I’ve been thinking about the past year and the roller coaster ride this nation has taken which has proven to be a very challenging period of time for most of us.  I know that hope lies in our future, but I somehow believe that few understand or want to act on the belief that hope lies in we the people, not the bureaucratic  government, nor the congress that works for us.  After all we are their Board of Directors, but few of us play the role we should.  We are a passive nation of we the people rather than a participatory one.  Here are some brief year-end thoughts on this subject:

• Don’t be a passive citizen of the United States.  It is not important whether you are a native born citizen or one recently nationalized – don’t take the constitution for granted, protect it and defend it.
• Express your right to free speech, do it constructively, comely, but with passion and prevent the erosion of your rights under the constitution.
• Understand history for there are lessons to be learned.  Too many knowledgeable leaders of this nation have failed to do so and have thus repeated and compounded mistakes of the past.
• There is nothing more important than independent thought and the right to express it.
• People of a free nation must come to their own conclusions about issues, whether they be local, national or global, based upon facts and their own personal assessment’s.
• We hear a lot about globalization.  But we people, for the most part, live in very small geographical areas, very circumscribed – it is not a global environment for most.  We had best protect what we have – re-distribution of wealth does not benefit this nation nor the world. Teach a man how to fish and he can feed himself.
• Global diplomacy and interaction is a necessity – but a global world order is not – and it is not in the interest of nations worldwide.
• We are currently living with some issues that are impacting our democracy and eroding our constitution – think about them as it relates to the economy, jobs, health care, climate change, military strength, population explosion, political instability, shifting of currency values, debt, spending, growth of government, socialism v capitalism, Marxism and the transformation of America.
• Often history has proven that we should work with what we have to make it better rather than transform it to something new.
• America is great, not perfect.  Perhaps we should work with what’s great and modify it to make it better, rather than transforming it to something that it was not meant to be by our founding fathers.

These are but some thoughts from one who takes a conservative approach to decision making – but not one that truly represents a political party.  Do I want to be a voice – yes I do and so should you. The commentary is meant to enlighten, present a view, but not transform thought or positions unless the thesis strikes a chord of acceptance by the reader.  I welcome thoughtful, provocative, dissenting and constructive points of view.  My friend Norman understands that and frequently comments within this space.  I welcome that.

My New Year wish for those that care about this nation, our future and the future of generations to come is to play an active role in any way you can to protect this democracy and its constitution.  For passiveness is not an acceptable option.

Thanks for your readership and I wish you and yours a Happy & Healthy New Year.