What I am looking for in those who represent me

An open letter to anyone thinking of running for public office. This is what I am looking for.

1- Someone who really doesn't want to be in office, but cares too much about our country not to step up and serve when they know they could make a difference.

2- Someone who has read and studied the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence several times and has a sound understanding of what our founding documents were written to achieve.

3- Someone who respects the founding fathers and does not see them and our founding documents as out of touch with who we are as a country today.

4- Someone whose word is their bond- the kind of person that you could seal an agreement with a handshake with and know that they would follow through.

5- Someone who has not spent time in Washington, DC.

6- Someone who would refuse the perks of the job on principle and refuse to allow their decisions to be affected by a loyalty to a special interest group.

7- Someone who understands that it is the people of this country who hire and fire those who they choose to represent them and it is the people of this country that make it great. Not someone who thinks the people just don't understand and that they themselves know better.

8- Someone who understands that it is not the State that gives us our "certain unalienable rights" - it is God. That a government that gives us rights can also take them away and should never be given that power. That there is a difference between privileges and rights.

9- Someone who understands State's rights and respects them.

10- Someone who has passion and conviction and the courage to stand up for what is true and right even when it is difficult.

11- Someone who sees America as not perfect, but great. As a nation that has offered more freedom and opportunity to those within its boundaries and more help to those in distress outside its boundaries than any other in nation in the history of Earth. Someone who will not demonize us and apologize for our mistakes at every opportunity.

12- Someone who will not weaken our defenses, but will send a clear message to those who want to destroy us that you do not want to mess with the USA.

13- Someone who understands that morality matters and we will not have to wake up to the news one morning to find that they have been unfaithful to their spouse. If you are not honorable in your personal life, how can we trust you will be honorable in your public life?

14- Someone who is more concerned with getting our nation on the right track than on getting re-elected.

15- Someone who is a real person, who understands the everyday challenges we face as a people because they face them, too.

16- Someone who understands that capitalism and the free market are the very best way to give everyone the opportunity to realize their dreams if they are willing to pay the price. That capitalism and the free market are not broken- it is the government's interference in them that have caused bubbles and problems.

17- Someone who understands that the redistribution of wealth is the same as stealing. High taxes on those who create jobs reduces the number of jobs and and therefore tax revenue. Low tax rates, and a government that is consistent, stimulate growth in the economy, allow companies to be competitive in the world market, increases the number of jobs, and in turn tax revenues increase.

18- Someone who understands that the misuse of unions has had a terrible effect on our economy and made it impossible for us to compete world wide in many markets. ie: the automobile industry.

19- Someone who won't print money like it will have no effect on the value of our dollar. Someone who will cut spending and programs that we do not need and balance the budget (if that is even possible at this point) to ensure that future generations will not pay for our mistakes and greed.

20- Someone who will get in there and do what needs to be done, and then get out before they lose their soul to special interests and lose touch with reality.

So, all you present day George Washingtons out there- it is time to step up before all that this country was founded upon is laid aside or written out of existence by our current crop of corrupt politicians. Thanks for listening.
Trish

The Christmas Gift I'd Like to Return

The Health Care Bill passed the Senate on Christmas Eve- Harry Reid called it a "Christmas Gift" to all Americans. I would really like to take that one back- or maybe re-gift it to France. I would rather have received a lump of coal quite honestly.

Can we not learn from history? Or, really, from what is currently being experienced in countries all over the world who have adopted policy that involves the government in their health care systems? How is it possible, at a time when our economy is tanking, that our administration's highest priority is adding an even larger entitlement program to our already devastating national debt and future liabilities? Do we think that just because we are "America" our prosperity cannot be crippled by spending ourselves into the ground and printing endless amounts of money?

There are problems with our Health Care and Insurance systems. I get it. My husband and I have always been self-employed. We have paid high premiums for Individual policies to cover our family. When I tried to change to a higher deductible plan this summer because we couldn't afford the premium increase that was coming our way, we were rejected because my daughter had had a doctor suggest she get her tonsils out and we hadn't done it yet. Then after having her tonsils out, we were rejected again because our youngest daughter had an unexplained accelerated heart rate that went away after two months. My husband had to leave construction because that market tanked and we haven't been able to afford insurance while we are trying to get his new business off the ground. I am not trying to be heartless here because I just don't understand what it is like to not have the insurance coverage that you need. I know how vulnerable you feel when you are not covered. BUT, puting our health care system into the government's hands is NOT the answer. There are plenty of things that could be done to improve our system using the free market and competition to lower premiums and the costs of medical care.

Do you really feel that the government can do a better job of making health care decisions for your family than you can? Do you think they will shop around like you would? Do you think they will truly have your best interests at heart when making decisions about your health care? How will they keep fraud from running rampant as it has with Medicare, Medicaid and Welfare? When we put our retirement saving into the hands of government with Social Security what was the result? They failed to manage our funds effectively and have failed to reform the system in order to deal with the disproportionate number of workers to those drawing out of the system. It is bankrupt and a disaster of burdensome debt on the backs of future generations. The government thought they knew better than the people- that the people aren't smart enough to make good decisions for themselves. And they are coming from the same place with health care. They are trying to take the control of your health care out of your hands and give themselves more power over the people in this country. It will be an even bigger disaster than Social Security if they succeed.

We and our children will not enjoy freedom the way past Americans have. With their foot in the door through health care, they will find their way into controlling more and more aspects of our lives until we won't even recognize the country we live in. How can a bill with that many pages not be full of ear marks and loopholes to line the pockets of members of congress and give them access to even more control of our lives in the future. If they won't give people the time to read it, if they have to pass it on Christmas Eve when they know no one is paying attention, and if they are passing inspite of poll after poll showing a large majority of Americans are against it- something ain't right.

The only upside that I can see is that passing this bill will help take care of our immigration problem. Who will want to come here if we are no longer free and prosperous?

Motherhood

Motherhood is really an apprenticeship with God. He sends us these cute little stinkers and lets them put us through a series of tests to see how well we are progressing in becoming more like Him. I think they have fun doing it- and I think God must find some of our experiences amusing as well- (like our attempts to take family pictures with small children- it's not for the faint hearted.) It is a grueling schedule of learning. But, I can't think of an experience that offers a more intense opportunity to practice God- like virtues like patience, love, faith, patience, trust, anger management, selflessness, patience, humility, forgiveness, and did I mention patience? So, if you ever feel like you are just a mother and that you are not doing anything important with your life, may I submit that you are doing the most important thing you could do with your life. Each day you are teaching your children how to become more like their Heavenly Father and in the process you are becoming more like Him as well... even though you may have times like I do when you don't feel like Him at all. Thank goodness God already has all the virtues we are still trying our best to develop... like patience.

Freedom

I am passionate about preserving freedom. To me, this is an eternal principle and an eternal battle. Before we came here, there was a battle of ideas over whether man should follow God's plan and have the freedom to choose how he would live his life or whether the adversary's plan was better- forcing man to do the right thing. If you sided with the adversary, you forfeited your right to come here to this earth because this earth is about man learning and progressing, and the adversary's plan did not allow for that. But, the adversary has not given up the fight to convince men that his plan was better. Communism, socialism, marxism, fascism and any form of legislation along the road to these forms of government, are all a variation on the adversary's plan of governing God's children. They all sound appealing initially. We want to help take care of the needs of others. Why not have a myriad of social programs implemented through the government to provide for everyone's needs? It is the right thing to do, isn't it? Why not have the government force private institutions to play fair with strong governemnt regulation? Or better yet, why not have the government take over the businesses that affect the majority of the people- the banks, utilities, mail delivery, retirement investment, the car industry, healthcare and insurance, etc. - then we'll know everyone will be treated fairly and we won't have to worry about those greedy business men who are just out to make a profit, right? WRONG! Not that there aren't some greedy businessmen out there, but what was true in the pre-existence is still true today: It is only in the choosing to do what is right that we become who God wants us to become. When we are forced to do what is right, we become resentful and bitter. We are robbed of the inner change that takes place when we choose to do what is right out of love for God and our fellow men- not out of fear of government fines or jail time. The biggest danger of a government that tries to take care of all of the needs of its people is that the people look to the government instead of to their God when they are in need. God allows us to go through difficult things in life to draw us to Him and allow Him the opportunity to teach us and help us become who we have the potential to become through overcoming those trials. If instead of falling to our knees in prayer when we are faced with trials, we turn to the government to solve our problems for us- we will miss the whole purpose for our sojourn here on earth. And that fact is not lost on the adversary, which is why we see so many governments throughout history imposing themselves on their people. The founding fathers were inspired to create a Constitution for this nation that gave man the opportunity, for the first time, to exercise their God- given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And look at the progress that has taken place in the world since man was made free. No other nation has seen the progress that we have and there is a reason. But, if we adopt the failed government policies of other nations, that progress will slow and our progress as individuals will be stifled. It is worth risking that some will choose to be selfish in order to allow everyone the opportunity to choose to be selfless on their own. Americans are the most giving people on the planet. Even during trying economic times, we give more than any other nation on earth in charitable contributions. We can use our money more effectively to help those around us than the government can. Our churches and our communities should be the ones taking care of those in need by choice- not the government who is too detached from the problem to be effective in doling out a solution, and whose motivation is generally rooted in gaining more power and money for themselves. So, give us back our money, close down your fraud laden social programs, and watch with wonder at what we the people can do when we are free to do it!

What the blog is this?

So, I think about stuff all the time. But, my girls don't really seem all that interested in what my opinion is on things, except what I think we might have for dinner or what I think about them going to play with friends, or whether we can get a dog or a cat (the answer is neither by the way). My oldest is just starting to get the funny things I have been saying to her for the past 6 years. So, I decided I need an outlet where I can let my mind ramble on about what is important or interesting to me today. This blog is purely for my own benefit, but if you find any of it interesting, you are welcome to it. I will probably be all over the place from spiritual things to political things to everyday things. Maybe if I get it out here, I won't have to go on about things when I see you in person. (-: So, here you go. More than you ever wanted to know about what is going on in this little head of mine.