VISION

I wrote the first Voting Alert Beacons post on March 26, 2012.  A lot has happened in America and the World since I wrote that post.  To the point of voting and governing this great land, there have been two Presidential elections and a mid-term election, not to mention scores of local and state elections.  

Along the way, the Beacons have grown and matured.  I’ve added a couple Beacons and fine tuned several.  Through it all, my belief in the power of each individual vote, the wisdom of a voting America, and the increasing brilliance of America’s star has only grown stronger.  

Even now as all public talk seems filled with vitriol and petty differences, and the two major parties are entangled in some kind of grand intramural competition, we are all bearing witness to great American history in the making.  For the first time, someone not a career politician has been elected President.  It doesn’t matter that it was Donald J. Trump.  It matters that it happened at all.  It is a bugle cry to a core belief of mine.  A belief that drove me to create the Voting Alert Beacons in the first place.  

I believe that elected office is a public service opportunity, not a career.  That belief is embodied in the Voting Alert Beacons vision below:

• Work toward the day when, through high voter turnout in our elections, we realize once again the genius of our combined American intelligence.  
• Give rise to a new higher standard of civil service and servant leadership.  
• Turn the tide on negative campaigning, and the influence of money and polls, so that elections become events of national renewal.  
• Strike the bell beginning a new period of enlightenment in the American democracy that will ring for millennia to come. 
• Renew and fulfill the original American Dream, the right to vote, for all her citizens, so that America continues to shine as a beacon for the world.

Let us always remember that honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  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 © 2017 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

BEACON OF HOPE - THE MOON

America, we did this almost 50 years ago. It was the result of the effort of many individuals, one day at a time. The success of the moon adventure was rightfully shared by every America.

Tomorrow, when you look in the mirror, ask yourself if you've done your part. Are you fulfilling your personal responsibilities to yourself, your family and to America? Have you said something kind about your neighbor, the leaders of your community and state, and the leaders of this great nation? Have you said a prayer or given a Meditation for our President. If not, why not?

God Bless America!!!

. . .  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 © 2017 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

REVISED FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

Below is the revised Voting Alert Beacons page for Media Responsibilities.  I've added a section for Social Media that comments on the tremendous power it has to bring humankind together like has never been possible before.  However, it can also divide us to the point where we don't recognized each other.  I hope you will note my revisions and follow them to a positive destination.  Thank you!

MEDIA RESPONSIBILITIES

The Media has often been called the "Fourth Branch of Government."  When the other three branches of government can't or won't come forward with the truth, the Media often has.   This “honesty” mechanism was designed into the US Constitution by the writers.  

 James Madison said, “A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.”  If George Washington is considered father of our nation, then James Madison is regarded as father of the constitution, and he was the First Amendment author.

The media is critical to keeping our government honest, and in helping us elect and refresh government through our right to vote.  In the exercise of their personal First Amendment  rights, when journalists and commentators are expressing an opinion, they should clearly declare their bias.  Otherwise, they, or media outlets and sources, should remain unbiased and dedicated to fulfilling their important role in our democracy.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS WONDERFUL, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE TOXIC!

While social media is a wonderful development reflective of the advance of humankind, and a force that brings us closer together over miles and time, it can also drive us apart to the point that we know longer recognize each other.

DO have positive discussions with your friends and neighbors using private messaging.

DO use the ability to create groups and forums to focus on national and local challenges to find positive solutions.

DO create your own posts, or share posts from others, that focus on positive remedies and fulfilling our responsibilities.  Our rights will follow, and be preserved, as a natural result.  Leading with "our rights or my rights" is selfish and counterproductive.  Our rights were guaranteed a long time ago in our countries founding documents.

WHAT THE MEDIA SHOULD DO TO FULFILL THEIR ROLE?

• Publish only what candidates say about THEMSELVES.  See Voting Alert Beacon #3.
• Don't publish what they say about OTHERS.  See Voting Alert Beacon #3.
• Publish regular reports of candidate campaign contributions, and positively highlight the small contributions while negatively highlighting large contributions.  Especially, shine a negative highlight on pacts, special interests, and other "non-human" contributions.  See Voting Alert Beacon #5.
• On interview programs, invite only regular citizens for comment, not political pundits or commentators.
• Stop taking and publishing polls.  See Voting Alert Beacon #4.

SHOULD NOT DO

Media SHOULD NOT endorse candidates or take positions on the issues.  If and when they do, they change from fulfilling their special role and responsibility as the “Fourth Branch of Government” to becoming JUST ANOTHER SPECIAL INTEREST.

Let us always remember that honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  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 © 2016 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

CONTRIBUTION vs. COMMITMENT

When I was a young boy, I remember my father telling me a story about the difference between contribution and commitment.  I know many parents have told this story to their children.  Quite possibly yours told you too. 

I don’t recall if we were actually at breakfast when he told it, but growing up eggs and bacon were a standard breakfast.  He said something like the following:

“Dave, it’s important for you to know the difference between contributions and commitments.  I hope in your life you make many of both to our world.  Think of them this way.  When we have eggs and bacon at breakfast, look at your plate and know that the chicken made a contribution and a pig made a commitment.  Son, as your father, I hope you do both, but if you are ever called to making a commitment, I hope you will.”

That story has been with me all these many years.  Here’s what I think it means now.

We make a contribution when we: Pay taxes, do some public service, obey the law, support our democracy, if we protest something — we do it peacefully, and always look for a chance to help someone in need.

We make a commitment if we:  Serve or have served in the military, go daily to our duties as a police officer or fireman, make the ultimate sacrifice and give our life in the afore mentioned, or WHEN WE VOTE.

As with the pig, commitment sometimes rises to the level of sacrifice of one’s life.  Many Americans before us have paid this highest price.  

ARE YOU PREPARED TO PAY THE HIGHEST PRICE IF CALLED UPON?  IF NOT, WHY NOT?

Let us always remember that honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  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 © 2016 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

It’s approaching 72 hours since the terrible events in Dallas last Friday evening.  As I’ve watched and listened to all kinds of discussion, I keep asking myself, “Where is the President?”  Leaders naturally look for opportunities to lead.  When they find them, they take action.  While it sits squarely on the tragic events in Dallas, there is a HUGE opportunity now to take America forward in a new positive direction.  NOW ACTION IS REQUIRED!

OK, Mr. President, I volunteer.  I’m happy to play the “if I was President game.”  Here’s what I would have done in a national address on Saturday, the next day.

What I would say …

STEP 1:  APPRECIATE:  Recognize with true empathy how all Americans are suffering from the senseless killings that have come to us.  Take the BLACK LIVES MATTER mantra to a higher level.  ALL LIVES MATTER! 

STEP 2:  AFFIRM:  America is a nation of laws and all of us (WE THE PEOPLE) live under the same constitution.  We all enjoy the same rights and bear the same responsibilities.  

“Our freedoms and liberties are guaranteed for ALL. That's a fact! That some of us have suffered over the years because others among us would deny those two things must now become a point of focus. This can be corrected! IT MUST BE CORRECTED!”

STEP 3:  MOVE FORWARD IMMEDIATELY:  Create a priority task force lead by the Vice President and to include the Attorney General, the FBI director, Congressional Majority and Minority leaders, and police chiefs from our largest cities.  The task force will report back in thirty days on the following three questions —

• Body cameras for every police officer.  
• Deadly crime in America.  Where is it, and what are best practices for stopping it?
• Rebuilding the bonds between the police and the communities they serve in America. 

STEP 4:  LASTLY —

“As President, I commit to holding weekly press conferences and speaking regularly on these issues for the next thirty days as the task force does it’s work.  Following the task force report, and within one week of its delivery to me, I will appear at a Joint Meeting of Congress, and before the American people, to lay out my plan for a better America in the areas these issues touch.  Everyone deserves fair treatment under our laws IN FACT, and they should FEEL IN THEIR HEARTS that they receive it.  We’ll talk again soon.  I promise!  God bless America!”

OK, that’s what I would say and do.

Let us always remember that honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  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 © 2016 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

Here’s How I Feel

I've been thinking about America all day. Like all of us, I feel shock and great sadness about recent events. Good lives have needlessly been lost and families torn apart. It's hard to find answers, isn't it? Nonetheless, we must move forward into the wind. Straight ahead, we need to continue building our American future. Can we not learn some lessons and build a better America still? In spite of everything that seems wrong, I see a bright future. I believe there is much to look forward to. Why?

Our freedoms and liberties are guaranteed for ALL. That's a fact! That some of us have suffered over the years because others among us would deny those two things must now become a point of focus. This can be corrected! IT MUST BE CORRECTED!

We ALL have another job to do. ALL of us must focus on our responsibilities as citizens. The amount of freedom and liberty any of us enjoy is directly connected to how well we do in fulfilling our responsibilities. We should never expect a fire to warm us if we refuse to give it the wood it needs to burn brightly. In the days ahead, our first responsibility should be to hold and comfort each other. At least in spirit, if not in fact. Let's use this as a time to extent kindness and civility. Let's look out for each other. In so doing, we'll find ourselves united, not divided. The American way!

Lastly, tonight, I also believe we can and will reach MLK's "promised land." He was one of our greatest leaders and I find comfort in his words spoken so long ago.

What do you think?

Let us always remember that honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  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 © 2016 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.  

GOD BLESS THE USA

MY FELLOW AMERICANS, this day and this age calls us.    Everything we want and all that we need IS in front of us, but we must focus on its potential, and embrace it.  

So, it’s time for us, “WE THE PEOPLE”  to quiet our voices and become calm.  It’s time for “WE THE PEOPLE” to increase the volume of our VOTES.  Whether we are liberal or conservative, left or right, man or woman, young or old, no matter our color, no matter our language, no matter our religion, and no matter what divides us or makes us different from each other, it’s time for all of us to put aside these labels and just be Americans in the United States of America.  It’s time for each of us to awaken our sense of CIVIC responsibility and become “WE THE PEOPLE” again.

Please enjoy this Home Free a cappella arrangement of "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood.

Have a great and safe Fourth of July!

Let us always remember that honesty and public service are the gears that drive our democracy, and we turn those gears with our RIGHT TO VOTE.   LET’S ALL VOTE!

. . .  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 © 2016 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.