Monday, April 13, 2009

Doug's Top 10 Ways to Change Our Country

I remember when I was a kid, sitting on the swing and listening to my grandparents talk about how much the world had changed since they were my age. In most cases, I'm sure I rolled my eyes and wondered how they could be against "progress" and moving forward. I mean, times change. We have all lived through times that have brought about inventions and personal outlooks that have changed the face of our world in some form or another. Until just recently, I always fell to the opinion that our way of life was being made easier and these were great times to be alive. Now, I'm not so sure.

I usually hate it when people complain about things but don't have any suggestions or ideas to make things better. So, here are a few suggestions that I have to make the world we live in a better place - both for now and for our kids.

1) Obey the "Golden Rule" - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you truly think about it, our world lives in stark contrast to this ideal. It's more along the lines of..."I'll beat you down before you can think of a way to beat me down." Or maybe - "Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you." How drastic would the world we live in change if everyone, simultaneously, started living out the Golden Rule?

2) Let's reward hard work, drive, creativity, and initiative instead of punishing it. It's really easy for those who do not have to criticize those who do.  But what about those who did not have - who worked very hard to create a good life for themselves - and now DO have? Should they have to take a portion of their economic wealth and give it away to those who have decided that they would rather not work, rather not succeed, rather not create a new and better way and are content to sit in the dark and loath themselves? No! Some today think that if you are successful that you OWE it to those less fortunate to bring them to an equal level of success. I wholeheartedly disagree.

3) How about we require our media to be honest, fair and truthful in everything they report without having personal biases? Give us fact and then let us decide how to respond. Opinions are worthless when truth is available.

4) If you claim to be a Christian, then how about you obey ALL of God's Word instead of just picking out your favorite one or two causes and then harping on those? If you say you are a Christian, and you stand up for equal rights for men and women, African-American, Hispanics, Asians - but you neglect a child in the womb and say that it has no rights - then shut up! Your argument holds no more weight. If you say that all life is precious and ordained by God, and then you hate your co-worker because they hold a different opinion - then shut up! Your argument is moot. Quick picking out abortion and gay rights as your soap box and then forgetting everything else.

5) Let's see if we can still treat the office that people hold with respect even when we disagree with their stance on a topic. Also see #1.

6) Throw out everyone in Congress and start over. No one can be elected to serve more than 4 years. As a public servant, you will get paid $30,000/year and nothing more. If you take money from organizations and lobbyist - you go to jail as well as the organization.

7) Supreme Court Justices can only serve a 4 year term and then must be replaced. A vote must be taken by the entire country and if they do not get 75% of the vote from all parties - they cannot serve.

8) NO MORE BAILOUTS for public companies from the government. If they make poor business decisions, then they go under - period. Bigger and more involved government cannot be the answer under our current structure.

9) Redo the tax system and make it freakin' simple!

10) If you are going be a health nut and be anal about every single bite that you place in your mouth - then quit taking more sick days than me and get your own thighs under control before you start getting judgmental about the things I choose to eat.

There. That's 10 things to get us started. Believe it or not - these were toned down and edited several times before you had the opportunity to read them. I have many more opinions that would be sure to stir things up, but alas - I must save them for another conversation.

Let me know what you think.