Barack Obama ran a 2008 campaign that showcased Hope and Change.  He said he would fundamentally change America.  It was a good-looking apple till you nibble around the edges to find a worm. President Obama recently said: “America's grown soft.”  From the standpoint of an electorate not doing their research on the candidates his point is a legitimate one. I researched Barack Obama’s voting record and his personal history before I decided to vote for the other guy in ‘08.  I was alarmed at what I found when doing research on the man. Many blindly followed that politically conjured narrative: “It’s an inspirational thing to vote for a man who could be the first black president.”  I remember on election night a television reporter...

The United States Supreme Court has been busy of late.  In a recent decision, they upheld Obamacare once more for the second time in the last three years.  In another decision, that same week, five justices redefined the definition of marriage by saying same-sex marriage must be recognized in all fifty states. In his dissenting opinion, on the 5 - 4 gay marriage ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts charged that the court had no right to intervene in what should be a democratic debate by the people, at the state level, over same-sex marriage. "This court is not a legislature." He wrote.  "Whether same-sex marriage is a good idea or not should be of no concern to us.  Under the Constitution, judges have power to say what the law is, not what...

One could conclude the Democratic Party has swung too far to the left and peril awaits them in up-coming elections.  Debt is no longer fashionable; a tool many bragged was trendy.  One need not look far to see citizens across the land rising in revolt to the status quo.  The Democratic Party brand of broad and far-reaching government has become tarnished to say the least.  And it wouldn’t be ridiculous to speculate that Democrats have cursed themselves with such labeling. It’s been said recently that the American dream is now to be debt-free.  That’s contrary to what the Democratic Party’s brand is defined.  One could envision that the vast majority of Americans are tired of the shenanigans of big government and the massive debt being...

What visual images cascade through your mind when you think of a public servant?  Is it a fireman dashing into a burning building to save a helpless child?  Or is it a police officer protecting us from some ruthless criminal?  How about a soldier risking it all in sacrifice of one for the freedom of many? In pondering that, were our elected officials scarce to your thoughts? Webster's defines “Public Servant” as a person holding a government office or job by election or appointment.  Civil service is further defined as branches of public service, concerned with governmental administrative function; a body of persons employed in those branches.  (Hmmm … that seems like such a cold definition for what a public servant should be, so wrong)...

The President of the United States has been called many things.  Intriguingly, Barack Obama has been labeled a Narcissist by quite a few.  The definition is, "Someone who is inordinately fascinated with themselves, to the point of being excessively vain.  It can be an erotic gratification derived from the admiration of one’s own physical or mental abilities as well." President Calvin Coolidge said: “When a man begins to feel that he is the only one who can lead in this Republic, he is guilty of treason to the spirit of our institutions … It is difficult for men in high office to avoid the malady of self-delusion.  They are always surrounded by worshipers.  They are constantly, and for the most part sincerely, assured of their greatness. ...

How do we define America?  Is it the land of the free, home of the brave?  That characterization has been used so much it’s wore our thoughts thin to the point of complacency.  If one could really bask in the meaning, they’d understand this great land is beyond definition or words thereof.  In brief, America is a collage of numerous souls free to be who they are. Americans are uniquely represented by officials they elect, but what type of leader are they looking for? It’s understood no one's perfect, but the fact is the 21st-century media can package a political narrative of a candidate and introduce that theme to an intrigued public for benefit or detriment of the individual.  (There’s no denying the power of that) Americans tend to be...

On March 26th, Indiana Governor, Mike Pence, signed into law the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and a hellish firestorm of opposition soon erupted. Outraged celebrities, politicians, and journalists said the law was a license to discriminate against gay people. The CEO of SalesForce said he was pulling out of Indiana.  The city of San Francisco is banning taxpayer-funded travel to the Hoosier state and the NCAA has expressed concerns about holding future events there. The legislation would prohibit state and local laws that “substantially burden” the ability of people - including businesses and associations - to follow their religious beliefs.  Governor Pence said the bill ensures that “Religious liberty is fully protected under...

Who were we before we became Americans in 1776?  We were just a bunch of dumb hayseed colonists, squatters, peasants with pitchforks to King George III. I can imagine George Washington and the boys sitting around the fire one night with George saying something like: “Lads ... I grow tired of being under King George's thumb.”  I’m sure shouts of “Amen” no doubt drowned out that fire’s crackling roar.  I can just hear him saying something like: “We bow to a Creator, men, but to no man!  I’ve been throwing around this idea of a Republic … Who's with me?" Fast-forward a few years and things look a bit dim for the Republic, circa the Depression.  But along came someone by the name of FDR who proclaimed: “Have I got a deal for you!”  A lot of...

I generally have something to read on my nightstand.  If we never endeavor to read anything, which seems to be a growing trend anymore, how can we expect to enlighten or educate ourselves and stimulate that which resides in our craniums? Someone sent me a fascinating tidbit called “The Chapters of Life” the other day that I’ll share. “Chapter 1 I walk down the street. There’s a hole in the sidewalk. It’s a very deep hole. I fall in … I’m helpless. It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. Chapter 2 I walk down that same street. There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I didn’t see it. I fall in … Again. I can’t believe I’m in the same place, but it isn’t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. Chapter 3 I walk...

Someone once told me “Life’s one big perception.”  You might say that’s a foundational notion from the standpoint we have to constantly make up our minds about what we believe.  Our thoughts are constantly inundated with audio, visual, or emotional data at any given moment.  It’s up to each individual to make up their mind about any given thing - it’s called free will. At any given time of day, it’s up to us to dissect what we hear, see or feel.  Is that right?  Or is this wrong?  What’s presentable and what isn’t?  What’s in good taste or tacky?  What is it you believe?  Only you can decide, unless you’re given over to letting others make up your mind for you which is no doubt a sad state of affairs. Recently, another American, a young...