Let's Talk About the Real Issues!

Like you, I have watched the political theater of the past too many months. Left/right, Liberal/Conservative, Democrat/Republican - what a mess! Who has the experience? Who’s telling the truth? Can you really put lipstick on a pig? Is this or that comment sexist? Why are we not talking about national security, illegal immigration, assaults on the Bill of Rights and the preservation of our American heritage and traditions? And that is just on the national level. What about Missouri politics, Missouri voters?

I am glad for the opportunity to visit with you. I hope this column will both entertain and educate you - minimally, I hope you'll find some things that will challenge you to spend a little time thinking about them. I fear that much of what most citizens know about how this country operates, what our politicians are doing or not doing is based on information slanted by folks whose primary concerns are not the safety and sovereignty of this country or its citizens. I know that since the 1970s Political Correctness has become a dynamic threat to both free thought and free speech. The entitlement mentality of many ensures then inability of more to ever reach the American dream.

We have a saying back in Texas: "Opinions are like noses and they all smell". I'm going to share with you some of mine. I believe that the strength of this country is not and never has been the government, rather it is in the hearts and efforts of the everyday American citizens, like you and me. Nor do I believe that the conscience of this country resides in Hollywood California, rather it lives in places like Seymour and Mansfield and Marshfield and Springfield and Kilgore, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana and countless towns, villages and cities across this great land. Nor do I believe that the intelligence of this country resides in Harvard and Yale, rather it lives in places like MU, A&M and is represented by folks called things like Bears, Tigers and Longhorns to name a few. I haven't seen a lot of hard work come out of the halls of government, but I see a lot coming out of the fields around my home and out of the businesses that support our community. I see a lot more sweat on the brows of common folks than on the brows of most of our leaders - unless they have been caught with their hand in the cookie jar or someplace worse.

Much is being said about "change" right now and I think that is great, it is about time. However, change for change's sake is a dangerous ploy. Positive, real and realistic change is what most of us are asking for. "Change starts at the bottom not the top." I agree with that, but so does leadership. Not all politicians are liars. However, I must point out in 30 years we have done nothing to fix the energy crunch we saw in the seventies. I must point out that although Texans had been discussing the Texas Corridor plan for three years that I know of, no one in Washington had ever heard of it.

I'm flawed and I embrace that, I ain't perfect by any means - that means every day I have to work harder at being a better man. I wish politicians were more like my friends. I wish they had a little dirt under their finger nails instead of dirt in their professional and personnel lives. You see, I like my blue jeans broken in, that only comes through several washings and working in them. I like my dogs to be mixed breeds, their sturdier. I like my friends honest enough to tell me when I'm about to make a mistake and true enough to stand with me when I do make a mistake.

I don't like soap operas but have no problem if you do. I will never replace Merry Christmas with the phrase Happy Holidays. I don't like dialing 1 for English. I guess I was contaminated by visiting the state of Pennsylvania because I cling to my gun and Bible - but not just in hard times. I believe the Pledge of Allegiance does have the phrase "One nation under God..." And that is the way I will say it - with my hand over my heart. I believe that Roy Rogers really was the King of the Cowboys. I believe you shouldn't squat if you're wearing spurs or kick a fresh cow paddy on a hot day, but you can if you want to. I won't dictate you should attend a particular church or even that you should attend church - but I think you'd be better for the experience. I don't have a problem with immigrants that come to this country for a new life, but I have a big one with those that come to our country illegally, flaunt our laws, cost taxpayers money, cripple our schools and clog our health care system. I believe that Will Rogers and Mark Twain were geniuses - unfortunately, their political commentaries are just as valid today - we have not made a lot of progress.


Now let's establish some of what the military calls Rules of Engagement for this column.

1. I'm not going to try to change your mind, if your mind changes fine, if not - fine.
2. I expect you to accept what is said in this column as fact (though it will be fact); challenge me, do your own research and if you have a different opinion - let's debate it!
3. I welcome differing opinions and dialog and I will respect you as a reader - those differing opinions and dialog will make their way into the column.
4. I seek your comments but if they are vitriolic nonsense - they will go into my trash can.
5. What I say will not always set well with some, I do not mean to offend. I do ask that you to be challenged by a perspective that may be different from the one you have now - then make your own decisions.
6. I will talk about citizenship in this column, nothing is more important in America than citizenship.
7. I will promise to wave the nonsense flag any time any party or candidate does not demonstrate that their primary goal for being in politics is the health and welfare of America and its citizens.
8. I will be polite and professional but I will not promise to be politically correct. As is said in the Steve Gentry song, Isn't anything you see worth fighting for, Political Correctness has become a fence between us and common sense.
9. I am pro-American military and I will tell you stories that the main stream media would never print. I am an unapologetic American, I believe in God, I believe in the 2nd Amendment, I believe in this country, its sovereignty and traditions and heritages and want those to be passed down to my grand children - I have five.
10. I do not care much for the kinder and gentler approach, it doesn't work. I believe in challenge and doing the hard and right things. I believe in victories not in victims, but we can agree to disagree - agreeably - that is the beauty of free speech, a right we still enjoy.
Since 9/11 just came and went. Let me point out some things that trouble me. We have not secured our border which means our citizens and way of life is still threatened. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.

Illegal Immigration has not been a subject of political dialog from either party during the campaigns or since the candidates have been selected. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.
The economy is having issues but no one can tell me much about it or how to fix it. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.

Our military and their families have been asked to sacrifice, but our military and their families are at war and the rest of America appears to be at the mall. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.

Some Congressmen and politicians and the news media publish and comment on every perceived failure of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines where ever they are stationed, but no one has cleared the record, restored their honor when these charges have been proven wrong. Why? Not news worthy, frankly I'm mad at all of the networks and most politicians for this failure.

In the name of freedom of speech, some fringe group protest at a military members' funeral and add turmoil to the grief of a family that has just lost a loved one. Frankly I mad at all of those fringe groups that participate in such madness and very proud of a bunch of veterans on motorcycles that have chosen to stand between military families in a moment of grief and those that would make a funeral into a sound bit for the news.

There are companies and even cities in this country that willingly promote illegal immigration. Let me describe the real issue. An illegal immigrant made the decision to ignore our immigration laws - to work and receive a pay check they have to steal someone's social security number and identity, second violation of our laws. If they choose to work for cash, they clog our emergency rooms and deny legitimate citizens of their rights. Frankly I'm mad at both parties for putting votes and special interests above the citizens that elected them.

One last point, Americans are not stupid - well most aren't. Americans can be distracted. Americans can be confused. Americans can be fooled for a time but not forever. Most of the confusion has come from our politicians and frankly I'm mad at both parties for this failure.

Now before I come off as just another angry American conservative let me tell you a few things about this country:

1. This is the best country in the world. If you have not traveled out of this country you may not realize that, but it is true. Far more people are trying to get in rather than get out - ever wonder why?
2. This is a generous country, every time there is a disaster, who shows up first and with the most? The USA.
3. There is an American dream - it is based on working as hard as you are willing and receive as much reward as you have earned.
4. There is an American nightmare - it is based on do nothing - blame everyone else and take what you have not earned.
5. This is a country with a foundation of respect and honor for God. Unfortunately, too many have begun to confuse religion with God and as a result both have suffered. Well, that is not exactly true, God hasn't suffered - we have because we have allowed this political correctness to turn our backs on faith.
6. Do we have problems? Yes. Have we made mistakes? Yes, but no country on the face of the earth has worked harder to correct those problems and mistakes.
7. The strength of this country is not our government and never has been. It is our individual citizens that come together, put aside their differences and special interests in order to maintain a country of the people and by the people.
8. We have the finest Police, Sheriff's offices, Fire Fighters, First Responders and Military in the world. They live and work every day in a world most of us cannot comprehend. Every now and then we get a bad one, this is a fact, but the percentage is amazing small. Unfortunately we never hear of their honor, bravery or courage - just the scumbags that disgrace themselves.
9. We are the most diverse group of citizens in the world; we are also the most distracted. Sometimes it seems we can't get along. Sometimes we lose sight of the bonds that hold us together. Sometimes we can't agree on the simplest things. Some have even begun to hyphenate themselves. That hyphen was originally employed to help us determine demographics - it has become the most divisive punctuation mark in the history of man. Yet, on occasion we can put our religious beliefs and differences aside. We can put our party affiliations aside. We can put our skin color aside. We can put our ancestors aside, and for those few moments, few weeks, few months or few years - we can join together to protect a nation unlike any other ever seen. Like we did on September 11, 2001.
10. Where else could I write this? Where else could you debate this? Where else is there another America? What other country works harder to do right? What is so bad about that?