If you have to use lies and deceipt, how good can it be?

What are the first words that come to mind when you think of a used car salesman? Lies? Deceit? Dishonesty? If any of my readers are used car salesman, I apologize up front for using this generalization, but I use it to make a point. Many of us would use these words to describe this profession because we have been hoodwinked by not so honest sales people.

I don't know why they feel they have to lie or deceive us to sell their product. Do they feel that it is inferior? Are they so unsure of their ability? Do they want to intentionally deceive us because they know their product is bad?

I have had all these thoughts these past weeks when I have watched the debacle surrounding the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare.) Now, to be honest with you I have never been a big fan of the Act, but I thought that those on the other side of the aisle had good intentions when they pushed it through.

Now after the admissions of deceit by our President I am having very big doubts about the merits of the legislation. Were the promoters of this law so unsure of their foundation that they thought they had to lie to us? If they knew that it was a lemon, why push it on us? What was their motive?

Whatever that motive was, they have lost the trust of the American People. How can we ever trust that whatever they tell us is true? How do we know that it is not some new way to deceive us into supporting yet another bad law? Have we sunk so low that we would do anything to forward our agenda?

I really try to stay positive here with my thoughts but this has been on my mind all week. We need to ask the question, "What other lies have we been told?" If our government reflects the values of the people, have we become a nation of liars? If so, then we are in real trouble. If not and we have elected some bad apples, then we need to hold them accountable and move forward. We can't just let this slide or be swept under the rug. If we do it now it will keep getting worse.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to live in a country whose government feels that they have to use lies to keep us happy. Anything built on a lie will fall because more lies must be told to keep up the facade.  As citizens we need to demand accountability. This one can't be swept under the rug. If we allow this, many of our elected officials may see this as a way to get things done. I shudder at the thought of this kind of future.

If you feel the same I would invite you to do something. Write your Congressmen and demand accountability, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, get the message out that this is not acceptable. As Margaret Mead said; "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

"Vote The Bums Out"

"If all those liberals would go to Kimodo Island, then we could get our country back on track!" Did you ever hear or think this?  Glenn and Rush have assured me that getting rid of the other side will solve all of our problems. On the other hand Bill Maher and Harry Reid are sure that the conservatives have to go. Who's right?

The reality is that neither political party can fix our country. You see, the problem is that Democrats are sure that big government is the answer and Republicans are sure that big business is the answer. Guess what, neither big business nor big government will solve the problems which currently vex America.

Our problems run deeper than any politician can possibly deal with. Our problems begin on a personal level. Here are a few examples.

•  Americans spend $1.20 for every dollar they earn. How can our government get its fiscal house in order if the citizens aren't willing to do so first?
•  Most of us are unwilling to do the homework to elect good candidates, we instead rely on the media or advertising to vet our candidates.
• We claim that we have certain rights but few of us understand where those rights come from. (Here's a hint, they don't come from the Constitution or the government) .
•  Most of us haven't educated ourselves in the foundations of our republic (not democracy).

• The biggest problem I see is the dismantling of the family structure. (Nearly 60% of children are born to unwed mothers.) If there is no family structure, how can a solid government structure be expected to function.

  What I am trying to point out here is that America's problems are stemming from very personal issues and we cannot fix the national issues until we address the personal ones. So where to start?

A very good step would be to become educated in the foundations of our freedom. Where did the founders get their ideas? They read authors such as John Locke, Montesquieu,  Bastiat, Cicero and many others. Our system of government was established on the learning of centuries. It would behoove us to take in some of that wisdom so we can understand how our government is supposed to function.

We should work to get our own houses in fiscal order, then we can hold our representatives to our standard.

Most importantly we need to work to keep the family structure safe. Lifelong commitment to a single spouse is becoming obsolete. We need to spend more time nurturing family relationships. If the family continues to break down society's break down won't be far behind. Contrary to what's being touted on the news, a robust economy won't save our nation, but a strong family just may.

America will be saved only if we as individuals will have the commitment and put in the effort to save ourselves and our families first. We can only treat the symptoms for so long before the disease takes over. Let's get down to the root of what is dragging our country down.

Our dysfunctional  politicians are a reflection of us as citizens. What do you say, let's make a better reflection.