Her Life and How She Helped Save Mine

On September 21, 2018 my aunt passed away. I didn't post anything about it because I just wanted some time to process it all. It had only been 28 days since MawMaw passed away. To be honest, it didn't feel like it had been very long since Nannie Johnson, Uncle Jerry, and Ms. Jeanne passed away either, but they have been gone since last year. I find myself missing them all for so many different reasons, but most of all I miss what they represented in my life. Death and the passing of time. Both inevitable, but I feel as though together they tend to wash over the reality of the human experience. I don't even know if that really makes any sense or not. I'm just swirling things around in my brain. When I was younger, I saw things in black or white and never stopped to think that most things aren't that cut and dry. I looked at people as either good or bad, and it was beyond my innocence that someone I loved so much could ever make mistakes and hurt or disappoint me. That's not really true at all, and the only way to understand that is through difficult experiences. This brings me to her. I honestly don't remember much about her from when I was really young. I can recall moments like when she and her husband came to visit my grandparents and all of the family making their way to see her since she was in town. I remember her interest in some of the old places around Holly Pond. I have vague recollections of a story being told in which she sat on a car and refused to move off of it because a family member said don't let them take it. Maybe I have that all wrong. Time tends to distort things. I heard tale of a time when she surprised her sisters with a pretty fancy trip to NOLA, funded by her innate stubbornness. As I grew up and became a little more aware of the inner workings of family, I didn't much care for the things I heard. I didn't want to believe that she was as cutting as was reported. Nor did I care to acknowledge the times that she was so bound and determine to to "win" at something that she would behave terribly in the process. I couldn't reconcile all of those images into one person. I didn't really understand her, and I wasn't quite sure what to make of her. I kept a little distance, until I didn't. Again, I don't remember the exact moment that things changed between us, but I'm pretty sure it was when she realized that something had changed in me. It wasn't a particularly good thing either. When people you trust hurt you, it is dang near impossible to trust again but by the grace of God. I wasn't really thinking about that at the time. Growing up there was a big discrepancy between who I was and who people thought I was (with a few exceptions). Most people saw me as a much more confident person, completely able to fit in and handle whatever. That couldn't be farther from the truth. I never felt okay or like I fit in. I always felt like an outsider, and I'm sure that the majority of it is my own fault; however, to a teenager your perspective is really all that matters because it's the lens through which you see life. Multiple things happened that I wouldn't want anyone to have to experience, and I became a pretty angry person lashing out a good bit. I mean, I covered it pretty well most of the time but found myself making some choices that weren't exactly beneficial to my life. It's kind of like I needed to prove I was tough and independent and unafraid and whole when it was really the opposite. I found myself trying to fill up a hole that I could never begin to finish. Sometimes I would catch her watching me when I said or did crazy things. It made me feel strangely uncomfortable and safe at the same time. She began inserting herself into my life in random ways. It was sometimes a walk around the homestead while other times it was a run to the store. In particular, there was this one time where I somehow ended up taking her to the airport to fly back home. She asked me then if I would come to Pasadena to visit. I did. I began a series of trips to see her. Even when she was still married, she managed to make time for just us. More than anything else, she listened. She would occasionally say something simple, timely, and right to the heart of the matter. However, she never made accusations or judgments. She called out some things that I didn't want to see, but she made me face them. I was in a bad place even more so than I was willing to admit. She saw right through me, and she kept loving me anyway. When there wasn't anybody in the world who knew everything there was to know, she did. When I needed someone to just listen, she did. When I asked for time alone, she knew I needed it so she gave it. But she didn't let me go. She sent cards, called me, and allowed me to spend a lot of time with her. Years later I would have to see a side of her that I didn't exactly want to see, and it was when I was going through my divorce. She said a couple of things that cut me, and I think it was because I had never felt judged by her until that moment. It was hard for me to deal with it, but that's when I realized that people are a mixed bag. If you wait on perfection from anyone, you will find yourself in a very lonely place. I could choose to remember the difficult moments, but what good would that do? When I needed saving from the human perspective, God put her there for a reason, and I am so thankful He did. I am forever grateful and always a little emptier because she's no longer with us.

The Ramblings of a Reasonable Mind-the Things We Take at Face Value

Almost on a daily basis now, I am amazed at what we just accept-from FB, from news, from politicians, or from friends. In the last few weeks, it has blown my mind. I've just started looking at them and shaking my head.

Number one on that list...banning plastic straws. People. Really. Let's reality check a couple of things.

1. Where did this all start, and where did the number of straws being dangerous to the environment come from? a 9 year old who called and asked plastic manufacturers. No scientific research. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-new-york-times-sources-a-9-year-old-child-to-peddle-fear-of-drinking-straws
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/business/plastic-straws-ban-fact-check-nyt.html

2. It will not have the impact many claim. https://youtu.be/kTrECOS4fzU

3. Starbucks replaced a recyclable straw with a bigger, recyclable lid-the end result...more plastic used. Good job. Oh, and let's not forget the other plastics they use, to cover the non plastic things.



Common sense, people!!

and thiis is only one.tiny.part. It's too much.

Thankful for My Public Servants and My America

In light of the events that unfolded throughout last night and this morning, I find it imperative to speak out.

First of all, I want to speak to all men and women who serve the United States of America in any capacity of protection, I thank you. This includes the armed forces, the fire community, the police community, and the few public servants who actually want to make things better in our country. Your selflessness motivates us as you leave your families every single day to make sure the country you love is safe. Your courage inspires us as you move toward danger when most people run away from it. Your steadfastness impresses us as you continue to do your job when times grow increasingly dangerous. This mom, teacher, daughter, wife, and friend appreciates you, and I commit to you to use my words to encourage you and to teach those around me to respect you and the job you do. 

Second of all, I want to speak to those who are pro-Black Lives Matter. I am a Constitutionalist and believe in the first amendment. I am also a teacher who believes in a culture of learning and informing myself on the truth. I am a lover of common sense, which is fast becoming a super power in our society. With that said, before you support a cause because you are caught up in emotions, take time to educate yourself on that cause. Start by reading the Constitution. It established a government that was meant to protect those rights for all people. (Yes, there was initially slavery. Look at the real history of how that started in America and how the majority of the founders worked to eradicate it.) Protest the things that you abhor. Know who you are electing so that you have representatives for you and your causes. VOTE. America was built on these ideas and the notion that we are reasonable people who can listen to each other and change the things. Black Lives Matter is backed by many divisive people whose goal it is to chip away at the American Spirit. If you don't believe me, check it out yourself. Start by looking at who is backing it. Then look at their background-specifically George Soros. Then, know those who wish to destroy the American way are encouraging this racial divide. Isis has clearly stated that they are here, stirring the pot of discord. Here is a link to one of many articles in their publications. Two of my favorite Martin Luther King, Jr quotes are appropriate here. "Let no man pull you so low as to hate him" and "The reason that I cannot follow the old eye-for-an-eye philosophy is that it ends up leaving everyone blind". All lives matter as do all views, and there should be no criticism extended to those who say that. If you want things to be different, start by listening to each other, working to reach your representatives, and changing the rhetoric that comes from your mouth-especially in your own home. 

Third of all, I want to speak to and about Christian Americans. We were built on Christian principles. We just were. Study history. It's in the Declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed," This means that as Christians we believe that ALL people are created equal, and we should behave as such. The Founders acknowledged that only the Creator can give or take away those rights and that as free people WE give the government the power to keep us that way. As a Christian American I would like to say that I am exhausted with everyone else being allowed to speak and live their beliefs, but we have sat back for too long while the very fabric of our country has been unraveled. For non-Christians, understand that true Christians will tell you their beliefs because they want you to live in freedom and know the peace that comes from knowing the Creator, but they will not force it upon you as many who are not Christians will do. They understand the Constitution was designed around the ideals, morals, and spirit of the Christian faith, but they know that religion is not the same as government and allow you to live your life without fear of repercussions as long as you don't impede their right to do the same. 

Finally, I want to speak to all Americans. Ronald Reagan is often quoted when reminding us of the danger we face of America falling, not only from outside forces but also from within our own borders. Last night's tragedy brings that to light as much as any other in recent history. As a people, we need to love and support each other. My beliefs dictate how I act and live my life, but I don't pretend that I can tell you how to live yours. And when anyone infringes on your rights as an American citizen, I will stand with you. If anyone comes to take you down because of your religion, your thoughts, or your beliefs, I will take up arms and defend you against those people because you are an American citizen. We are family, and that is what we do. If I stand by and do nothing, I am just as accountable for those wrongs. If I stand by and let them hurt others, who will be left to stand when they come for me? Family can disagree and SHOULD hold each other accountable when wrongs are done, but at the end of the day we still have each other's back. Together, we are stronger.

It's time for a change, and it starts with you and me rather than the government. John F. Kennedy said, "Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future." 

The Ramblings of a Praying Friend

Today as I prayed for our country and the future we are passing down to our children, the friends of mine that are hurting so deeply, and the prayer lists I commit to pray over, I struggled a moment because I longed for the innocence that goes along with being young. It was kind of nice to have no real worries and to be (for the most part) oblivious to much of what was going on in the world. Don't get me wrong. I had my share of troubles, but children have a resilience that is unmatched.

Being an adult is an exhausting, and being an adult striving to raise my daughter to love the Lord in a world that seems to be going crazy is virtually impossible if I let it overwhelm me. I struggle every.single.day; however, my biggest struggle is allowing the Lord to take and keep control of my life. Loss of control is a fear of mine for more reasons than I care to admit, but it is a pointless fear because we all know that life rarely works out as we plan. We can't see the big picture. We sometimes feel trapped in pain and exhaustion and see no way out, which is the crazy part when you think about it. The Creator of it all knows it all, and who better to guide you out of a maze of brokenness than the one who can see the end? I know this, but still I struggle some days.

Hatred, violence, and anger have been filling the airwaves, and I see hurting people all over the television. If that isn't enough, I am praying for friends who are seriously struggling with some issues that just don't make sense. Some are dealing with the pain of divorce and hurting children. Some are dealing with illness or the illness of a child or parent. Some are dealing with what seems to be a senseless death that came all too soon. I don't have words to fix it for them or the power to take away the suffering they are experiencing.

I remember in the times that have been the hardest for my own family...the wreck, the divorce, the disease, the death...the most powerful things that were done for us were the little things and the biggest thing-prayer. The little things weren't little at all. They were the phone calls that came to see if we just needed a laugh. They were the puzzles for me to put together just to stay awake for that visit. They were the drop by's when things had gone back to normal for everybody else. They were a million other little things that weren't little at all. So let me encourage you to think of someone in your life that has been dealing with something, and then to take a moment to send a note, take them to dinner, drop by to see them. Those little things are sometimes quite the lifesaver.

Then, pray. Pray for their pain and suffering to ease. Pray the right people come in their lives to make a difference. Pray their hearts catch up to their minds and remember that God is in control even when our hearts struggle to understand it. Pray they find peace in the midst of the trials and that they remember that weeping lasts for the night, but joy really does come in the morning. Pray that you are the friend you need to be to them.

Finally, I want to share what popped into my head tonight. I don't believe it was by accident. About a year or so after the wreck, two songs came out on Christian radio that greatly impacted me. They were like little gifts that reminded me that God is bigger and wiser than anything I could ever pretend to be. I ended up singing one of them at church a couple of times, which is miraculous in itself since that's such a fear of mine. But...they helped again today. If you have time, you should listen. It's good stuff.
He Is Able-Truth
and this one was originally by Tim Shepard, but I can't find his version so I found Babbie Mason's Trust His Heart

The Ramblings of an Independent Voter: I Don't Get This Trump Thing

I’m struggling. I really am, and I’m not trying to be an instigator. I’m trying to understand. When I ask why someone wants to vote for him, I’ve heard several things. I’ve heard that he “tells it like it is”, and he’s a good businessman who knows how to get our economy moving and will deal with immigration, and he can win because he’s more personable than Cruz.  I’ve heard that he’s an outsider who will fight for the rights of Americans. I get that Americans are looking for that, but what I don’t follow is how anyone thinks that Trump fits that description. Let me hit the reasons why I’m concerned, and I’m open to listening to anyone who wants to explain without being ugly.

He tells it like it is and is a good businessman: To me, that implies that he tells the truth no matter what. To date, these are a few of the lies I know (because I investigated several sources myself rather than just believed pundits, Trump, other candidates, etc.):

• He said he never settles lawsuits. False. Baja condo resort-settled. Trump Soho-settled. GM building-settled. Trump Tower-settled. Central Park South, etc.
• Trump said he met Putin, who loved him, when they were both interviewed by 60 Minutes. False. They were interviewed in entirely different locations. One in NY and the other in Russia.
•  He said his businesses didn’t really go under and displayed the products at a press conference after one of the primaries. The problem -it wasn’t his products. Relabeling something doesn’t make them Trump products. A new label doesn’t make something my product. Trump’s justification is that he sells them in his restaurants on his resorts. Sorry, but that’s not the same thing. He had a magazine called Trump, but the one he showed was a different one that’s more like a brochure on his resorts. The water is only sold in his resorts…and relabeled. His steaks, well he didn’t even bother to take them out of the original packaging. He bought them at a place in West Palm. Don’t believe me? Check out the photo. Blow it up if you need to do so.

• ·         He said that Michelle Fields wasn’t really manhandled by his manager, but evidence has surfaced that she was. Rather than apologize for the occurrence, Trump said it was a lie and brought Corey on stage beside him and congratulated him.
• ·         This is especially telling since he’s taken to calling Cruz a liar and cheat, yet he’s lied about that. He tells the American people that Cruz was for amnesty, but he was not. The situation he uses to “prove” that is when Cruz put for a poison pill amendment to Rubio’s Gang of Eight bill and stopped it. It’s the opposite of being for it. When a Cruz person re-tweeted something that was reported by a news organization, Trump called for him to fire that person and said he was a liar/cheat. Yet Trump himself said that when he retweets lies, they’re “just retweets” and make for interesting dialogue.
• ·         He said the Chicago PD advised him to cancel the rally there, but they have said that wasn’t true.
• ·         He cusses like a sailor, totally unbecoming of President. Then, he says of others that the cussing is inappropriate, implying that he doesn’t do it.

I could keep going, but I won’t.

Trump will get our economy going:

• ·         He says companies should make their products here, yet he has his products made in China, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Lesotho. When asked about it, he says they’re priced better because they devalue their dollar. So? You said they should be made here no matter what, but then again…we’ve established the lying.
• ·         He said Mexico will pay for the wall. Mexico says they will not. Trump said he will put a 45% tariff on goods. He said if China doesn’t give a more fair trade deal, he’ll put tariffs on them too. Experts have faced off on this and found that this will likely cause trade wars. Why is this a problem? It will pass the cost to us as consumers. If other countries pay 45% more in tariffs, the prices will increase for us by the same amount. Then American companies will raise their costs to just below those.
• ·         He says he’ll make companies pay more, yet economists say over and over that this will drive more away. The best way to do it is to “lure” companies back by cutting corporate tax rates like the countries where the corporations are moving. It’s a flat tax…like Cruz (and other candidates/former candidates-remember “9-9-9”?) have suggested.

Trump will handle immigration because he’s been so strong on it.

• ·         He’s been in trouble quite a few times for doing the wrong thing when it comes to immigration. He hired immigrants and had them sleeping outside, paying next to nothing, when working on one of his buildings. He hired immigrants in his Florida resorts rather than citizens. He says it was busy season and that nobody wanted the jobs. It’s been proven that was, again, a lie.
• ·         He’s said that he would make the US a police state and have a force to round out people. However, this would likely turn in to a fiasco and is very inhumane…like his other comments when asked about this. He said it was like FDR’s policy-which was internment camps (a nicer word for concentration camps). In addition, he’s suggested the “good ones” can go out and come right back in. So…we will spend all of that money to send them out and turn around and let them right back in? Yeah, that makes sense.

He’s more personable than Cruz:

• ·         His unfavorable are at 69% in many polls and at the best they are at 54%. Cruz’s highest is at 50%, but for completely different reasons. Trump's are because people genuinely don't like him, and Cruz's are mostly because people aren't sure he can win. 
• ·         Trump likes to cite polls, but only two polls have ever had him as beating Hilary in the general election. It’s the exact opposite with Cruz.
• ·         Women voters typically don’t like or want Trump. Have you seen the ad of the women who speak Trump’s words? Powerful. Check it out. http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/03/women-anti-trump-ad-220727

He will fight for our rights:

• ·         Freedom of speech, including that of the press, is an actual thing, yet he has banned certain reporters. Coincidentally, it has been the reporters that have said anything against him right after they did.
• ·         Trump has implied, if not outright stated, that he is for expanding surveillance that would put us all in the cross hairs. It’s an overreach, especially since they can get the same info from a warrant and do so legally.
• ·         He said that he would undo Obama’s executive orders because they’re unconstitutional, yet when asked if he would use them in the same way he said yes because they would be for good things. It’s either unconstitutional or it’s not. You can’t like them just because they work out for you this time.

There’s so much more that I could go on. It's genuinely confusing to me. Please don't get me wrong. I'm not at all suggesting that Americans should vote someone in office because they are a Christian or because they haven't messed up. Lord knows we'd never be able to vote for anyone-myself included. However, I do think we should make our decisions based on something other than anger. How many times have you made a decision out of anger and thought it went well? I do think we should vote out the establishment which is why it confuses me that Trump people like him who is a self-admitted establishment guy who supposedly changed his ways less than a year ago, Trump supporters argue that he would make the deals necessary to get things done (an establishment tactic), and Cruz wouldn't do that because nobody in the Senate likes him. That's crazy because the establishment doesn't like him since he has constantly held them accountable and fought for the Constitution his entire life. It's the pattern of the man that has never faltered. I LIKE that he isn't loved in Washington because that means he's stood his ground and IS an outsider. They also respect him, whether or not they agree with him. I think it's important for a President to be worthy of respect and have the ability to be Presidential. I think it's important for a President to think of the Constitution first before making a decision. I think it's important that a President be a man of his word.  I truly do not understand this Trump thing. Seriously. 

I'll end as I began. If you're a Trump person who can genuinely explain it to me without being ugly and without repeating the same, old rhetoric that I've already mentioned, please feel free to do so. I would love for this to make sense in my mind. 

The Ramblings of an Independent Voter: What kind of America do you want?

In my last blog post, I explained some common terms that we need to understand in order to choose effectively. I also made the disclaimer that I am no historian, nor do I believe I know it all. I’m simply a girl who started on a journey to get some answers just over a year ago. I’m sharing the info as I see it because I had some friends who asked me to share. You certainly don’t have to agree, or even read it for that matter.

For me, the question is: What kind of America do you want to see going forward? It seems oddly simple; however, a lot of people I’ve asked cannot tell me. Everyone can tell me what are who they don’t like and list a host of complaints, but very few clearly articulate the America they want. This is how I see our options and what bothers me about each (in red):

1.  Do you want to live in a socialist society? 

Living in a socialist society allows the government to control the bulk of your money to distribute it (through taxation) “for the good of all in the society”. You receive more benefits as a citizen of that country, but the tradeoff is higher taxes and less control over your family and life. For example, the government provides healthcare, education, and jobs. This sounds great and may be for some people. The other side is that you indebt yourself to that same government. Some argue that we are already there, and others argue that it’s a step toward communism that we must stop.

I have an issue with this on a personal level for a number of reasons. First, I am a constitutionalist who believes that my rights are given to me by a Creator, not by a government. The Declaration that led to the Constitution assured that we were always represented so the majority could not control everyone. In a Republic, minorities are represented. I’m a liberty girl who enjoys the fact that if I don’t like my station in life, I have an option (or two or three) to change things. If we are tired of government involvement, why in the world would I vote to give it more?

2. Do you want to live in an authoritarian society?

Remember that authoritarianism is where order and control is valued over personal freedom, and the person in charge doesn’t have to answer to the people/constitution. The person in charge-king, or president- makes decisions without the consent of the representatives or the people at large. In other words, in this world people are often scared into submission, or the leader uses force/executive power to get way. 

We’ve spent years complaining about Obama and griping about his executive orders and love for skipping the process of changing laws. This is a step toward authoritarianism and Trump. Although Trump says he disagrees with Obama’s use of executive order, he will be glad to use them himself if necessary. When pushed further, he says that it’s okay for him to use it because he’s right. He also tries to take from people by calling on his Washington Cronies, like when he used eminent domain to take property from owners who don’t want to sell to him. He’s also said over and over that he will say whatever he needs to say in order to get into the White House. He admitted recently that he would change once he got the nomination.

That’s all scary, but even worse is the fact that he hasn’t even really been vetted because the media never goes after him like they do others. NBC recently purchased a documentary (and all the raw footage) to use if he gets the nomination. It’s ugly, including details about his failing businesses, his lying, his womanizing-including when his ex-wife accused him of rape- etc. and the Republicans will likely lose if he’s the nominee.

3. Do you want to live in the progressive state?  

A progressive government is ever-changing. It has been described by some as a necessary evil because you must change in order to keep up with the current situation. Others have described it as a slower move towards socialism, which seems to be a step towards communism. At any rate, the point of progressives is to move things around according to the current need.

This is what we have had in the White House, both Republican and Democrat, since Reagan left. We saw progressivism with the Bushes, Clinton, and certainly with Obama. To me, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact definition that makes sense because when it’s said that we need to evolve, that seems reasonable. The problem with it is that if you change every time the mood strikes you or on every whim of the collective group, you can quickly get away from principle and thus the things that made you who you were in the beginning. Just know that of the candidates running, your progressives are Clinton, Bush, Christie (who just dropped out), and Kasig. If you want things to continue as they are and slowly move on down this same path, these are your folks.

4. Do you want to live in a conservative society?

      A conservative is typically a person who typically holds a more traditional view of things, especially when it comes to abortion, marriage, and religion/values. These people are usually a little more fiscally cautious in spending, and they tend to be more outspoken about Christian values. Freedom of speech and the Right to Bear Arms are areas on which they focus. 

     Over time, many conservatives have opted to wheel and deal with their more liberal counterparts; therefore, the conservative movement has taken a lot of hits. If you want a more conservative candidate, Marco Rubio (and probably Ben Carson-although it is doubtful he’ll advance much further) is your guy. He is conservative in many ways, but his stance on immigration and the NSA (saying it’s okay for the government to spy on its citizens) have made this questionable. More and more often, conservatives are falling into this category because of the fear of ISIS.
      
      5. Do you want to live in a constitutional society?

      A constitutionalist knows it backwards and forwards, and every decision made comes from that understanding. Most constitutionalists understand the importance of the Declaration of Independence and what it says about our inalienable rights-that they come from the Creator rather than government or any other man. The Founding Fathers made clear that they were creating a government FOR the people and wanted to make clear that a government should not change on the whims of the moment. However, they also made it clear that if a government (established by We the People) oversteps its bounds and repeatedly abuses its authority, the people have the right to abolish that government and do something else that will secure the future of our children and our safety as a nation.

     That being said, a constitutionalist can be unpopular because they don’t change their minds just because it’s a “good thing” or on “their side”. They focus on reducing the size of government and getting rid of regulations on citizens and businesses. They believe the primary focus of government is to protect America and the future of our children. They believe society should, for the most part, self-regulate but agree to organize under a central government and to live by certain laws that pass only because our representatives vote on those laws. In essence, they are okay with change, as long as it adheres to the basic idea that all men are created equal and should have the same level playing field. If you like the idea of this type of government, you are looking at Ted Cruz.

My view on these things

               

I have semi-stated them above. My big thing is this: In America, we currently have the freedom to choose whatever we would like to have in government. You can totally disagree with me and want something different than I want. All I ask is that you educate yourselves and know what you really want and know the real candidates rather than the ones they show us on TV. Yes, it takes time, but I believe our future is worth it. We are on track to be the first generation to leave our children worse off than we had it. There’s something really wrong with that.

As I said earlier, I’m a liberty girl-a Constitutionalist. I can disagree with your morals and values but still believe that you should have the same freedom of speech that I am given. That’s part of it. The most recent, and best, example of this is Ted Cruz in Iowa. In short, Iowa receives government monies to subsidize their ethanol research. The governor of Iowa said people shouldn’t vote for Cruz because he wants to take away their money. Cruz stood before the people of Iowa and admitted that yes, he does think it best to phase this money out. He said that the government isn’t supposed to pick and choose who will survive in a free market economy, and he followed up with explaining that he wants ethanol to work but fair and square. The people of Iowa heard the truth and voted for him anyway. He didn’t pander to them, and he focused on the constitution…where everyone gets the same chance and free market is allowed to work. I believe that's how it should be.

I really struggle with the idea that so many people want to give more over to the government. We complain about government-run anything-schools, post office, etc. We see waste and fraud, and we witness LOTS of crony capitalism through closed door deals with both parties. Now, we want to vote in people who plan to give the government more? It’s just a matter of how fast they want to give it away. I’m not down with that. I’m also not okay with going against my principles to get what I want. If I do that, I’m no better than what we have now. I don’t want another political bully who doesn’t see the big picture or look to the constitution. I’ve looked at all of the candidates, their pasts, their records, and their proposals in an effort to find just one who stands for the same liberty that I crave. I believe I’ve found that candidate. 

Here are a couple of great articles that might help: 
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/26/donald-trump-policy-threaten-global-economy?CMP=share_btn_fb
http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2011/05/05/reaganomics-vs-obamanomics-facts-and-figures/#3cb994d63a1d
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Democracy_vs_Republic

The Ramblings of an Independent Voter-Understanding Our Background to Effectively Choose the Future

I try pretty hard to keep my political opinions off of FB, although I don’t mind giving it if someone wants to discuss things in a rational, adult-like manner. Moderately aware in the past, I find this election is different for me. I watched debates, listened to candidates, and gave ear to what many pundits said. After all, they were the ones with the power to dig into what was being said-right? Ugh…not true. I’ve never been a straight-party girl, and I legitimately mark each candidate for each individual office. With that in mind, I started this “political season” more focused because I believe we are at a crossroads. A wrong decision could catapult America into a situation that it might not survive. The more I listened and searched for answers, the more questions I had. In the course of my investigating, I found terms thrown around that I did not fully comprehend. I started there, and I found that most people with whom I spoke did not really understand what these things mean either.

In discussing the election, candidates, state of the union, etc., I’ve had several people ask me to share with them what I found. There is a lot of information out there, and I know that we all have busy lives. It is with that in mind that I decided to explain what I have learned. In full disclosure, I am not an expert of any sort; however, I am a person dogged by the need to find answers and get to the truth. In my effort to explain things, I may oversimplify or confuse. I’m fairly certain that I will get something wrong. This is my way to share with the peeps that asked me to explain some things.

Key Terms and Ideas in an Order that Makes Sense to Me

As I listened to a HUGE variety of people talk about this election, I got a little confused by words I’d heard my entire life. I looked at them again to wade through and put things into perspective. I plan to lead you through a few definitions as I found them and see them connected.

Our Founding Fathers came from a government that oppressed them. They were extremely smart, brave men who did not believe anybody should have to live under an authoritarian system.  Authoritarianism is a way of governing where order and control is valued over personal freedom (usually headed by a dictator), blind submission to a leader who isn’t constitutionally responsible to the people.

After being here under British rule, beholden to a king (authoritarian) who overtaxed them but left them underrepresented and unable to govern themselves, they set out to change things, eventually paving the way for the greatest nation on earth. The Revolutionary War began, and then in 1776 they put forth the Declaration of Independence but weren’t under one central government yet.

I went back to the Declaration and put it into modern language line by line to understand the beliefs on which America was founded. (I have that “easy read version “saved if anyone is interested in it.)  At the core, it expresses the belief that all men are created equal and given the same inalienable rights by God and not the government.

After the last Revolutionary battle, they set up a “loose” federal government under the Articles of the Confederation but became concerned that the democracy was being used in a way that wasn’t good for the people. They decided to write the Constitution for the Republic. It is important to remember that we are a Republic rather than a democracy. Both of them are pretty much based on representation; however, in a democracy the majority always rules so the minority is never really represented. In a republic, there is a charter/constitution that protects “inalienable rights” that cannot be taken away by the majority because it isn’t really theirs to take.

Once they set up the Republic, capitalism sprung forth. In capitalism, private owners control a country’s economic and political system. It’s marked by the free market and led the way for America to flourish in a way that the world had not experienced.

A term that we have heard a lot over the last few years is progressivism. This term describes both Republicans and Democrats. It is not quite the same as a moderate, but sometimes gets tossed around the same way. The Progressive Movement seems to have begun during the really early 1900s. Historians disagree on the exact beginning, some arguing that is started with the New Deal and others saying it began before. In essence, progressivism is the idea that the government is an evolving entity and takes on the role the times requires. These people often argue that our Founding Fathers did a good job at the time and wanted a limited government because of their experience with the king. They also argue that the people of that time (the early progressives) wanted to adjust things as needed, allowing the government to play a more activist role.

Why do we need to know these, and how the heck do they affect us now?

It’s a lot. I know! I’ve been working through this for around a year. It is really, really important. Understanding from where we come sheds light on why we are here and where we need to go now.

After studying this for a while, the Progressive Movement (to me) seems to be the slow movement away from liberty. At one point in time, Americans would not have accepted many things that we now think is normal. In this, I am not referring to social issues but rather the move from believing in American exceptionalism to the idea that we must accept our station in life, whining and complaining about “fairness” rather than pulling ourselves up by our boot straps and knowing that we can do better if we work harder and smarter.

In just over a hundred years, we have landed in this place where many Americans cheer for a revolution they hope will lead to socialism without really understanding it. Socialism is a political and economic system that puts the community as a whole before the individual and does so at the hand of the government. This comes from the ideas of Karl Marx and is often said to be the transitional state between overthrowing capitalism and realizing communism, which is a system all social activity is controlled by a totalitarian and state dominated (single and self-perpetuating) government. In short, the government rules it all, and inalienable rights are non-existent. The beauty of America rests in the fact that the will of the people can prevail, and we have the freedom to express our beliefs without fear. That stops working when we stop participating and advocating for ourselves. One cannot simply listen to a candidate’s rhetoric and expect to know the truth. Their actions matter more.

Many young people hear the promise of “free” and have no clue that translates into “free right now”. It is imperative we teach them that an education given to them without earning it (whether by getting a job to pay for it or working hard in school to earn a scholarship) weakens their resolve to be a better person and puts them in debt to that same government. They will be held accountable for that cost, and likely, so will their children because of the amount of debt the ever-increasing government keeps taking in order to give them a “free and fair” life.

My research into what was and what could be (quite easily I might add) leads me to the here and now. My own personal belief? We cannot afford another progressive, on either side. While some would argue that progressive thought has a place in our current situation, I disagree. It breeds laziness and apathy. The majority of students in today’s classroom have no idea what it means to live in an American society where true freedom encourages exceptionalism. Many of them will ask me what they must do in order to do fine in class. The hardest battle I face as a teacher stems from acceptance of mediocrity. I’ve never seen anything like it, and it moves closer to the norm every day.

Americans are angry and exhausted. As a teacher, I give of myself above and beyond what is required so my students have every chance to be successful. No matter what I do, it is still up to them to take that education and put it to good use. It is the same in the current political situation. We have a duty as part of the REPUBLIC to hold up the standards of the Declaration, even more so than the Constitution. This requires us to be sure everyone has an equal shot, but it maintains that the individual must take hold of the opportunity and make something of it. Each time we give the government more power in a messed up attempt to make things fair, we only create a society where individuals lose the will to step outside of their comfort zone and take risks as Americans have always done.

I am fearful of where we are at this moment in history. After years of hearing people complain about Obama and his tactics of using executive order and bullying to get his way rather than following the Constitution and going through the proper channels, America should be running towards constitutionalism and someone who puts the individual first while protecting the Republic. Instead, the front runner is a man who admits he will use those same tactics to get his way. He will wheel and deal and compromise, the very thing that defines the crony capitalism we claim to despise. Since he is on “their side”, they find it more acceptable. He and Obama are so much alike it screams out in the face of Americans, yet most do not see it because they are willing to compromise principles to “take back America”. News flash…a self-proclaimed kiss up who will do whatever it takes to make the deal and who changes his stance (if he even has one) on most things regularly is not the answer. Principles matter. How have the compromises worked out so far?

Are we really willing to sell out? The Republic isn’t perfect, but there isn’t anything better. It only works when we educate ourselves and vote out our representatives when they do not vote the way we want, but it requires great strength, stamina, and fortitude. Either we believe in liberty and vote on principles, or we vote in another progressive-and continue down this path of self-destruction.  It is my belief that we need to vote for a constitutionalist and give ourselves and our children a fighting chance.

Many members of the Republican Party herald Ronald Reagan as the greatest President of our generation. It is important to remember that nobody thought he could win or get anything done because they were afraid he wouldn’t be able to work with others, and he was very conservative. Turns out, the world craved a man of principle, and he accomplished more than could have been imagined. In the words of Reagan, “"I hope we have once again reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts."