I don't know about the rest of you but I am a little put off by the term, Resolution. A resolution is usually something that binds us to a decision or at least states that we are definitely going to accomplish it. This is a great philosophy if it works, however, lets face it, most New Years Resolutions don't come to fruition. It is similar to when your coach used to say, "It's not if we win but when we win". Again, great motivation, but completely unrealistic. When the inevitable happened and your team lost, the coach lost a degree of legitimacy. Why not do something a little different this year; let's set some GOALS.
Goals are something you plan to achieve. Like most plans, they sometimes have to be changed. As an educator, I am constantly setting goals for myself and my students. For a goal to be valid it has to be measurable, therefore, I hereby proclaim 2010 the year of the New Year's Goals. These goals are not personal but simply my opinion on what our country needs to do to improve. Don't misunderstand me, our country, the United States of America, is still the greatest country on Earth and will be for a long time, however, this doesn't mean that we can't improve.
GOALS 2010
1. The government should continue to use its Fiscal and Monetary policies to steer the economy through rough times. Capitalism is great, however, even Adam Smith (The father of Economics) stated that government does have a role. These policies should benefit ALL Americans, not just the poor, rich or middle class. There is this belief that if you help the poor you have to harm the rich, that is completely inaccurate.
2. We should continue to fight terrorism and extremism wherever we find it. This includes all forms of extremism if it leads to terrorism or oppression.
3. Our country should change abortion laws. We should recognize that women's rights and the rights of the unborn are one in the same. A woman devalues herself as does her partner when they wantonly and willingly terminate the life of their offspring. While most women who have abortions are decent and even god-fearing people, they don't realize the gravity of this decision. There are of course reasons for early term abortions and I am not certain that first trimester abortions should be banned, however, 2nd Trimester and late term abortions are wrong and any civilized, modern nation must recognize this and put a stop to them.
4. Healthcare reform is more than an idea, it is a necessity. Democrats, Republicans, and Medical leaders have to fix this. Requiring people who don't have insurance to purchase it is not the answer. Not only is unconstitutional, its outrageous. That's like telling someone who is starving that they will be put in jail or fined if they don't eat, regardless of their ability or inability to pay.
5. We must solve the homeless problem. We should humanely enforce vagrancy laws and move people who are living in the streets into government or privately contracted shelters. No child should be forced to live in a refrigerator box or under a bridge because of the situation of their adult caregiver. These facilities should be located in or near the communities where homelessness is a problem in order to avoid life disruption as much as possible.
6. The Federal government should abandon the No Child Left Behind educational program. It is unrealistic and detrimental to the students it is supposed to serve. The Federal government should put forth a plan for states to reorganize education into career tracks beginning in the tenth grade. I will address the details at a later date.
7. We should build our alliances based upon a new philosophy, Unilateral Humanitarian Aid. The developed nations should aid the poor, downtrodden, and oppressed regardless of the cooperation of their government. This concept of "respecting the internal affairs" of other nations ends when they oppress or abuse their citizens. The United States cannot do this alone, however, an alliance of developed nations regardless of their political systems could easily implement this "Pax Humana".
8. Liberalism and Conservatism have to take their places behind Americanism and Humanitarianism. Liberals tend to reject the patriotic, religious, and military while Conservatives tend to reject humanitarianism, welfare, and social advancements. America is strong and great only because we are a nation which is strong militarily, socially, and most of all spiritually. We cannot allow our rightful separation of church and state to interfere with our relationship with God, regardless of sect or creed.
9 and 10 = Email me your Goals for our country at: messagefromthemiddle@gmail.com
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