Change

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Do you recognize those words? I truly hope so. I do, though I had to think long and hard about them to recall them from my school days because it has been that long since I thought much about them. I'm not saying I don't think of politics, because I do. To live this day and age and not think of politics I think would be rather impossible. I'm sure some people manage it but I can't imagine it for myself.

Lately, politics keep getting thrown in my face even when I try to not think about them. They surround us at all times and when I try to escape them because there are no easy answers, they break right back into my thoughts, or worse, are forced by others back into my moment.

As I tried to come up with those words, I kept gravitating to the first three. To start, it is the beginning of the preamble. They are the most commonly thought of, and how my memory works is to start at the first part and move through, getting the synapses that laid those words into my longterm memory kick back on in the sequence they were last fired. But second, I think those first three words, are the most important.

WE the People. WE.

Then you have the next four which are the next important. They state who We are.

That is what politics is about, isn't it? I think all of us; especially those that despise politics, think that it is for those people in the state capital, in the town halls and way far away in D.C. We forget, politics are about us. They shape who we are as a people, how others see us as a nation, and how we operate daily on a regular basis. Politics are necessary, but even more important, politics must pertain to us. US. You know, US as in WE the People.

To often now politics don't pertain to us. They are about the wheeling and dealing of politicians filling their wallets. Which in the long run, does affect us. Such political machinations though far from us take food from our children's mouths, remove our options as individuals in our nation, our healthcare, and how we choose to make a living within the economies that surround us.

And once again, I don't have an answer to these problems. Seeing the news this week and watching as our government takes money once again from the programs that serve our ever growing poor population I am filled with misgiving, apprehension towards our future, and anger. Anger towards a congress and senate that are filled with the rich that do not have to worry where their next meal comes from while taking the money that would assist those that do have those fears. And I wonder where this generation of "Me" gets it's ideals? I know I wasn't raised like that. I know that I don't go about my life thinking, "Whatever, I got what I want so screw off". Because I don't go about my life like that I can't help but wonder where this general attitude that our society has, and then I watch our leadership do almost exactly that and think, "That's where it comes from. From the top."

And it dawned on me, there are no easy answers. I can't keep thinking like this. Then I read anothers blog today that called for leadership. They were hoping that Barak Obama would be a leader like JFK. That he would say "Enough" to our out of control party led Senate and Congress. I never had that hope myself. I voted for Obama because I couldn't trust our other options. He wasn't some great new presidential hope for me. I read up on him, I saw where his history had led him and felt that he stuck to his financial roots more than the other options and I could trust the bad decisions he would make more than I could the others. Turns out I was right. His presidency led pretty much where I thought it would. But I take no pride in it. None. Further more, I'm a little ashamed of my thinking. I voted for a man that I felt was the lesser of two evils. And this is not a new activity for me. I've been doing this since I have been able to vote. I haven't powerfully liked a presidential candidate, or candidate for any public office as much as I have powerfully disliked their opposition. EVER. That does have something to do with me. And I accept that, and I accept that I don't think any of them are evil people. They are heavily tempted people that are doing a job that I wouldn't want. The difference between us is that I don't ever want to hold an office. And maybe because of that, I should.

Now, by no means does this mean I am going to run for an office. Because I won't. But maybe that's where we need to start looking for our political leaders. Not the people that are born and bred into it. The ones that go to school to become a politician. The ones that want the power of a public office. We need to look to those that know how to balance a budget. To those that show quiet dignity and lead with a grace that is unknown to them and do not seek the power of the office. Maybe those are the ones that will respect that power, and more importantly the respect the will and wants of the people that wanted them to hold that power. I know a couple people that I would nominate. I think they would be great leaders. I think the political arena would be truly shaken up by them, and I think over a few years they would do a lot of good.

Then we'll boot them the hell out of the office before it goes to their head. No, seriously. Term limits, for all offices. None of this senator for life crap anymore. When you stop holding the people as the most important "Domestic Product" of our nation you are no longer fit for the job.

In all of this, what I am saying is that I am no longer waiting for a leader. I will state my feelings towards politics, loudly, and boldly. I will not be afraid to read deeper and learn more about politics and form my own opinion. And from here on out, I won't vote for the lesser of the evils presented to me. I will simply not vote for any of the lousy choices, or I will write in a candidate that I feel would do a good job, even if I'm the only one who thinks so. In short, I will lead myself. And that's what WE need to do.

WE the People, need to take the politicians by the hand and show them what is important to US. Not to them. They have enough money to get what they need. WE the People, of the United States of America, need to rise to the call that we are putting out there. WE have to be the leader we wish to see, for if we keep waiting we will only get more hucksters and charlatans who do not care about US as the People. When our constitution was written, it was for a simpler time, and a much smaller country. We have grown, and our political arena with us, as well as that original document. Now that technology will let us, it's time to return to a smaller political forum. With us seeking everyday to be aware of what changes they make in our town halls, state capitals and D.C. and how it affects us in our own home towns. And most of all, now that we can we should vote our president in by poplar vote. We can now easily handle the tracking of our votes to do so. Our outdate Electoral College system should left by the way side. You don't want to know what I think should happen with tax reform either... But that is another blog and another rant for another day.

I. I as one of the We. I as a member of the People of our country and saying "Enough". Granted, it's not much. It's just me. It's one tiny vote, in a country where on the national stage, my little vote doesn't count. But maybe with saying this out loud, writing it down, and putting it out there it will make others say it too. And if we get enough of us together saying it, sooner or later someone is going to listen.

With all that said, it's been a long day. I have worked a long 12 hour shift, am tired and rambling. But I needed to get it out there. It's how I am feeling right now, and despite the-reading this to make sure I'm not rambling too much, I feel I am right. For me, I am right. And that's all I can ask for.

Good Night,
Q