Another year's over...
...and what have we done?
A new year is here once again, and as we close out 2023, let’s consider what has happened in America:
The economy is in shambles (though the government would like you to believe them when they say it’s booming); temporary inflation wasn’t as “temporary” as they claimed (“it’s not a recession”)
Executive alphabet agencies are running roughshod over the Constitution, operating outside their bounds, creating rules that far exceed their charter (think ATF, DoJ, FBI, etc)
The executive and legislative branches have become oligarchic in nature, selling us out to foreign powers and to corporate interests
The judiciary (with perhaps the exception of SCOTUS) has become as politicized and weaponized as the other two branches of government
The military has been virtually gutted, with recruiting levels falling far below target levels and munitions depleted (sending much of it overseas), while alphabet agencies continue to purchase weapons and ammunition
The border continues to be overrun by illegals (yes, they are “illegal” - they are entering the country illegally), with thousands more headed this way, and the federal government, while abrogating its role in protecting our borders, threatens reprisal against any state that takes measure to protect its own borders
The country’s strategic petroleum reserve continues to be drained
Men (yes - MEN - a man claiming to be a woman is still a man) are dominating women’s sports and are even winning women’s beauty pageants (do men make better women than actual women?)
People are endorsing discrimination and segregation in the name of diversity and inclusion
Public schools and Hollywood seek to sexualize children at every turn
The definition of “our Democracy” as used by those in government has changed to mean “our power”
What have I missed? Anyone? I know there’s more - too much more to list. So, to what can we look forward in 2024? To quote the Magic 8 Ball, “Outlook not so good.”
Yes, there is some hope to be had that the pendulum will swing back to the positive (I find it rather ironically fitting that the image above uses “left” as negative and “right” as positive). Cities that defunded the police are reversing course after those who enacted the changes became victims of crime (go figure). Cities that wanted to act as “sanctuaries” for illegal border-crossers are joining border cities in seeking a stop to the influx after finding that they cannot support even a small fraction of those with which border cities are being inundated. SCOTUS and other courts have struck down some of the alphabet agencies’ overreach. Despite government’s Goebbels-like gaslighting efforts, it seems some of the absurdities foisted upon us by our better-than-thous have finally run head-first into reality. Is it enough though?
We have another election looming, and the prospects don’t lead me to think celebration is yet in order. One candidate is being removed from primary ballots on the basis of “we don’t like him.” Ok, they aver that it is because of the 14th Amendment, but there have been no charges proven or convictions thereof that would meet the requirements of the 14th Amendment. Heck, I wish he wasn’t even in the race, but not at the expense of justice, due process, and freedom of choice for the voters. The powers-that-be want to take that choice from you and I. They only want you to have the “choices” they allow.
This is what happens when voters are beholden to party rather than principle (hint: your party does not care about you no matter what they say to the contrary). This is why in 2024, more than ever, it is important that voters (if we even still have the opportunity) vote for those who will truly represent us, who will with all their might strive to defend the Constitution (unlike those in office now who use its name for political advantage while using its substance as toilet tissue), and who recognize that government’s “power” is limited, that power and authority rightly lie with and come from we the people.
I don’t do New Years resolutions, but if you want to make one that will be easy to keep, let me suggest this: read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. It shouldn’t take more than 30 - 60 minutes to get through all of it, and you can take it in pieces (they even created nice divisions for you). If you are like most Americans, you may find that your understanding of this documents is not as clear or accurate as you may think. And if you take time to truly understand them, or want to understand more of the background, read The Federalist Papers, the Anti-Federalist Papers (not as easy to find online), the minutes from the Constitutional Conventions, and some Thomas Paine (especially his pamphlet Common Sense which had strong influence on our founders. Any combination of these, with at least the foundation of the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights will greatly improve your understanding of how the framers intended this country to run (spoiler alert: the way it is running now is not at all what they envisioned).
Once you have a good basic understanding, share it with others. Encourage them also to read our founding documents and develop an understanding of how the framers intended this country to run (repeat spoiler alert: the way it is running now is not at all what they envisioned).
The power is still ours (for now). Let’s not let partisan politics and tribal division sacrifice our rights and liberty to those who believe themselves better-than-thou. We don’t elect rulers - we elect representatives. Educate yourself on what their job is supposed to be and hold them accountable to perform it or fire them! We can have a good 2024, but it’s up to us to make it happen - the government won’t do it for us.
Though there may seem little reason for hope, the good news is, as was the case with our founding fathers, our hope isn’t in government - our hope is in God. God is in control, and with God, there is always hope.
Therefore, with that hope in mind, I wish you and yours a very happy and hopeful New Year!
But Chad what do you mean they don’t make the rules and we have to follow them? What do you mean voting for a party rather than the candidate is the cause? What do you mean we can change it? 😂
Fact is until voters get away from straight party voting, actually understand the constitution is the blueprint for governmental abilities, get away from uneducated voting, and convince their friends and family to do the same.. nothing any of us say or do will make a difference. Because like the marines, we are the few.
Our people are too lazy to cook their own food most of the week. Our newest generation are too lazy to apply for a job from the comforts of their own home online. But they believe everything is their “constitutional right” they believe that either republicans or democrats are the only answer because whatever side they don’t like “violating their constitutional rights” are going to take total power. Why? Because too many gave up actually understanding it a few generations ago and pick a color and that’s all they vote regardless whose name is by that color. So politics in the house, when it’s even spoken, became less and less this person and more and more this party. Schools obliterated teaching it to a necessary understanding enough to make “educated votes” and then politics became a no no subject along with religion.
Not long ago, maybe two weeks, I wanted to list all the absurdities this nation in particular is engaging in. Your 11 bullets were definitely included and among those points, there were sub categories that related directly to the parent subject, but were so outlandish they merited their own focus. I quit at 31. It seemed every time I opened myself to research another outré I fell down another rabbit hole. When my ears started ringing, I knew my blood pressure was spiking, so I closed the list for a later date.
I don't like being angry all the time and spending too much time unraveling the web of inane and maniacal atrocities we've been subjected to for the last couple decades has me approaching rage. There are things being perpetrated on the citizens of this nation that should be opposed in the strongest sense of the word. at times I think we're in an undeclared war and with each new affront that inserts itself into our national consciousness, our foes (those that seek the fundamental transformation of this country) gain a stronger foothold and another victory.
I can see the advantages of avoiding tribalism and strict division, but more often that not, it boils down to an Us vs Them equation. In a thread I was involved in yesterday I mentioned small words have enormous power. Chief among them is NO. A couple of six letter sentences too wield tremendous might. MAKE ME, and NO MORE.
If a directed and coordinated effort is not carried out against these fantastical assertations and fairly soon, then the unthinkable will surely come to pass. My oldest granddaughter asked me yesterday what I thought the future might hold. I'm a bog proponent of not lying to kids, she's gonna be 14 in a few weeks, and my response left her incredulous. I told her that it's very possible that by the time she's her parent's age, the United states as we know it, knew it, will no longer exist, but smaller, fractured regions or territories will take its place.
"But grampa, that's dumb, we're the United States!"
"Not anymore sweetheart, not anymore."
Not seeking division, only acknowledging reality as it exists today.