A Troubled Nation

A Troubled Nation ©
By Darrel Sparkman

This opinion piece is my own and does not reflect the opinion of anyone else including those I work for, am associated with, or related to.  
 
I read a post on Facebook today where someone was lamenting the loss of a friend of over 40 years.  Because of politics.  Were they really a friend?  Are the feelings that deep?  Will they come back?  Should they let them?

We are a nation divided.

We are standing at the cusp of that division.  Not only do I see it on social media, I actually speak to people.  You know… like, away from the computer.

I have friends on the left who are rabid liberals and in their progressive mindset are sure they know what is best for the unwashed deplorable people on the right.  Or, flyover country.

Friends on the far right talk armed rebellion if things don’t go their way.  Not kidding.  Don’t take that lightly.

The rest of us are puttering around in the middle of all that.

For most Americans, there is no straddling the fence on this one.  This great melting pot of cultures is about to boil over.  Past presidents managed the melding of that pot through immigration law.  No more.  Personally, I can see another civil war looming on the horizon if things don’t change.  States seceding from the Union, while legal under the constitution, will not solve it. 

So, what’s the problem? 

When I look at the world, all I see is chaos.  The U.N is watching because they’re afraid the money train is about to stop.  European socialism is a shambles and wants a bail out.  Germany was about the only country in Europe with any money, but surrounding European Union countries are bleeding it dry—not to mention the immigrants.  Countries embracing the theocracy of Islam are fighting everywhere.  Democratic Socialist countries like Russia and Communist China are in turmoil. 

Where do we look for leadership?

Let’s forget the democrat/republican terminology for a moment.  In most cases, there’s no difference between the two.  There are two sides in this country—Progressives and Conservatives.  With, of course, shades of grey in each.  Watch what they do—not what they say.

So what?

The progressive mindset looks to big government for everything.  Big government is smarter than you and has all the answers.  Got a problem?  Make a law.  Big brother will take care of you.  This is on top of polling across both parties that put our confidence level for gov/congress/state/federal in the low twenty percentile.  That’s whom we put our trust?

Conservatives believe in a much smaller government footprint, especially on our backs.  If they have a problem it’s up to them to fix it.  Personal responsibility.
 
This isn’t new. 

It’s been that way since 1776.  After all, only about 15% fought for independence.
When our government is so corrupt even the most casual observer can see it, something is wrong.  We have a justice department that is dirty.  The FBI is dirty and agents are leaving in droves.  Have you noticed that when the government investigates itself, it can find no wrong?

Trust in God?

Yes and no.  Oh, I’ll take flack for that one.  I’ll post this after I go to church.  I pray for this country every day.  I know many people do.  But, half of the people in this country don’t believe in God, or any other deity.  And, they vote too.  For those that believe in nothing, they are their own God.  If, from what I see in other countries and in our own, this is God’s will—we’re in for a long day.

John Kennedy was a flawed man, but still a good one.
 
Still… what to do?

My two cents. 
We need to take care of America first.  It’s all well and good to try to take care of every bad thing in the world, but not while our own country is floundering.  We can’t help others if we can’t help ourselves.  We can’t give aid and monies to countries that have more money than we do, just for political favors.  We cannot police a world that does not want it.  We cannot feed starving children—bad as that sounds—while our own poor are undernourished or hungry.  We cannot take in a million refugees while our citizens are suffering.  It’s wrong.  We’re going broke trying to do it. 

I realize nationalism has been made into a bad word.  Guess who's leading that charge.  Well, globalism isn’t so hot either.  There has to be some homefolkism in there somewhere.

For a protracted amount of time, we need to take care of us and our nation.  Fix our problems.  All of us together.  Then, we can go forth.

We have choices.

I’m conservative.  That’s obvious.  I have a couple of ‘hot button’ items that decide how I vote.  No, I won’t tell you.  They’re my buttons, not yours.  Vote your own buttons.

For as much as we think our vote doesn’t count, it does.  Each one.  The choices this cycle are not good ones.  We have to vote for our future and our children’s future.  With that in mind, there are only two choices.  If we split the vote with third party, then it’s watering down the vote.  And we have to vote in numbers to counter all the dead people that are voting.  That was  levity.  Look it up.

A founding father once said:
"When the people find they can vote themselves money,
that will herald the end of the republic."  Benjamin Franklin

We are at war with ourselves.

So vote your conscience.
 
Where do you want the country to go and how do we get there?  Put hatred aside and vote with your brain.

Do we go with corruption or drain the swamp?
 
And no, that’s not an endorsement for the Donald.  I’m like most Americans who believe we should fire them all and start over.  We can begin that process by voting.  No Wednesday morning quarterbacking or hand-wringing.  Whatever the outcome—make it work.  If you oppose the outcome, do it peacefully!

We are divided.  My friends are divided.  My family is divided.  Vote for the path you think will bring us together.

If you’re somewhere in the middle, think of your country.

If your vote is socialism, go for it.

If your vote is conservatism, go for it.

But, go for it.

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