EXCEPTIONAL-ISM

In the process of justifying what’s happening to Crimea, President Putin, from the Russian Federation, has complained about something called American Exceptional-ism.  Generally, I don’t think we Americans think about ourselves as being exceptional.  Instead, most of us in our day to day lives just go about getting the job done.  Like most people in the world we want to take care of our families, and find happiness in what we do with our lives.  Perhaps, we could point to our democracy and the foundational right to vote. 

Then, if anything is exceptional, it would be the spirit of freedom and liberty that was given to us in the beginning by our founding fathers and mothers.  If we are guilty of anything, it is only that we wish others around the globe might enjoy the same blessings that we enjoy.  We might also be guilty of our conviction that everyone has the right to rise to their own potential without restraint and restriction other than the limits of their own efforts and desires.

Here’s one expression of our American conviction.  Enjoy!

MY CREED ...by Dean Alfange (Flying "W" Ranch)

“I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon.  I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents God gave me, not security.  I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.  I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.  I refuse to barter incentive for a dole.  I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.  I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout.  I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to any threat.  It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say-----This , with God's help, I have done." 

All this is what it means to be an American. 

Mr. Putin, you should give this a try.  You might even find some success.

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2014 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved. 

OUR “CALL TO DUTY” AS VOTERS IS RINGING NOW

It’s already started.  

We’re now fully immersed in the 2014 election cycle.  Parties and politicians are throwing mud with both hands.  Instead, wouldn’t it be refreshing if party or person were to spend their time and energy offering positive solutions, and a little simple honesty?  Everyone spends too much time talking about what’s wrong with the “other” position or person, and not enough time on what they will do to solve problems if they get a chance.

It’s time for we voters to begin practicing our listening skills.  Voting Alert Beacon #3 (Listen / Ignore) offers a simple approach that will help us decide who to vote for.  LISTEN to what candidates say about themselves and their positions on the issues.  IGNORE what they say about their opponents and their opponent's positions on the issues.

Another feature of election cycles that adds energy to the “mud-slinging” is the opinion poll.  Have you ever noticed how there’s an opinion poll for everything?  Polls enable the candidates to take positions for the sole purpose of gaining our votes.  They allow the parties and persons to do what they think enough voters want them to do so they can win the election. 

When you get that telephone call, you hear a knock on the door, or someone stops you on the street, just say “no.”  Voting Alert Beacon #4 (The Polls) is simple and clear on what we need to do.  DO NOT participate in polls except the National Census every ten years. Poll driven positions on the issues would cease to exist, and the candidates would be pushed toward thoughtful consideration of what they need to do and what should be done.

A final area for voters to keep a close eye on throughout the 2014 election cycle, and after when our elected public servants begin to work, is in problem solving and solution finding.  History shows us that sometimes they try to fix things that aren’t broken, or they do it in a way that breaks what was working pretty well, while increasing the size and seriousness of the original problem.  As a result, costs go up and the government grows larger.

Remember, Listen / Ignore and Just Say No!

. . .  remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her.   America’s best days are ahead of her.  They always have been and always will be.

Dave

Copyright © 2014 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.