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Thursday, November 1, 2012

PATRIOTISM



As we approach an election here in the United States, I am thinking more about what is good for my country and less about what is good for me.  Today I realized they really are one and the same. What makes MY life better more than likely will also make my friends and families lives better and therefore, by extension, the country better. Now, I could talk about the economy, but that would be a sad and dreary blog and it’s fall, I can’t let myself go there. I can’t wallow in the prospect of solving our national debt and balancing our national budget. I have my own under control and that’s all I can handle right now. So, I’m going to the more lifting and cheerful side of patriotism.

I fly a flag 365 days a year 24/7 with a light above for illumination (as required to fly one 24/7), because I am always lifted emotionally a bit when I look out my kitchen window and see it waving or standing out straight or even resting against the poll. There is something that feels like pride or camaraderie that fills you when you fly your own American flag or your own country’s flag, I should say. The men and women who have served in the military come immediately to mind along with every man (all men, to date) who has called the Oval Office his workplace, serving to protect freedoms and defend our constitution, which translates to serving the population of the United States.  Serving. Standing in our stead, working to bring the people what that people want, or the majority of them.  A united country of states means at some point we have to have one ideal and one goal. We get there by voting and the majority rules. Therefore, I always support and respect the holder of the office of Presidency because that is patriotism to me. I may not always agree with him, I may not EVER like him, but I will always respect him and call him my President.
Our flag, flying this past August.
      
Believing my country can be more than it is, is not unpatriotic. Isn’t it just the opposite?  If I believe in my country as a strong and growing community of my fellow Americans I have to believe that just like me, WE can be more and better tomorrow than we are today. I believe together as a united group, we can reclaim our rightful place on top of every list, including the greatest financially secure economy on earth. We have what it takes and by making changes at the top, we can make changes here in my world. Those changes require we stop thinking like it is 1950. We can’t do what we’ve always done, it doesn’t work.  New ideas are called for. New co-operation is called for. New tax code, old programs that are outdated removed, re-written and replaced!  Our electoral system is very outdated. Time for a new over haul or maybe even passed time.  The Electoral College was necessary for a timely count of votes once, now it is not. We know within minutes what the vote count is now, the actual voters ballots CAN now be counted and sent in within minutes of voting throughout the night.  We could easily be electing our leaders by popular vote and actually putting people in office that were chosen by EVERY voter who exercised their right. I believe that would greatly increase the number of voters because many feel their vote doesn’t count anyway. The Electors would be done away with as were many outdated ways of doing business our here in the real world. Our government needs some modernization and the rules need amending to allow for us to really have the say of the people heard!

The party system could be done away with and no one would mind except the millionaires who get richer by running and organizing and pandering during every election.  What if anyone really could be President?  What if money wasn’t the biggest requirement? What if you could run on an equal basis with anyone else? What if x number of TV hours were given to each candidate at no charge?  And what if instead of pointing out all the negative attributes of their opponent, they were only permitted to talk about themselves, their own history and their own plans?

Yes, I know you are all thinking that no one would ever allow that to happen because too many billions of dollars are spent getting the “RIGHT” person in offices of power. Sadly, I believe that is true and it makes me very sad and very disillusioned about our future as a country of free people. Our democracy could be improved upon and our economy right along with it. If only all the money spent to re-elect or elect every 2 years was spent on our budget, it’s millions and millions of dollars spent to put a puppet or at the very least, someone who owes someone something, into a position of power. Doesn’t feel democratic to me.

I am a proud American who exercises her rights in life every day. I say what I want. I write what I want. I vote. I drive. I praise good works and I call out the ones I see as less than they could be. And I also willfully speak out on issues that affect my life, my community and our future.

Patriotism is alive and well in the U.S.A. and I am a proud participant! GOD BLESS THE USA.

Jo


35 comments:

  1. There is so much I could say, Jo, but I will just say this: You tell it. Love this post.

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  2. I admire you Jo for saying what you believe and living it out in your life. In that regard, we are a lot alike! ♥

    Cheers, Jenn

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    1. I admire you for the same thing, Jenn. You state your case and always show respect for others and you know that is the most important thing. We will probably not agree on a lot of things, but we will be friends and appreciate each other for who we are...always. Your friendship matters to me.

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  3. Your second paragraph resonates with me. I wish I had a flag (maybe I will ask for one for Christmas). And I agree on the President (unless he is doing something really drastic like instituting Marshall law).

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    1. Sounds like a good idea! Good point on the Marshall Law thing.

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  4. I agree that people need to respect the office of president. Although I could not stand George Bush, I found myself offended to see a set of George and Laura paper dolls which pictured the president and first lady in their underwear. It struck me as disrespectful.

    I agree that the Electoral College system needs to go. Gore received the popular vote in 2000 but lost due to the Electoral College. Some political analysts have predicted that Romney could get the popular vote, but Obama will win due to the Electoral College. I have a feeling that if that happens, the Electoral College could be on the way out. As a resident of the bloody red state of Tennessee, I feel like my vote doesn't count. We have few presidential ads on TV and no one has come to visit us. I also resent knowing that a voter from Wyoming or North Dakota gets more weight in the direction of their states' votes because of a smaller population. If the Electoral College were evenly distributed by numbers, they would not receive the minimum of three votes.

    And yes, I'm glad to enjoy the freedoms which are found in America; however, I do not trust the voting process, especially knowing that Tagg Romney OWNS the voting machines in Ohio and some other swing states.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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    1. I don't trust the voting process either and I do believe it's time for a change, a big change. A candidate's son should not be owning any voting machines. Pfft! WTH?

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  5. You go Jo! I'm glad we live in a country where you can write what you want and we can read it and enjoy it! FREEDOM!

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    1. Oh, and I'm glad you bother to read! That's a freedom, too. Thanks Anna...♥

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  6. Rah, rah, rah, oops, wrong story. All kidding aside, I couldn't agree with you more on all counts. I love this country too, but, I'm afraid many of our leaders in congress have forgotten what patriotism is all about. Thanks for speaking out. I will defend till death your right to speak your mind.

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    1. Go
      Team
      Fight!

      It's way harder to stay quiet and hidden than it is to be out there speaking my mind. I feel I have to DO something and writing and speaking is what I DO!

      Hope you don't have to fight for me...ever.

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  7. Awesome article! I'm a firm believer in showing my patriotism! I, too, feel that deep down swell of pride when I see our flag flying proudly. The national anthem still makes me cry at times as does the anthem playing with fireworks going off overhead. There is no doubt I love this country! Of course, I sometimes wonder if that may have something to do with every birthday cake I had growing up showed either the flag or fireworks since I was born on the 4th of July. lol

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    1. How cool that you're a firecracker! Love that! The whole country celebrates your birthday!!!


      Thank you so much for the supportive comments and I know there are many of us who feel pretty like this
      It's a shame none of us can afford to run for office. And many of us have those skeletons of youth that would preclude even considering such a thing!

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  8. This:

    "The party system could be done away with and no one would mind except the millionaires who get richer by running and organizing and pandering during every election. What if anyone really could be President? What if money wasn’t the biggest requirement? What if you could run on an equal basis with anyone else? What if x number of TV hours were given to each candidate at no charge? And what if instead of pointing out all the negative attributes of their opponent, they were only permitted to talk about themselves, their own history and their own plans?"

    is pure awesomeness.

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    1. thanks Beth....it's also pure fantasy...but I'll keep saying it for as long as there is one person out there who hasn't thought that it could work!

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  9. WOW amen sister!!!
    This is a wonderful post!!
    I would like to offer you this award as well.
    http://www.caffeinateddiva.com/2012/11/liebster-award-3-or-4.html

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    1. Thank you so much Rae...i appreciate both the compliment and the award! ♥

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  10. I couldn't agree more Jo! I'm a little nervous about the upcoming election and even more nervous about where this election may take our country. In any event, I like you, will always support my president and respect the office of presidency, even if I don't particularly care for whoever may be sitting in that office. (Please, please, please let it be Obama..)

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    1. Thanks Karen...It's a scary time for all Americans because our future is not assured. Financially we are beginning to climb up and as a nation we will find our way back to power, but how many years that will take might well depend on who is driving the bus. In our past the Republlicans have not been able to repair financial disasters simply because their plans always involve feeding the top and waiting for the drippings to fall on the underlings. The top feeders will always be overeaters and the bottom will always be hungry.

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  11. Two Words:
    "Great Post!"

    Thanks Jo, I really appreciate your thoughts. You asked at one point in your post, "what if anyone really could grow up to be President?" This made me think of a letter I sent to the news paper four years ago. I thought you might appreciate it:
    A New Sense of Self, A New Sense of Possibility - http://reasonable-thought.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-sense-of-self-new-possibility.html

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    1. I read the letter. Loved it. Thank you for reading and supporting. We think a lot alike.

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  12. Jo - We too fly our flag (I glance at mine out the front living room window though - neighbors probably often think I am spying on them instead of admiring our red, white and blue!)and I feel the same way. Completely agree with you on the Electoral college. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - I really enjoyed them.

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    1. I do enjoy my flag. I love seeing them when I'm driving, too. I always thik, oh, look another flag! It's kinda like a game, I guess. For a while after 9/11 they were every where...getting to be fewer now.

      Veteran's Day is coming and that will bring some more out!

      Thanks for stopping by Amy. :)

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  13. Very good article Jo, with great points well made! This country has overcome so much (slavery, civil war, limited suffrage, civil rights) that I am sure it will someday overcome the outmoded electoral college system.

    I have to go now, and put a light on my flag.

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    1. Thank you, Mike. The flag shouldn't fly at night without a light. Glad to educate!

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  14. Very well said. I think if they actually elected people by who the people actually voted for, more people would vote.

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

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    1. Yes, Kathy I think that's right. And I think it's time to start working toward that end. Just because its always been that way, doesn't mean it should alwAys be that way.

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  15. May we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.
    Dwight D. Eisenhower

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    1. Since there are no quotes, I assume this is a message from heaven. Thank you Mr. President. I hope I am not guilty of that.

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  16. Thank you for this post. I too respect the office of the presidency regardless who gets elected or if I will EVER like him.

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    1. Thank YOU, Yayla. Respect does not require fondness.

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    2. Tayla....autocorrect thinks your name should be Yayla! Sorry, but that is funny! lol

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