question first. There are any number of things that may jump out at us as citizens of this great country. But for the sake of time, I will only focus on these four things:

National Security
Mental Health
Racism and Discrimination
Economic empowerment.

National Security

With respect to National Security, that for an ordinary citizen like myself, I should not have to worry about our nation’s security. But here we are, as a lone individual possesses extremely valuable information, that almost day-by-day, information is being released, indicating that America has been spying on other countries. Is that news in itself? No, it isn’t. Should the spying stop? No, it shouldn’t. But the fact remains that this discovery poses a tremendous threat to our national security and that if all indications are correct, America stands to loose her credibility with the world at large. America stands at a disadvantage because whether guilty or not, she has been allegedly caught. But why did this happen in the first place? It happened because of America’s arrogance and attitude about the power that she possesses.

Edward Snowden[1] is supposedly a lone American citizen, working as an independent

contractor for the NSA[2]. As we understand, it was job to handle classified information. However, he subsequently obtained, funneled and/or sought to disclose the classified information under his control and began to reveal the information that he obtained, supposedly with the intent of sharing this information illegally, that he alleges was improper information for America to have access to, or to be conducting surveillance activity on American citizens and abroad. The end result is a continuing one.

Edward Snowden is a wanted man and maybe tried for treason, even in absentia. Others may consider him a hero. But that is neither here nor there as to whether Edward Snowden is a hero or a federal criminal, in this aspect. What is more important is that there is an Edward Snowden. Are there more Edward Snowden’s? And if so, what is America doing to ensure that there are no more Edward Snowden’s?

Our National Security, as we all know, does not rely on, nor is it just limited to the men and women in our various military branches. It is each of us, taking a progressive and pro-active role in ensuring that America’s interests are never compromised for personal gain. The fact that it has been, when there are supposedly safeguards in place to prevent an Edward Snowden from acting alone, or in accord with any other rogue figures, suggests that safeguards were disregarded; that standards were lowered, and that the well-being of every American citizens was put out for the lowest bidder. This is the suggestion, and America, if she is not taking note, that this seemingly lone agent, in the form of Edward Snowden, should cause America to realize that she is not so powerful, that her own internal safeguards can be compromised from within. And of course, we can’t forget 9/11[3]. America cannot take for granted the safety of her American citizens, or her allies abroad.

Mental Illness

Texas Republican Congressman and Tea Party favorite, Ted Cruz[4], lead a 21 hour filibuster to prevent the Affordable Health Care Act (AHCA) from being implemented. So much so, that his goal(s) were to have the AHCA defunded, delayed, or repealed, if possible. Congressman Cruz’s efforts failed, but he fought vigorously to see his goals realized even leading the way for a 15 day Government shutdown. Some believe that he had a personal agenda, but not a real plan before having a role in shutting down the government of the United States, and perhaps, putting the nation’s economy at risk, locally and abroad. Others may consider him a hero.

Perhaps there is no correlation between Edward Snowden and Representative Cruz. But they are both one individual, who in today’s America, represent a new kind of perceived hero. Both of these men represent two extremes in American history. Together, they represent how easy it is to gain the attention and perhaps, the control of this country. Whether one is trying to tackle an issue on the floor of the House of Representatives, or the other is trying to gain the attention of the world by revealing classified national secrets, there is evidence, however slight, that we, as American citizens don’t take our leadership seriously. The issue of Mental Health is important here because as much as Representative Cruz leads the issue on repealing or delaying healthcare across the board, an issue that hardly gets the needed attention is the mental well-being of America’s citizens. It can be readily presumed that if Representative stands so firmly in the way of American citizens having an opportunity at general health care, that he perhaps stands just as steadfast in preventing need healthcare for those who suffer from mental illness.

It is unfortunate that I have to do this, but I have to state that I am not a psychiatrist and therefore cannot speak on mental health in terms of treatment, or what is actually mental illness from a medical standpoint. The upside, if I may so, is that my adopted mother suffered from mental illness, therefore, I have a personal point of reference, and if the perception of mental illness today was present when I was adopted, then I wouldn’t have been adopted by a family member. This is not to say that the stigma of mental illness didn’t exist, but the facilities were more plentiful, and willing to provide care for those in need.

Today, mental health facilities are being closed. And as I referenced Representative Ted Cruz and his leadership earlier, I am convinced that mental illness will be one of the fallouts of programs that the Affordable Healthcare program is designed to help if the good representative ever gets his way. It is my contention that Representative Cruz will continue to work to ensure that those who need help of every kind, will target mental illness because the state budgets have already begun the initial cuts to programs that help those in need of mental health care.

If mental illness continues to be the target of budget cuts across this nation, and eventually be denied because the Affordable Healthcare Act is eventually repealed, we will have seen nothing compared to the many mass shootings and killings that are going on throughout our nation. As a country, we can’t begin, or continue to take for granted those whose lives depend on mental health, while placing an undue burden on police officers whose apparent response to mental health patients acting out is to arrest if possible, or to shoot them as a last alternative-case solved.

America has to do better. She cannot continue to reach out to the world with millions of dollars to help other nations to rebuild their various communities while disregarding her own citizens’ mental well-being.

Racism and Discrimination

Many may contend that America is now post-racial. It is a cutsy term, but it is a fallacy even as America has her first Person of Color as Commander in Chief. It is my contention that despite being elected for 2 terms, that America is on a non-stop mission to ensure that not one more Person of Color ever sets foot, or sits in the Oval Office who is not a white male. This perceived attitude by America opens the door to whether America is going to open her mind to allowing any other sex into the Office of President, i.e. a woman. But I have already addressed the idea of a woman for president in an earlier blog post: Formula for Selecting A Female Presidential Candidate © 2012 by Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.[5] Today, it is about racism and America’s refusal to acknowledge that she is as racist today as she was 200 years ago. It is about the racism that America believes is under control despite her highest incarceration rate includes predominantly African America males. It is about America’s quickness to keep People of Color out of employment with limited, if any DBE contracts, and condemning those same people who are by and large are denied working opportunities. It is about racism and discrimination in America because she acts with total abandonment in throwing drugs and guns in economically-created depressed areas and building jails for the impending aftermath.

America’s is repeating her role, as she did with Native Americans, of ensuring that anyone who is non-white, or a non-white male is no longer a threat to the future white domination. If this is not true, then let anyone deny it. But there is a reason why it should be true. It is true because this is a country built on a dream. And that dream did not include having anyone whose ancestry was anywhere other than Great Britain, Spain, France, or even Germany. All others, step off.

This perception that I have of America, is that the White Elephant in the room (racism and discrimination) needs to be addressed, if America is going to move forward. It is not personal, it is reality. If this is a misperception held by someone as simple as me, I can only imagine greater minds who are reading the writing on the wall, that this America cannot continue moving forward as long as the perception is that White America believes that in the 237 years of this country’s existence, that everything will remain as it has always has been, and that everyone is going to roll over and play dead. America can be better than the racist and discriminatory behavior that it continues exhibit towards black and brown people. America can’t continue to move forward as long as she discriminates against those who are of different religions other than Christian. America can’t continue to move forward as long as she discriminates against those with mixed sexual orientation. American can’t move forward along as she continues to discriminate against those whose party affiliations is other than Democrat or Republican. This is not the America that the founding fathers envisioned when they left Great Britain, according to the Constitution that is the guiding force for this country. Correct me, if I am wrong. But don’t bother to correct me if being wrong, being racist, or being discriminatory is the best that America would rather be.

This maybe this country’s teenage years, but it is time for it to mature and allow everyone, regardless of race, regardless of religion, regardless of nationality, creed or color, who are in effect, America citizens, to be the best that they can be.

Economic Empowerment

This is a great country. Everything that a country can be, America has the potential to achieve. Potential is the key word here. It is amazing that there are so many systems in place in this country for people to save, invest, or to perhaps just spend day in and day out, and still not need to fall behind on their bills. This country is built on the premise that if jobs are created, people can work. This country is built on the premise that there is no need for anyone not to be able to lift a bale of hay; pick up trash along the side of the road, or to work on a scaffold 30 to 100 floors above the ground.

The United States of America holds the promise, that for each and every person who wants to, they can feed every set of mouths in their household. It holds the promise that whatever we want to be, we can be that because each and everyone, from the President of the United States down to the City Representative/Councilmember will be doing everything possible and necessary to help us achieve our Global Dream. Note, our Global Dream. We can no longer have an American Dream, we must dream globally. But know that America is our base of operation. Know that as we strive to achieve that which we seek to accomplish, America is going to put everything in place for us to be scientists, educators, doctors, engineers, fast food workers, entrepreneurs, mechanics, or linemen.

America has failed when it puts systems in place that allows those who can work to collect checks and not work for all they are worth. America has failed when those who can work can sit on their behinds and live at the expense of those who do work. America will continue to fail however, if she seeks to cut off those whom she has enslaved to welfare, but fails to provide training to prepare those recipients for a transition to financial independence. But America can redeem herself, if she wants to. She can open doors to educational institutions, if she wants to.

America can, if she wants to, open doors to training institutions that prepare those who desire to be medical technologists, phlebotomists’, nurses and x-ray techs. American can, if she wants to, open the doors to training institutions that train auto mechanics, carpenters, electricians, HVAC technicians, welders, or aerospace engineers, for whomever has the aptitude and the attitude to achieve their Global Dreams, in addition to the American Dream.

Her mission, should she decide to accept it, is for America to open the doors of prosperity to every American citizen. Her mission, should she decide to accept it, is for America to cease and desist in making any American feel like they are worth so much less than they are. Her mission, should she decide to accept it, is for America to focus on the prosperity that is the basis for every person’s dream who crosses the Atlantic Ocean; who crosses the Caribbean Sea; who crosses the Mexican Border; who crosses the Pacific Ocean; or who crosses the Canadian Border, and do legally in every case. America is capable of accepting that mission and then some, if she wants to, but first, America has to loose the attitude. America has to loose the arrogance.

Question #1, secondly

In discussing any problems, it is not enough to say what the problem is. There must be solutions. Anyone can complain. So our first question was: How do we as citizens discipline our country?

Theoretically, any solution should be given every consideration in that the solution itself does not lead to another problem, or a greater problem than what is currently on the table. Additionally, the comparison between a teenaged girl, may serve well as an analogy, but America, despite her youth, comparatively, and as often referred to as “she” possesses few qualities of a human. But that doesn’t stop her from being humane and/or compassionate. Despite not being a human in any form, it does not stop America from reaching out to her citizens for the guidance that she needs to be a greater nation. So how does we correct our country?

I think that first and foremost, it is important that America opens herself to being corrected. But, it is also important that we offer constructive, corrective action that America is able to digest, and see not only the errors of her ways, but also buys into what is best for her citizens within her shores, and for her allies abroad. The corrective action can best be measured in the way that we change our attitudes towards voting. Essentially, we should all vote. For America’s part, do not work to suppress or deny any one citizen’s right to vote.

Additionally, as citizens, we must change our attitudes about voting that we don’t continue to vote the same way, for the same people, for the same dynasties that work to build an America built on divisiveness and poverty-based programs. Look for and demand of our leaders that business as usual is no longer the order of the day. While we can’t speak face to face with America, our voting speaks volumes when we show up at the voting booths, ready to vote for new leadership, that is ready to fulfill America’s original promise of prosperity for all who are willing to earn and work for it.

In Conclusion

Many a teen-aged girl is perhaps wondering about who she is going to the prom. Perhaps, she is worried about the pimples coming on her face at the worst possible time, just when she is about to meet someone very special. To be truthful, a pretty teen girl rarely has little to worry about with whom she is going to go the prom. It is practically a foregone conclusion that she is either going with the Captain of the football team, or the most popular guy in school. For the very attractive, yet tomboyish girl, she will most likely wear under that pretty, frilly gown that makes her look like a daddy’s little girl, a pair of tattered blue jeans, a tank-top or t-shirt, and have at the ready, a pair of high ankle sneakers for after an event that she is only using as a means to an end for the night of her life. Well, America is no different.

America is still young, growing, and beautiful. She possess so much to give to not only her citizens, but to the world at large. But with the gifts that she possess, America cannot be allowed to be self-serving to the point that only a select few can benefit from her natural and economic gifts. America cannot afford to grow in a destructive manner where she disregards her safety by ignoring the standards that she put in place to keep her borders safe from outside attacks, whether by air, land, sea, and now technologically. America must be reminded that her gifts can be retained, if not doubled when she looks after those who cannot look out for themselves, such as our citizens who suffer from Mental Illness. Our approach to voting, can change that.

It is up to us as citizens, to remind America as a whole, that her continued obsession with Racism and Discrimination is on full display, and that the world is watching. That if America continues to exercise the high level of racism and discrimination through incarceration, employment and voter suppression, that she can no longer hold herself out as a epitome or beacon for human rights. The world is watching, and the world will no longer honor America as the leader that she claims herself to be. Our approach to voting, can change that.

Last, but not least, Economic Prosperity. It is what we all desire. It is what we all deserve. The fact that America’s homelessness exists at so high a rate is ludicrous. It is ridiculous. We are better than this! America is better than this! We could reduce our homeless population tomorrow, if we brought back the jobs from China, India, or any other population that superimposes “American Made” on imported goods. We could shorten employment lines for which businesses say that there is no one who is willing to work. America is better than the unemployment rate of 7.2%. We can change that tomorrow if training facilities opened on the borders of bankrupt or nearly bankrupt cities and towns. We can change all of this, with out approach to voting.

Correcting a country is a tremendous risk, especially when that country is ours. Especially, when that country is the United States of America. But if we love our country, we will risk correcting and pointing out areas where she needs to improve. If we love America, and we want to see her prosper, the same way that we would want your teenaged daughter to succeed in her life, we will lovingly, and thoughtfully, take America over our collective knee. We will send her a message at the ballot box, that among the things we would like to see improvement on is:

v not closing our country down like it’s a corner grocery store and putting our national security at risk;

v treating our mentally ill with compassion and providing them needed help;

v putting aside racist and discriminatory behavior and,

v making sure our country is the best that it can possibly be by ensuring prosperity for all.

We can change all of this, with our approach to voting. That is how I propose we correct our country, this teenager who has the greatest potential to be the best country in the world.

[1] Government Sues Company that Vetted Snowden- http://www.king5.com/news/business/229922081.html

[2] NSA- National Security Agency- http://www.nsa.gov/

[3] 9/11- http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks

[4] Ted Cruz- http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ted-cruz-filibuster-talks-21-hours-votes-house-bill-article-1.1467344

Friday, October 25, 2013

AN OPEN BLOG REQUEST TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATION OF NEW ORLEANS © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

October 25, 2013

Re: The Proposal to Cut off Water for Unpaid Sanitation Bills by the New Orleans City Council [1]

His Honor, the Honorable Mitchell Landrieu, Mayor, City of New Orleans [2]

The Honorable, Jackie Clarkson, President, Councilmember-at-Large [3]

The Honorable, Stacy Head, Councilmember-At-Large [4]

The Honorable, Susan G. Guidry, Councilmember, District A [5]

The Honorable, LaToya Cantrell, District B [6]

The Honorable, Kristen Gielsen Palmer [7]

The Honorable, Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, District D [8]

The Honorable, James Austin Gray, District E [9]

More than one-third of New Orleanians don't pay their garbage fees, which cost the city $8.5 million in 2011, according to a July report released by New Orleans Inspector General Ed Quatrevaux.[10]

Please forgive any failure on my part to break protocol, but the matter that has been proposed before you is important enough that I will exchange with you a proper protocol in exchange for your reviewing any proposal to cut off water to citizens in the New Orleans area who are currently, or who in the future, may be delinquent on their sanitation bills.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am one of those persons whose sanitation bill is delinquent. Here are my suggestions that I ask that you take under consideration and provide for a more humane approach to the citizens of New Orleans. My suggestions are:

Incorporate the past due difference into the Sewerage and Water Board Bill, providing a running total on the delinquency until paid in full or repealed.

Going forward, incorporate the sanitation costs into the one bill on the front end, notating on the citizens’ copy, for accounting purposes, the difference owed for proper accounting records. You have the technology and the talented personnel to accomplish, if you want to.

Repeal Sanitation Tax/Fee

Additionally, I wish to protest the increase in sanitation fees on the citizens of New Orleans and believe that we are being made to pay this tax for the purpose of supporting additional personnel of the Mayor’s Office. These are the same citizens from under the previous administration whom the City Council believed would suffer an undue burden by paying any additional taxes. There has been no noticeable improvement in the gross income of the citizens of New Orleans that necessitates increasing this tax while also increasing the payroll of the mayor with at least 4 Deputy Mayors.

I ask that the City Council repeal the Sanitation tax of $24.00[11] a month back to its previous amount of $12.00 effective the next meeting or sooner, of the full City Council.

Thanks for your attention, and I look forward to the council giving ear to and taking action in favor of the citizens of New Orleans.

Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

The Coveted Commandment Blog.

http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/

[1] http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/landrieu_administration_propos_1.html

[2] Mitch Landrieu website: http://www.nola.gov/mayor/

[3] Jackie Brechtel Clarkson email: jbclarkson@nola.gov

[4] Stacy Head email: shead@nola.gov

[5] Susan G. Guidry email: sgguidry@nola.gov

[6] LaToya Cantrell email: lcantrell@nola.gov

[7] Kristin Gielson Palmer email: kgpalmer@nola.gov

[8] Cynthia Hedge-Morrell email: chmorrell@nola.gov

[9] James Austin Gray email: jagray@nola.gov

[10] Webster, Richard A. NOLA.com Oct 24, 2013. http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/landrieu_administration_propos_1.html

[11] $24.00 City Sanitation Fee- http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/01/new_orleans_city_council_to_vo_1.html

FOOTPRINTS- A Reflective Message to the Parental Class of 2013-2014 (C) 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

Qualifications[1]

I am a parent. My wife and I raised two children. I am a grandfather of one. Those are the qualifications that I present to you today. Are they sufficient to help other parents coming along to be better parents? I don’t know. But, I would like to at least believe that something that my wife and I have done worked to our advantage to raise two outstanding young people, of whom we are very proud.

When we talk about parenting, we know that it is perhaps one of the few things that we rarely have to actually qualify to become. By an act of nature, and/or the grace of God, many of us become parents. That’s God’s plan. We can’t change that. What other qualifications do we have to put forth in order to not only bring another person into the world, but to ensure that that wonderful gift of life, rises to become a great human being? Whatever qualifications we lack for, I have to believe that God instills within each one of us a latent qualification. That latent qualification, irrespective of whatever else we possess in our natural being, is the ability to give love to another precious life, and make them feel as special as they are. That speciality is the speciality that God feels towards us, and we have to take that spirit of love that he gives us, and instill it within the children that God blesses us with. With that said however, loving our children isn’t enough.

If the only qualification for parenting would be just to love our children, we would have been pandas, lions, or eagles. As we know, most animals follow the path that nature sets out for each species and do exactly the same thing to raise its young, eventually, pushing them out of the nest, all because the extent of their responsibilities is to complete the “Circle of Life”[2]. But, and contrary to popular belief, the behavior of many of those of us who are parents, we are not animals. We are human beings and we have the ability, if we choose to, to raise some truly magnificent young people for the future. But we have something about us that not only will not just help us to be great parents, but to motivate us to be the best parents possible. How can we, at the very least, be good parents? Here is a perspective: Footprints.

Footprints?

Obviously, when we talk about footprints, we can think about footprints left in the snow, in the sand, or in the mud. From those footprints, we are able to tell several things, with a novice eye. For example:

1. Who or what made the footprint;

2. What direction the prints are going;

3. What kind of shoes they were wearing, or how many toes they had;

4. Whether they were running, walking, or even tiptoeing;

5. How many sets or prints were present;

6. We can tell if there were large-size footprints, or, if there were a family of footprints.

From our review of any set of footprints, so much information can be extracted. So much can be used for someone to make a determination about what direction someone came from, perhaps if they stood around, met with someone, and what direction they moved in when they left a certain area. And perhaps, if you are an archeologist, or a forensic specialist, you can tell the approximate weight and height of a being by the size of the footprint. What does this have to do with parenting? Maybe it’s a stretch, but I think for of us as parents, we need to understand something about our own footprints, when it comes to our children.

Not the footprints that we make on the ground, but the footprints in terms of the messages that we leave behind us when we take on the role of parenting. As parents, we don’t have the luxury of getting a pamphlet, booklet, or even a set of directions that comes with the precious, new bundle of life. Therefore, if we are wise, and perhaps fortunate, we will be able to look to the leadership of our own parents. But that is more ideal than realistic.

Some of us, as soon as we become parents, are “too grown” and believe that, if we have a child, we will get the hang of it, and that everything will work itself out. Sadly, that isn’t always the case, but hopefully, we are always giving it our best. As we all know, things don’t always work themselves out. What we may learn about that new bundle of joy is that their personality doesn’t necessary adapt well to everything that we want them do. What we learn is that they cry, but they don’t stop crying when you rock them gently. They don’t eat everything that you give them, they spit it out. We even learn that they seem to always get a fever in the middle of the night, and that you have to rush them to the hospital. Babies aren’t very compliant, even to us, their parents.

Reflectively, as parents, we have to believe that our children, as they grow up, that they are always watching us. I want to believe that if we are doing justice by our children, that whatever we do, our children will follow behind us in our footsteps. From the moment they are able to walk, they follow us. We take them by the hand, lead them across busy streets, take them up tall stairways, and carry them to places where we always want them to be safe. If there is a good way, perhaps not the best way, but a good way of determining how good a parent we are, or want to be, then we should also understand the importance of what we leave behind for our children to follow, even if it’s just footsteps.

“Pawpaw, I want to follow you!”

Our grandson, Josh, Jr., is a handsome and awesome little fellow. I say that because he is my grandson, and because, he is a handsome and awesome little fellow. As he reached that mature age of three, his curiosity was nothing short of extraordinary for a three year old. He is five now, an old man, but there is one thing that he said that always stuck with me. Josh was by our house, his mom, dad and Mimi were there just enjoying each other’s company. It came time for us to eat. After it was decided what we were going to eat, I got ready to go out. Despite little Josh’s seeming to be totally engrossed in playing with his toys on the floor, he jumped up and ran behind me. He pulled on my hand, and said,

“Pawpaw, I want to follow you.”

I looked at him and I looked at his mom and dad, and his grandmother. The words were an anchor around my heart, because he didn’t ask could he go with me, he said that he wanted to go with me- that he wanted to follow me. You know this touched my heart, because I love this little boy so much. I was pleased, yet caught off guard at his choice of words.

I had no intention of not taking my little Buddy with me. His little car seat was always at the ready in the back of the car. On this particular day, his desire to go with me was punctuated by an innocence that I was not prepared for. To this day, I think about that moment because I never wanted to go where my grandson couldn’t follow. So I ask you today, as parents, if we were leaving the house, but for our jobs, or business gatherings, where do we go, that we tell our children, they can’t come with us? How often, if our children had to find us, could they follow our footsteps to find out where we have been in our lives? More importantly, would we want our children to follow all of the steps that we have to make as their parents, or, would we want to somehow sanitize our footprints? Would we want to erase some of the things that we have done for our children, or the places that we have gone just to make our children’s lives complete? And if so, what footprints would we want to erase to be sure that our children had the best impression of who we, as parents were?

Footsteps to be Erased

As our children grow older, we start to let go of their little hands, allowing them to venture out a little more out on their own. It could be a question of whether we rushed to let go of their hands, or whether they fought for their little independence. But eventually, our children began to live their own lives, or try to. They try to live their lives apart from the lives that we try to carve out for them. It becomes a challenge as a parent, the older our kids become to keep them in a way that protects them from the ills of society. Little do they know how much we put into making their lives as best as possible. We want only to expose them to the good in the world. Unfortunately, it isn’t always our choice what our children are exposed to, when they are exposed to it, and whom it is we need to protect them from. But by all means, we do our level best to minimize the negative impact of anything that may impact our children’s lives.

So little do we want our children to know, that if they had to look back on the lives that we have made possible for them, they would think that their were times when we didn’t want to be at their games, or go to school to meet with their teachers. They would think that for all the times that we missed their recitals, or didn’t come home early to help them with their homework, that we were doing something else that was seemingly more important than them. If only we could erase some of the footprints that we have left in their minds believing that we didn’t place value on the things that were extremely important to them. What would we erase?

I think we would like to erase the footsteps where we stood in the cold early morning rain, waiting for a bus to catch to work, while they laid at home in a warm bed. For it would have been so much easier to have stayed at home. But we did what we had to do to put food on the table.

Let’s us erase from our past, the footprints that we left behind, trying to find the best schools in a community of low performing schools. Let us make difficult for our children to ever know that we worked 2 or 3 jobs, often for minimal pay, just so they could have the kind of things that made their lives livable.

Or perhaps, we weren’t so good of parents that we spent nights out partying when our children needed someone to help them with their homework. We definitely don’t want them find those footprints. If we could arrange for it, maybe we could arrange to remove from our past the number of times we tried to intervene between our children and their so-called friends, whom we suspected of or knew led a life that would impair our children’s future, even though our children thought we were being mean and judgmental.

But if someone erased any part of our past, they may also erase our future as parents. We have to be careful of what we ask for if we want to selectively take something out of our past, because it may affect our children’s ability to make decisions that may help them going forward. For us, as parents today, we can’t change our past. We may not want our children to know some of the things that we did that either helped or hindered our children from doing things that they would have ordinarily done, but we can’t change it, and we have to live with those decisions.,

(Perfect Parents-inserted)

The misconception that many of may have is that we have to be perfect parents. I don’t think that is possible. We do not live in a perfect world. While God made us perfectly, He did not make us perfect. He gives us an opportunity to show just what we are capable of doing, in all that we do. So as parents, we just need to show that we are doing our best regarding our children. Because perfect parents is more of a myth than a reality, to me.

In our attempts to erase the past, we put at risk the lessons that we are able to teach our children in order to be the best that they can be. In our attempts to erase our past (good, bad or indifferent), we try to give an impression that we were perfect parents while raising our children. That is not for us to decide. It will be for our children to decide. So, what if our children decide to research the footprints that we have left behind? Let them.

Let Our Past be Their Present

If as parents, we are the only ones saying that we were, or are, good parents, then, we have a problem. If that is our goal, to be good parents, the manner in which we accomplish that has to be reflected in how we put our best foot forward. We have to know that if our children, or if anyone else for that matter, researches how we raised our children, we shouldn’t be afraid for what they will uncover. If our intent was to be the very best mother, or the very best father, we have to know that we are not going to do everything in perfect harmony.

As parents, each step that we make, could possibly be made in error. We are going to make mistakes. Remember, children didn’t come with instructions. But we all, theoretically, came with common sense. We all, theoretically, came with the ability to love our children and do right by them. Even if we love them unconditionally, we are still going to make mistakes. If we love our children unconditionally, and we are doing the very best that we can to raise them as God had intended, we won’t spend time second-guessing everything that we do for fear that someone believe we were not good parents.

(Pray for guidance-inserted)

At some point in time, hopefully sooner, rather than later, you will be praying to God for guidance. Why shouldn’t you? He made it possible for you to have children or to adopt a child. He has entrusted each of us to give to our children the very best of what God gives to us. And if there is a point where we feel we don’t know what to do, and we can’t turn to someone that we can trust, then we can trust that God will provide a way for us to raise our children according to His will. Get down on your knees and pray to God for directions. But don’t wait until you get into a bind with your children, lean on God daily for His intervention and His helping hand to help you guide your child in the way that He would have them to go.

If we love our children unconditionally, our children will learn that despite the fact that we denied them things growing up, that it was not for the hell of it, but because we just couldn’t do it. We couldn’t afford it! It was not the right time! It was not in keeping with what you as parent believed was right for them! Our children will learn one day, that the reason they were able to march across a stage was because of the sacrifices that we made to ensure that they could receive a small piece of paper. Let our children look back and meticulously study, if they wish, the footprints that we left behind showing that our love we to ensure that they never had go through what we go through just to make it.

I would encourage not one of us to consider erasing, or regretting the many hard decisions that pitted us as parents against our children, for fear that our children would not like us. Let them discover how hard it was to say “no” to them for something that may have meant the world to them. Let our children discover those set of footprints that showed pacing; that showed worry; that showed joy; that showed love, and that showed patience and support at times that they never knew existed.

If our children take the time to research our past, let it be a present to them. Let their research be an indicator of our unconditional love. Let their research show that we turned to God, and that somewhere within all of those footprints, there were knee-prints, where we either gave thanks to God for bringing them home, or for watching over them while they were away.

Let our past be a present to them that it showed the kind of love where we stepped out on faith, believing in God, that we were gong to make their lives the best that it could be. We should never want to erase the steps that we made, however painful, embarrassing, or however joyful. Let it be a present to our children, that they uncover the countless number of minutes, hours and days that we spent trying, just trying, to be good parents.

As a present to them, let them unwrap how important we believed their dreams were, and that even if we couldn’t make their games, their recitals, or special events, we made sure that they were able to achieve their highest and best in all that they did.

In Conclusion

To you, the Parental Class of 2013-2014, I ask that as you go about your parental duties, that you continue to plant your feet firmly in the responsibility of being a parent. Leave your footprints, well place. Perhaps it was a stretch to call our works as parents footprints, but we sometimes need a way to connect. As parents, we have to be aware of what it is we do, or need to do to be at our best. We know we can’t be perfect parents. That’s not possible. We can complain about the lack of instructions that come from raising our children, but the important element of having our children is the unconditional love that God bestows upon us, and that He simply asks, and entrusts in us, that we will do the same for the children that he blesses us. All God asks us to do when things get a little rough, just to fall on our knees and ask Him for the helping hand that he surely will provide.

It is very hard to be a parent, bringing another life into this world. There all kinds of evil that lurk in this world, ready to take advantage of an unprotected, unloved child. As parents, we can’t protect them at every turn, but we can leave a lasting impression of how much we try, day by day. Sure, there are things that we do as parents, we would never want our children to ever know about, but then again, we have done those things because we’ll be damned if we ever allow anyone to harm our children. That’s that unconditional love. And if our children decide that they want to follow us, it’s because we have demonstrated to them that we were good parents. And if we see them carrying out the same level of love for their children that we did for them, having helped them accomplish so much in their lives, then, we would have to conclude that we did a pretty good job.

As parents, I ask that you feel empowered, encouraged, inspired, and uplifted from this day forth. I ask that you continue to walk with our children, hold their hands for as long as we can. Walk with them to school and leave your footprints; Walk with them to church and leave your footprints; Walk with them to the hospital in the middle of the night with a high fever and leave your footprints; Walk with them away from danger and leave your footprints; Walk with them to the playground and leave your footprints. Walk with them to the dinner table, clear it off, and help them do their homework, stand by their sides, and be sure to leave your footprints; Walk with them to their bedsides, kneel with them, leave your knee prints; Walk with them wherever we need to be, knowing that we are leaving loving footprints in their lives.

As I close, members of the Parental Class of 2013-2014, let it be okay for our children to uncover the footprints that we have left behind us. And let them discover those things, good, bad or indifferent that we have done as parents. Let it be a present to them. Maybe, it will be for them a set of instructions, or a roadmap to how we were able to help them to achieve their best through some of the most difficult of times of our lives, while they never knew what was happening. I encourage each of us to continue to leave our footprints as parents. Do not change a thing. That we continue to parent each and every child from this day forth not fearing the loss of their love, but gaining the confidence in all that we do for them; that we plant our feet firmly in the decisions that we make, with God’s guidance, and that we set high expectations for our children.

Plant our feet firmly, Parents, in the belief that our children will challenge us even as we try to do everything possible to make their lives the best that it can be. Don’t second-guess yourselves as parents. Don’t you waiver; don’t you relent, and don’t you give up on our children. Plant your feet firmly, and know that in the end, you will have done the very that you could to raise one of God’s most precious gifts. Plant your feet every time you take a stand in parenting each of your wonderful children. Plant your feet, knowing that one day, they will rediscover that you had a love for them that you couldn’t just tell them about, you showed them. You showed then, and you will continue to show them from this day forth.

As I close parents, I encourage each of you to plant your feet and leave an everlasting footprint for not only your children, but for all of the world to discover. Plant your feet, firmly, and leave an unmistakable footprint of the love that you have for your children. Be Blessed.

[1] Qualifications-No information here should be considered as legal, clergical, or counseling. Please consult your respective professional if you are having difficulties with your children.

[2] The Circle of Life” – Lion King- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_Life

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

CLEAN SWEEP 2014 (2013) by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

“Due to Congress’s failure to pass legislation to fund the government, the information on this web site may not be up to date. Some submissions may not be processed, and we may not be able to respond to your inquiries.” [1]

An Open Blog to:

President, Barack Obama, United States of America;[2]

The Honorable, Rep. John Boehner (R), The Speaker of the House;[3]

The Honorable, Rep. Eric Cantor, ( R), Congressional Majority Leader[4]

The Honorable, Rep. Nancy Pelosi,(D) Congressional Minority Leader[5]

The Honorable, Rep. Harry Reid, (R) Senate Majority Leader[6]

The Honorable, Rep. Mitch McConnell, (D)Senate Minority Leader[7]

The Honorable, Rep. Cedric Richmond, 2^nd Congressional District[8]

The Honorable, Rep. Mary Landrieu, (D) Senator, Louisiana[9]

The Honorable, Rep. David Vitter, (R) Senator, Louisiana[10]

Introduction

Perhaps, many of our political leaders are too close to the power that they hold to see how their decisions are self-destructive, to their own country. The ease at which they have used the positions of leadership to create so vast a division among its citizens is actually to be commended. Why? Because as citizens we have acquiesced our future to power so well financed and orchestrated, that regardless of our ancestry, or our nationality, that if you are, by any means, an American citizen, that your citizenship, (correction) our citizenship, hangs in the balance. What are we to do?

If you have read some of the teasers leading up to this week’s blog, you have to also be aware of the fact that America is undergoing another major shutdown in her government. Why? As of now, the issue surrounds the Republicans against the Democrats, including our current President, Barack Obama, and the negotiations, or lack thereof, for raising the Debt Ceiling, with no strings attached. As of this posting, it has been decided (10/16/2013). But the original reason for the

America

’s governmental shutdown was the failure of President Obama to agree to the Republicans’ attempt to 1) Defund Obamacare, or the Affordable Healthcare Act; 2) Delay Obamacare, and/or 3)target taxation on medical devices. None of these were initially an area for consideration by the Obama administration and so, as of today, we are at a short term solution until January 15, 2014. And then, it’s back to Democracy via fear mongering. But the real issue here is, what does this of leadership mean to us as American citizens?

For many of us, who have selected a side politically, there is still an issue that may actually galvanize, irrespective of our political affiliations or ideologies. There is a possibility that regardless of whether President Obama decides to take the ‘throw baby out with the bathwater’ approach proposed by the Republicans, the downside is that the ultimate decision often puts the poor, the underserved, the middle class and small businesses in the crossfire of the conflict between these 2 super parties. The unfortunacy (is that a word?) of it all is that maybe, just maybe, the poor, the underserved, the middle class, and even small businesses may decide that maybe that they can be miserable under the leadership of men and women who don’t know what they are doing.

It’s possible, that those who have tasted the benefit of voting by achieving one of the greatest milestones in America (Obama’08, Obama ’12), whether they voted for or against, their votes were put in play, and this country recorded a record number of voters who wanted to be apart of history that either wanted to elect the first Black president in America, or didn’t, regardless of what their intentions were. The milestone was reflected in the voting of millions of America. But now, Americans may still be more motivated, perhaps more hungry for the change that could result in a complete impact on those who sit comfortably in their perceived ivory towers, the House of Representatives of the

United States of America

. It is possible that American citizens may actually be more motivated, or angrier than ever, that those who make decisions over their lives, are making those decisions without regard to the impact that their decisions have on our individual lives. And the real irony of it all is that those decision-makers, those leaders, our leaders, damn it, are exempt from their own life-altering decisions. But that perspective seems to always be a non-issue.

“Oh no you didn’t!”

The first thing that comes to mind during this shutdown is that the men and women behind the decision to shut our nation down, were exempt from the loss of income despite how the shutdown itself affected federal employees. Whether this was a recent exemption, or a sustained exemption, it remains a grave insult to the men and women of the federal government, or the military, that they had to sit it out while Republicans and Democrats, including the President, could continue to receive their full salaries while they fought, or failed to communicate, or to do anything to suggest that they are interested in getting people back to work.

What remains less of an obvious concern to many of us as citizens, is that our elected leaders fail to have any fear of the consequences of their actions. What appears overwhelmingly to be indignant is the idea that what is really on the line is more about political ideologies rather than the impact their political strategies are having on American families. At least, that is what it appears to be about. But I contend that it goes further than that. It goes to the heart of everything that is the backbone of every country. It is power, money and greed. It is about either of, or the combination of the three, that at any cost, including the loss of income to the poor, the underserved and/or the middle class, power, money and greed is the most compelling integer of our American government, and no one, including the likes of me, is capable of changing that.

I can say this because it is the most logical thing that I could ever say, and to that end, there is no crime here because if it were, those who are guilty, are exempted from the consequences of their actions. But that’s okay, we voted for any and everyone who carries him or herself above the laws that they make us accountable to. We did that. We voted them in. We made them powerful, wealthy and gave them the ability to exempt themselves from whatever they hold us accountable for in our lives, as Americans. Now what?

America

is not too big fail[11]

It was the first time I had ever heard the phrase, but it was the most sickening phrase ever from a commercial standpoint. The phrase applied to large corporations such as banks, mortgage companies, investment brokerages and insurance companies to name a few. To their benefit, the federal government moved to ensure that many of these large corporations did not fail. How? Through Corporate------wait for it----------Welfare. Yes, the word that plagues poor people by those who believe that the mere millions that the government doles out annually is too great for those who theoretically don’t want to work. Yet, it was Corporate Welfare[12] that large corporations begged for, without shame. To the government’s benefit, this money was supposed to be paid back. But it was, welfare, tax dollars to private companies, that were alleged to be “too big to fail”.

Fast forward to today. What we have in Washington D.C., are political leaders who are sending a clear message that America is on solid ground. Their message to us, as citizens, is that America can’t fail. Why? Because, we are Americans. While that may work for the patriotic side of us, that doesn’t hold water in the eyes of terrorists. It means nothing to other countries who literally hate our guts, and can’t wait to see us implode. And to that end, we may be on the verge of doing just that.

It appears that our political leaders have insulated themselves from not only the laws that they hold us accountable for, but appear comfortable in relying on the reputation of the United States to protect them as well. It is a reputation built on the backs of the men and women of our military forces. It is a reputation build on the backs of statesmen. Men and women who negotiated, collaborated and made possible the fact that the United States could continue to move forward without putting its citizens at risk. That reputation was made steadfast by the willingness of previous federal legislators willing to look for any semblance of common ground so as to bring to the American people a piece of legislation solidified by an agreement that both parties worked together, however tirelessly, or challenged, without putting the poor, the underserved or the middle class in jeopardy of loosing their livelihoods. Today, our leaders are working to destroy that reputation, and the insulation that they believe is theirs to enjoy. It is not. It is their responsibility to rebuild, to fortify, and to ensure that the reputation that they inherited will be undeniable, and preserved for others to follow. I contend that our current leaders are not qualified to carry that banner, and that we therefore, should relieve them of any further responsibility as our political leaders. How?

Mid Term Elections-2014

Our mission, should we decide to accept it is simple.

Register to vote; Study candidates in contention; Support and encourage your candidate of choice; Vote and Hold them accountable

Register to Vote

There is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes voting for our leadership. The key component is to be registered to vote. If you never thought that your vote counted, you couldn’t be more wrong. The 2000 Presidential, the 2008 Presidential, 2010 Mid-Term, and the 2012 Presidential elections should have been a clear indication of how important voting is. We are witnessing more legislation being put forward to repeal rights to vote, as well as suppressing access to voting places. The pretense is said to be to prevent illegal voting. However, these pretenses are apparently intended to ensure that fewer Americans have access to voting by way of early voting, or being able to vote in their respective districts as had been previously approved by law. With these recent changes, and no doubt more on the horizon, American citizens cannot assume that these changes will not affect them, regardless of their financial status, or connections, even as many of these legislative changes seem to primarily affect minorities. The impact will eventually affect every American, and the sooner we understand that, the sooner we can affect the impact and the probability of these changes becoming widespread throughout the country.

Study Candidates in Contention

It’s important for us to know as much as possible about new candidates who are presenting themselves to run for office. The men and women who are essentially running for a Congressional or Senatorial seat, have to at least bring to the table a clean slate. What does that mean? It means to us, that each candidate is giving us a man or woman who is willing to fight for us, not against us. And, it means a candidate who will not hide behind exemptions, past and present, when they pass a bill.

If there is going to be a change in our nationally elected leaders, the first change we should see, is that each one is willing to propose that all exemptions for House of Representatives be repealed. What? Too much? Too soon? So be it!

The issue here is that as we sit, men and women, small businesses, and those in need of vital services, are going without. Those who make these decisions are congratulating themselves because they “agree” to talk about fixing a problem that they failed to either negotiate, or have given up on altogether. This is not Democracy in action. This is Democracy gone amuck when those who are in positions of leadership, forsake those whom they represent, the American people.

Often we hear of a litmus test in choosing a candidate. It is that presumed test that political groups deny that they have in place, such as whether a candidate is for, or against Obamacare, Roe v Wade, or Immigration reform. Well, here is a new litmus test, that I hope many of us will use as a determining factor for choosing our next representative:

“Are you ready to take the lead for repealing every exemption that every member of the House of Representatives is privy to, and will you offer legislation to repeal and vote for those exemptions? Yes, or No?”

It is a simple test. The answer is without ambiguity. “Yes” or “No”. Now, the problem isn’t whether the candidate will answer the question, it’s whether or not we will ask it. I hope we will, if we anticipate a change in the management of the House of Representatives, we have to ask the hard questions of whomever present themselves as leaders for communities going forward.

Support your Candidate

Regardless of where your candidate stands on any given issue, I do hope you will go all out and support your candidate of choice. Whether he or she is a liberal conservative, or a radical liberal, or a right wing fundamentalist, support your candidate. Only this time, don’t back away when he or she starts doing their thing. You know, the thing where they vote to shut down America because they can’t get their way. Or, should I say, your way? As much as many of us maybe upset with the men and women of the House on Capital Hill, they are doing what they are paid to do, by their respective constituents. They are paid to be disruptive. They are paid to be confrontational. They are paid to, at all costs, by any means necessary, destroy American government until there is no semblance of the Democracy that they swore to uphold, via the United States Constitution.

While it is fair to say that American Democracy came about over blood sweat and tears by way of battles on American Soil such as, the War of 1812[13]; The American Revolutionary War[14], The French and Indian War[15], or the The Civil War[16], the next major war, within the United States of America, will not be fought with guns, gun powder, cannons, or blood running down hills into rivers and valleys. No, those brutal days are over. But the battle for control of America is never-ending. And as we move further into the 21^st Century, America has to be vigilant to protect the Constitutional values of her interior borders, beginning right there, on Capital Hill. This conclusion, as evidence by the risk many of our leaders are willing to take to shut this country down. The supposed issue on the table? Obamacare. Really? It is the law. What does it meand when a political party proposes a bill 43 times to take out a law that even the Supreme Court, despite it Conservative leanings, says is law? Am I the only limitedly intelligent person who is seeing this?

The support of candidates who are all but saying I want to see America fail, has to be as close to treason as any one who has sold secrets to the enemy. Just because they are in the Congress, or in the Senate, does not make them full, red-blooded Americans. But, many of us continue to support them. It is your constitutional right. Even if you support those who have all but damned the U.S. Constitution for their own selfish gain, it is your right.

Your Vote Doesn’t Count (Digressing)

Many believe that their votes don’t count. If that were true, then why so widespread an opportunity to dissolve the rights of those who are American citizens, but for the color of their skin? The idea that people of color, who have met every other condition of citizenship, still have to have a special Constitutional protected provision that permits them to vote, visa vie, the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Is that not insulting to any American in general? If votes don’t count, why the constant changes to voting rights of those who are legal citizens who can’t vote early, or have to show a state-based ID? Or, if voting isn’t so important, why do dead people vote? Why else? They want their votes counted.

Voting

For those of us who do vote, regularly or occasionally, the idea that our votes are being tried and tested at every turn, is perhaps amazing, and somehow, true. Despite the fact that we are in the year of 2013, many of us as American citizens, find that our votes are being weighed for consideration to be cast out, or tossed aside. Reasonably so if we haven’t voted in some time. The decision becomes an easy one: “Throw the bums off the rolls!” But for those of us who live to vote every time an election is on the horizon, we should never have to worry about our votes being held in contempt, correct? No, that is a fantasy, because every vote in America is suspect. Every vote in America is subject to be suppressed; every vote in America is subject to be deleted; every vote in America is as much likely to be perverted by those who have their own agendas, as anything else that occurs in American government.

Support of our respective candidates is essential to ensuring that every aspect of American Government continues. But our support can never be bought for cheap. Our support can never be so exploited that we, as concerned citizens, allow ourselves to be co-opted for a cause, while greater than ourselves, could very well be destructive to our American way of life. Voting is so important that too many of us have allowed ourselves to be undermined to believe that our one vote, if not cast, will not matter. Or worse yet, that if we cast our vote, it will still not rise to the level of importance amidst the many millions of votes cast. Too many of us have allowed ourselves to believe that if we fail to vote in one lousy presidential election, or cheesy congressional election, or, one weepy senatorial election, it won’t matter. Our goal should always, not to be undermined, where our votes are not counted.

Holding them Accountable

Let’s be real. Accountability for elected officials is a ship whose time has sailed. As much as we talk about it, and as much as elected leaders claim that they want to be held accountable, neither side is willing to go the extra mile to make it happen. Our elected leaders know that for those of us who do vote, we put our communities on auto-pilot and trust, with niavete, that our representatives will act like the statesmen on whose shoulders they stand. “Naaaaaaah! Not gonna happen! Not-gonna-dew-it! It wouldn’t be prudent.” (in my Dana Carvey imitation of the Senior Bush).

Let’s face it, we are not holding our elective leaders accountable, and they cannot promise to keep their hands out of the cookie jar. So, why not limit everyone to one term? Let’s not give everyone who chooses to make an elected office a career option. One Term! Bring them back home. Many of our respective leaders often retire at the oddest times to spend time with their families anyway. Let’s bring them home, right away, and begin sending new leaders to Congress, every 2 years; new leaders to the Senate, every 6 years, and a 1 term President, every 4 years. Accountability will hardly be an issue because our leaders, thanks to our new approach to voting, will not have the opportunity to build the mega-political empires that comes from being a long-term political leader.

What is the Risk?

Risk? The risk is always there. It’s right here in this blog. How many elected officials would want you to read this if they thought that for one second, you would go for it. I risk everything right now because someone, with deep pockets, and a short list of selective enforcers are prepared to ensure that nothing that I say or suggest will ever meet a groundswell of support. But to my benefit, I think the groundswell has preceded me. And I had nothing to do with it. At least, I don’t think I did. But that is nothing compared to the real risk.

The real risk is that many of us will continue to:

1. not vote at all, and risk that they will have the opportunity to complain about the results of what happens to them and their families;

2. register to vote, but may show up just in time to keep their names on the voting rolls, in which case, their waning, but important voice, can be counted on consistently to help the community to move forward;

3. register and regularly vote, but vote for the usual suspects (career politicians), even though as a voter, complains because things never change, and last but not least,

4. votes along party lines, falling for party issues instead of issues that matter to the future of this country.

Clean Sweep!

Who am I? Just a plain, American citizen. Perhaps my greatest claim to fame is that I am a husband, father and grandfather. But, my vote matters. It matters so much that there are those who are doing everything that they can to either take away my right to vote, suppress my vote, or disregard it in some way. The reason that my vote matters, is because there are those who have been elected, from federal, to state, to local governments, who believe that they have the right to build an political empire with, or without my vote. And because I don’t want career politicians ruining this country, my vote will continue to be the target of those kind of elected leaders.

Suffice it to say (tongue in cheek), that it is only my vote that they are after. That if, and that is a small if, they can just get my one vote out of their way, they could sail on into retirement, having exempted themselves of every law that they have ever passed. That is to say, they have passed a bill on to me, and not fearing the consequences of this one vote. I encourage you to continue to vote without regard to consequences of the actions of those whom we elect. I encourage each of us to continue to vote as we all do, but don’t complain about the fact everything stays the same. Continue to vote, thinking that finally someone who has been in office for 10, 15 or so years is going to change things, and then after another 4 or 6 years, you wonder why things haven’t changed. Isn’t it time we clean house- the House of Representatives? Just a thought.

Disclaimer: All information provided here is deemed to be from reliable sources, but not guaranteed. Please consult with respective consultants, or licensed or certified professional before making any decisions that may affect your income or livelihood.