If Not Today…When?

If Not Today…When? 

If not today…when will Americans raise their voices against BIG, INTRUSIVE GOVERNMENT?  We must stop any government that creeps into our private lives and spies on our very thoughts.  Just curious.  By a show of hands, how many of you believe the GOOGLE EARTH CAR collected account numbers and passwords by accident?

If not today…when will Americans stop politicians from telling us how much to pay in taxes and start telling our Government how much it can spend?  Aren’t you tired of higher taxes and smaller paychecks?  Aren’t you tired of piling more and more debt on your great-grandchildren?  Aren’t you tired of our increased dependence on foriegn money to operate our country?  Politicians will spend all of your money…and then some…if you let them.  When did “we the people” lose control over our government?  WE are the power givers, not them. 

If not today…when will Americans unite against the self-serving ideas of the power mongers and stand for the Will of the People?  When will we establish for ourselves the fortitude to stand for that which is right?  The longer we allow the current pork-barrel-what’s-in-it-for-me-Popeye politics to continue, the harder it will be to reverse its damage.

If not today…when will Americans stop being passive about how government offices are run and start demanding that our elected officials run their offices by our standards?  They are, in fact, our (we the people) offices.  We own every office in America, and we fill them with good employees or we fire the bad employees.  How polluted and disillusioned does any elected official have to be to misunderstand that simply truth?  We the people DO tell you how to run your political office. 

If not today…when?  If not through our votes…how? 

Early this morning, just after the polls opened, I cast my vote.  I voted for Democrats, Republicans, an Independent, and a Libertarian.  I voted to end oppression.  I voted to whittle our government down to size.  I voted to stop excessive spending and debt building.  I voted for free markets.  I voted for individual accomplishment and collective compassion.  I voted for America…the country in which I live, the people for which I fought, and the ideals which made us great in the past and will make us great in the future. 

Take charge America!  If not today…when?

Find Out Where to Vote at This Website

    Here is a very helpful website to find out if and where you can vote.

    http://www.canivote.org/

What Say Ye, America?

What Say Ye, America?

For many Americans, the Election process is a wearisome process.  Take John Lucas, for instance.  I have no knowledge of Mr. Lucas whatsoever.  I have never met him.  I do not know if he has a wife or children.  I do not know his educational background.  All I know of Mr. Lucas is what he wrote today in the Evansville Courier & Press (http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/nov/01/another-most-important-election-nearly-behind-us/). 

I learned three things about Mr. Lucas from his writing.  First, Mr. Lucas is tired of the deceptions, half-truths, and outright lies told during the campaigning process of an Election.  He states, “Electioneering always has been an egregious process”.  He talks of feeling “assaulted” by candidates knocking on his door “begging” for votes.  In fact, the only value Mr. Lucas sees in campaigning are the colorful yard signs placed by candidates or their supporters.  He said,

“But if tomorrow’s election has a bright side, it is that it has brought a touch of color to an otherwise fairly drab fall season.  The plentitude of signs along the roads has been a fairly good substitute for the oranges, reds and purples of the maples and gums.  And if history is any indicator, they’ll continue to show their colors long after leaves are in the compost pile.” 

Second, I learned Mr. Lucas, intelligent though he may be, has lost all knowledge of, or has absolutely no understanding of, the political process in America.  Listen as he says, “What we must do after tomorrow is demand that whoever is elected governs — that they work to keep the ship of state from sinking”.  Mr. Lucas, how can we demand anything after the election?  The election is the precise time in which we make our demands of those elected that they govern us appropriately.  After the election, it is too late.  It is during the election that “we the people” voice our powerful opinions.  It is by our vote that we send those elected officials with a poor performance record home and appoint someone else to “keep the ship of state from sinking”. 

Third, I learned that Mr. Lucas does not understand that EVERY ELECTION is the most important ever.  He stated, “And I’m tired of hearing that tomorrow’s election is the “most important one in the history of our country.  The people saying that about tomorrow also said it about Election Day two years ago and the one four years before that and so on.”  Now to be fair, following this statement Mr. Lucas immediately says, “Every Election Day is an important one.”  Mr. Lucas, Every Election Day is not only an important one, but it is the most important one ever.  Election Days have occurred since nearly the inception and independence of the Thirteen Colonies, but a long history does not negate the importance of EACH Election Day.  We cannot change the past, and if truth be told, we have only a minimum effect on the present.  We can only change the future. 

Sadly, I am afraid there are many Americans that feel exactly the way Mr. Lucas feels…and in many respects, I am one of those people. 

I am tired of the sophistry so evident in today’s politics.  I am weary of those seeking elected offices being power mongers instead of public servants.  I am worn out of those that seek to divide us as Americans instead of uniting us.  Why do we even talk of the black, gay, poor, rich, middle-class, or senior votes?  We are Americans…one and all.  When will we stop allowing those who rule over us to use this tactic to divide us?

 So.  What say ye, America?  Will you actively participate in the American Dream and vote tomorrow?  Will you exercise your right to let your voice be heard, or will you join Mr. Lucas on a sightseeing tour of all the pretty colored political signs that dot our landscape?  Will you tell the power-mongers they are fired and to take a hike, or will you wait until Wednesday and complain while you are watching TV “get back to their real business of selling personal hygiene products”? 

I hope you will join me at the polls.  I hope you will cast an informed vote.  I hope you will exercise your freedom as faithful American Patriots.  Remember, true freedom is spelled V-O-T-E!

Parasites and Politics

Parasitic Worms Taken from a Human Body

As gross as it may seem, Frank’s description of our current political condition is shockingly accurate.  Be thinking about this tomorrow when you cast your vote.

“John,

You are right on track with you comments. The people in congress have devolved into parasites. They survive by feeding off of the host who happens to be the American People. They are incompetent in serving the american people and they ironically are incompetent as parasites. A successful parasite learns to feed off but not destroy its host. These idiots are sucking the life from the american people and when we are at our weakest they still want to take more. Well the host is aware of the parasites feeding off of it now. On Nov. 2 we can all take a dose of our freedom to vote and kill the bugs.

Power to the Tea Party!”

Comment by Frank Mingione | November 1, 2010 <!– @ 1:04 pm –>|

The Importance of Bats…and Politics

The newsletter from, “The Texas Gardener Seeds” said: “Put up a bat house to encourage the presence of these shy animals.  Bats consume 3,000 or more mosquitoes and other insects nightly, and bats are less likely to be rabid than dogs are.”

That’s amazing!  A bat can eat 3,000 mosquitoes in a single night.  Maybe I should considering inviting them to my back yard for picnics.  I remember as a child watching bats dart around the sky…just a few feet over my head.  Back then, I was scared of Bats.  I guess I watched too many horror movies and heard too many tales of them attacking humans.  Over the years I lost my fear of bats…at least somewhat.  Today when I see one, the hair on the back of my neck doesn’t stand at attention, the goose-pimple don’t come up on my skin, and my heart rate doesn’t increase.

There is one bat that I am particularly afraid of today.  This bat serves no good purpose whatsoever.  It eats no mosquitoes.  It consumes no insects.  This species of bat is not afraid of the sunlight .  The reason I am so afraid of this type of bat is it loves human blood and suffering.  Its tactics are rather uncanny as well.  It flies around during the day looking like it is trying to be helpful, but at night, behind closed doors, and in secret with other bats of the same species, this bat rapes the wallets of every American (rich or poor).  Be afraid.  Be very afraid of this kind of bat. 

Our planet is populated with plenty of bizarre and astonishing bats.  Like these beautiful creatures. 

The Sucker Footed Bat The Red Winged Bat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Red Winged Bat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the one kind of bat you need to be ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED OF IS….

 

 

 

 

The Left Wing Ding Bat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So since most bats serve a very useful purpose and are not out to do us harm, isn’t it about time we DO SOMETHING about the only kind of bats that hurt us…the Left-Winged Ding Bat! Tuesday, November 2nd, know the candidates for which you are voting, and make sure you are not proliferating the sinister Left Winged Ding Bat species.  As my friends in the Sons and Daughters of Liberty say, “Freedom is spelled…V–O–T–E!”

By the way, check out the live, call-in radio show of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty.  It is called Turning Point.  This Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on 95.3 FM WIKI, this is the last show for awhile.  You can hear it streamed over the Internet by going to WIKIRADIOFM.COM and click “Listen Live” (located near the top of the page on the left-hand side). 

Oh…just a thought here…do you think we can teach these Left Winged Ding Bats to do something useful…like eating mosquitoes?  Surely there is something useful they can be trained to do!

Are Our Elected Officials Good Employees?

Look closely at the computer screens!

Have you ever noticed the longer some people stay on the job, the less work they actually do?  Lunch breaks get a little longer.  Mid-shift breaks are more frequent.  The workday starts a little later than normal and ends a little sooner.  The attitude of their job being a welcomed opportunity of employment becomes an attitude of entitlement in which their employer owes them more and more.  As this company-owes-me-more attitude increases, the productivity of the employee decreases. 

My father-in-law gave me some simple but sage advice a long time ago.  He said, “Always work as hard on the last day of your job as you did the first”.  The lesson is clear.  On the first day of a new job, you are concerned with making a good impression.  You want to do things right.  You want your boss to think well of you.  However, by the time many people get to their last day on the job, they have lost that initial motivation.  Influenced by those around them, they become complacent and willing to accept doing only as much as they have to do in order to get by.  This kind of attitude has plagued the workforce for generations, and continues to do so. 

It is infuriating to me to see people treat their employer this way…particularly when I am the employer cheated out of an honest day’s work and wage.  No.  I do not own a business and never have.  As an American, however, I have employees that work for me.  I call my employees “politicians” and “elected officials” and “government workers”. 

Let me be quick to say that I know many of my employees work very hard.  Many of them, through great personal sacrifice, provide me with blessings and opportunities beyond my ability to measure.  These good employees make me glad to be an American. 

Yet, as demonstrated in the picture above, there are those employees who are blatantly robbing from the company.  We elected them to do a job…a job they spent a lot of money campaigning to secure.  After all their promises of hope, after all their reassurances of personal integrity, after all their tales of great vision, why do they sit playing card games or reading sports pages or checking out Newspaper websites on their computers?  Are we paying them to have this luxury?  Did our tax dollars buy those laptops for that purpose?  Are our tax dollars really supporting their budget to live in two places so they can sit with their cronies and play on a computer? 

Frankly, this picture downright makes me angry.  There is no excuse, no plausible deniability, and no context to misrepresent.  These individuals are pirates of the people, openly and shamefully robbing the American taxpayer of his or her money.  Is it possible for those playing games on their computers to represent “we the people” adequately and responsibly?  These same people vote for a health care plan they have not read.  These people are the same ones who vote for higher taxes and bigger government spending…and why not…big government gives them the ability to play away their days like little children. 

I said I was angry.  Please forgive me because I mis-spoke (sound familiar), I am not angry.  I am mad!  I work long, hard days for what little money I have.  Now, thanks to these solitaire-playing-sports-reading-newspaper-perusing-junket-taking politicians, I am facing increased cost for health care, higher taxes, and less freedom. 

Am I going to vote on November 2^nd?  You bet I am!  I am going to vote these lazy employees right out of the company.  Oh, and while I am in such a good mood, let me remind the men and women I am voting for of something Bill Cosby once told Theo on The Cosby Show, making appropriate alterations: “I brought you into this political world, and I can take you out of politics altogether.” 

“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.  That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness” (emphasis mine, JLM).    The Declaration of Independence            July 4, 1776

Today I Stood

On Friday, October 22, 2010, I traveled to Seymour, Indiana and stood with a small group of outstanding American Patriots…the Jackson County Tea Party.  We stood on four streetcorners holding patriotic signs and American Flags.  We stood as a part of a national movement of citizens that want to see our country and our politics operate the way our forefathers envisioned.  However, this was not the first time I stood.  On October 2, 2010, I stood with another group of faithful, patriotic American men and women…The Sons and Daughters of Liberty (the Jefferson County Tea Party) as they held a rally in Madison, Indiana. 

I stood not so much for that which I am against, but I stood more in support for that which I believe. 

I stood because I believe in the United States of America!  I believe in her foundation…The Constitution.  I believe in the values demonstrated by her founding fathers in their resolute adherence to that which is right and just.  I believe in the people that make up the very fabric of her being.  I believe in her voice of freedom that spans the globe. 

I stood because I believe in honoring the oath I took on February 8, 1977.  When sworn into the United States Army, I took an oath of allegiance.  Millions of American soldiers take or have taken this oath.  My oath did not terminate just because my active duty service did.  The words I spoke so many years ago are still binding on me today.  “I, John L. Mustain, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  So help me God.”  It never dawned on me then that I would have to protect the Constitution against my own elected officials, or that they would become the domestic enemy. 

I stood because I believe in “We the people of the United States…”.  I am not sure when the majority gave in to the minority.  The Will of the few is usurping the power of the Will of the many.  “We the people” has become “we the elected”.  “We the people” seem to have become uneducated, helpless souls that need “we the elected” to tell us what to think and do.  In fact, the only thing “we the elected” seem to need “we the people” for is to rob our pockets, control our lands, and legislate our actions, thoughts, feelings, and words.  “We the people” need to restore to ourselves the power inherently vested in us by the Constitution of the United States. 

Today I stood because for the first time in my 51 years, I actually read the Constitution of the United States all the way through (including Amendments).  It is amazing!  No wonder this astonishing document has stood the test of time.  However, even the most cursory comparison of the Constitution and today’s political environment reveals how far we have strayed from its precepts.  The DNA of the Constitution is dripping with smaller government, limited government, and the overabundance of power to the people.  How can anyone miss that message? 

Today I stood, and I am proud I did.  I will continue to stand, too.  While Americans have slept in our abundance and in our illusion of security, enemies have crept in unaware.  Those enemies parade openly now down our streets and on our airwaves.  Atrocities are committed against America daily.  How can we allow our own captivity?  Why are we laying down our weapons…our voices…and letting these domestic enemies of the Constitution conquer our nation?  Why are we willingly walking into the enemy’s camp and giving up? 

Today I stood and sounded my personal battle cry.  Wake up, America!  Take stock of your elected officials.  Herald the good and detest the bad.  Sound the alarms!  Be wise in your choices on November 2^nd.  Remember there are good Republicans and bad ones, there are good Democrats and bad ones, there are good men and women in all of our political parties and there are bad ones…our job is to be informed enough to know the difference.  The resurrection of America as a great nation depends solely on “We the people” becoming both informed and involved. 

Today I stood because someone once said, “Politics is all about power.”  That person was absolutely right!  Pure, unadulterated politics is about insuring ALL the POWER remains in the hands of ALL the PEOPLE.

Obama’s Popeye Politics and Policies

Popeye Characters

I loved to watch Popeye when I was a child. Didn’t you?

Is it possible to make a correlation between Popeye, the cartoon series, and President Obama’s policies? I think so. As I considered this blog, I realized several parallels. In fact, the more I think about Popeye, the more I wonder if the writers were not making some commentary on the political complexion of their own era.

Time seems to have obliterated the line of distinction between good and evil. For some today, good and evil do not exist…except as archaic labels. It seems far more politically correct to speak of liberals and conservatives, and their respective points of view. Evil has become far more vocal than good, and good…while still the majority…is in desperate need of a can of spinach.

Let’s identify the five main characters in the cartoon, Popeye.

Olive Oyl represents America. She is poorly informed and sways back and forth with the moment and what sounds good to her. She does not understand the world, herself, her own system, or the rules. She certainly does not understand the stakes.

Then there is Brutus, who represents the elected officials who really do not love America and are only courting the American people to line their own pockets and egos. Brutus understands Olive Oyl well, and he knows just how to trip her happy trigger. Brutus also clearly understands that what he says or does today, may not be what he will have to say or do tomorrow to get Olive Oil to accept his advances.

There is Wimpy. He represents the American people who, like Brutus, are only looking out for himself. He loves hamburgers, but somehow never has the money to buy one. However, not having the money to buy a hamburger never stops Wimpy from eating. He is always eating, or just finishing, a hamburger. Most of the time, our pal Wimpy has a whole plate of hamburgers stacked unbelievably high. The interesting thing is this, we never see Wimpy paying anyone back for buying him a hamburger.

Popeye is the hero.  He represents our elected officials who honestly and genuinely love and care for the America people and our way of life.  Popeye recognizes Brutus for what he is and knows he has to stop him.  However, Popeye often seems indecisive as to what actions he should take because he knows that whatever he does will impact Olive Oyl, his true love, in some way.  Popeye’s character is also representative of the American people in that when he has had “alls I can standz, I can’t standz no more”, he pulls out the Spinach and gets busy cleaning Brutus’ plow.

In addition, let us not forget Sweet Pea. He is Olive Oyl’s little boy. He represents the youth of today. The cartoon never tells us if Sweet Pea is the offspring of Popeye or Brutus. What we do know, however, is Sweet Pea is always watching and learning from the actions of the adults around him…and his future rests in the hands of one victorious in the battle between Popeye and Brutus.

Lastly, let’s talk about Spinach. For Popeye, Spinach gave him the power to defeat Brutus and his evil ways. Today, Spinach represents the power of the American people to vote…it is our voice and our ultimate superpower.

Perhaps, even as you have read this short post, you, too, have noticed the uncanny similarities between Popeye, the cartoon, and America today. Are you brave enough to identify with one of the above characters? Which character best represents you? Which character best represents your actions? Do you care how Sweet Pea turns out?

I’m ready for my can of Spinach! I’m tired of Obama’s Popeye Cartoon Politics and Policies. I’m concerned about the future of our country and the pathway we are currently traveling! I’m concerned about the future my own little “Sweet Peas” will inherit!

I’m an American! I’m a disabled Veteran! I’m a businessperson! Moreover, I’m going to exercise my superpower to vote on November 2nd! On Election Day, I will be voting for both Democrats and Republicans, but I will be voting to reduce out-of-control spending and reduce big government.

If you are a Brutus or a Wimpy, watch out! I’m voting to get you out of office and out of my wallet. Wimpy…if you need a hand, just ask. I’ll help you out. However, I will not do it forever, and I will not allow Brutus to make me give it to you. Olive Oyl, I love you honey, but I am sure getting tired of you falling for Brutus’ deceptive practices and tactics. Smarten up, girl. Take some initiative. Oh, and Sweet Pea, I don’t care who your daddy is. I love you. You pay close attention to me, though. I’m going to act on your behalf. It may not be all giggles at first, but in the long run, you will respect and appreciate me for what I have done.

I Am So Proud

As my eyes opened this morning, I knew today would be historic.

I bounced out of bed, threw on my clothes, kissed my wife good-bye, and headed for Waffle House to read the morning paper and drink far too many cups of coffee.  Walking through the front door of the restaurant, I was greeted nicely by the staff, “Good Morning!”  “Hey, ya’ll,” I replied and headed for my favorite seat.  By the time I got my newspaper opened, my steaming, hot coffee arrived.  From there…my historic day went downhill.

“219-212”

“Healthcare Reform”

“Passed”

My stomach ached, my heart sank, my head hurt, my bad back flared up, and my wallet suddenly reduced in size.

But…I am so proud!  I am proud that Bubba and Cooter are finally going to be covered by Health Insurance.  I am so proud that now every illegal immigrant will get Health Insurance at my expense.  Oh, I know Obama promised that illegal immigrants would not receive healthcare.  BUT with Obama’s Immigration Reform getting ready to follow on the heals of his Healthcare Reform, there will be no “illegal” immigrants…14 million people living ILLEGALLY inside the United States will suddenly become “LEGAL” and ELIGIBLE.

Yes, I am so proud that now the only doctor I will be able to afford will be the TOP graduates from the highly acclaimed University of Louisville’s (and other esteemed university’s) School of Correspondence Medicine or from the prestigious ACME On-Line School of Medical Science.  The good doctors will refuse the insulting government-supported, government-ran insurances and go to a “cash only” basis.

I am so proud that now more of my hard-earned income will be eaten up in new taxes.  Although I’m bursting with pride over paying taxes both when I earn my income and when I spend it, now I can increase my pleasure with the 19+ new taxes or tax increases included in Obama’s New Healthcare Reform LAW.

I am so proud that I spent seven years of my life defending this country in the Army.  I am so proud that I am a Disabled American Veteran.  I am so proud that I have worked for 32+ years in this country of pure opportunity.  I am so proud that now all that I am and all that I have can be contributed to making sure the Bubbas and Cooters of our nation–MY NATION– have the proper healthcare.

I am so proud the politicians that forced their Will on the Will of “we the people” feel such pride in adding what will surely be another super-successful government program to our history books.  Nancy Pelosi is already hailing the Healthcare Reform LAW as successful!  She is placing this new LAW along many other decorated government programs like Social Security and Medicare…and rightfully so as this LAW will be an EQUAL FAILURE.    Heralding the idea that our Founding Fathers would be proud, she equates our new Healthcare LAW with “LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PERSUIT OF HAPPINESS” and “THE GENERAL WELFARE.”  IF that is the case, then I guess our Founding Father’s were miserable when they were alive since they didn’t pass such a rediculous LAW.  Furthermore, I suppose the generations that followed were also all miserable since BACK THEN people took care of themselves and others WITHOUT BIG GOVERNMENT INTERDICTION.  I guess every generation since the 1700’s has been MORALLY BANKRUPT since none of them passed such LAW.

Today will truly go down in the record books as a historic day…like December 8th, 1941…the day after.

I am so proud…NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Day At The Capitol

 

Indiana's Capitol Building

Indiana Rep. Steven Stemler

                I have long prided myself in being apolitical.  That is, I have made no allegiance with any political party.  I have researched every candidate I have voted for independent of any predetermined party ideology.  My quest to vote for the best candidate has lead me to vote for people of all parties at one time or another.  Furthermore, this quest for total party independence has lead me to refrain from attending any event sponsored by any candidate.  Until recently.

                On November 13, 2009, I wrote a blog titled, Legislative Session Preview.  In this blog, I noted my attendance at a political event sponsored by Steven R. Stemler, an Indiana Representative who happens to be a Democrat.  I enjoyed that event a lot because of the way in which it was presented and the way in which the legislators presented their message.  Shortly after writing that blog, Rep. Stemler invited me to Indianapolis, IN, to view the way our state government worked first-hand.  On January 12, 2010, I took Rep. Stemler up on his offer.

                My day at the Capitol included a front row seat in a meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee, a tour of the Capitol building, and a seat on the floor of the House of Representatives for their daily session.  I watched and listened as my legislators debated and voted on various House Bills.  To say I was impressed would be a gross understatement.  My day at the Capitol was a life-changing event for me.

                As I considered what I should write in this blog, I thought about how I would present a detailed list of all the neat things that happened to me, the House Bills I heard debated, and how the legislators voted.  However while these things are fascinating, they are not the things that affected me the most.  What influenced me the most are the lessons I learned listening to Rep. Stemler as he answered my questions and spoke of the responsibilities of government, legislators, and concerned citizens.  The following is a summary of the lessons I learned from Rep. Stemler…lessons every American citizen should know and value.

                First, I learned that legislators are human.  It is funny to me how sometimes we can de-humanize our elected officials.  All too often they become merely faces on election signs or names in the newspaper.  Frequently the public saddles them with beliefs and ideals based on who we think they are instead of who they actually are.  Our legislators are men and women with families they love and miss.  Each elected official, like each one of us, has hopes, dreams, and desires.  They are not perfect, nor do they claim to be.  If they are different from the majority of us, it is seen only in the fact that they still believe they can make a positive difference in our world, our country, our State, and in our lives, and they are acting on that belief.

                Second, I learned the decisions they have to make as legislators are seldom as clear-cut and easy as the hosts of radio talk shows or newspaper columnists make it sound, and they seldom have the sinister motives these media-folks ascribe to their decisions.  My day at the Capitol produced no evil spirits hopeful of taking over the world or desirous of absolute control over me.  Instead, I found legislators on both sides of the isle laboring honestly over difficult decisions, weighing the pros and cons, listening to expert witnesses, and considering the will of their constituency.  Our legislators truly want the best for us.

                Third, I learned of the mass complacency of the public.  This particular lesson really hit me close to home.  The public areas of both the Indiana House and Senate were virtually empty.  Oh, there were a few people observing the proceedings, but mostly those that filled the seats were students there on a field trip or students from local colleges and universities there on assignment.  As I gazed upon the empty seats, I thought of myself.  I am 51 years old and this was my first trip to any Capitol of any state in which I have ever lived, and my presents today was due only to a personal invitation offered to me by both my legislator and my friend.  For all of my adult life, I have been content to let government happen without my personal input…except voting.  I have prided myself on being apolitical.  What I realized sitting on the floor of the House of Representatives that day was that I am not apolitical…I am complacently uninvolved.  There is a big difference.  I can be involved in my government without being shackled by party platforms.  It is sobering to come face-to-face with a personal demon, and my political apathy was starring me squarely in the face.  Abraham Lincoln envisioned and spoke of a “government of the people, by the people, for the people” that “shall not perish from the earth” (http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm).  Yet, the truth is, if “we the people” are apathetic toward and uninvolved in our government, then our cherished form of rule will cease to be “of the people, for the people, by the people,” and it shall “perish from the earth.”

                Fourth, and finally, our legislators want and appreciate our participation.  Our legislators hold our opinion(s) as having great significance and merit.  Our input is useful to them in carrying out what we elected them to do.  They respect what we have to say and encourage us to say it.  In fact, the more we take part in our government the more efficient our government works (on every level).  This is truly the American Way.

                In this blog I have not endeavored to speak on behalf of Rep. Stemler or any other legislator (although I encourage any legislator reading this to post a comment of his or her own feelings), what I have tried to do is simply convey four of the most significant lessons I learned on My Day at The Capitol.