14 Paths to a Better America

America continues to struggle with stubbornly high unemployment, debt, spending, and division in many areas. Rather than concentrating on the negativity, one must seek answers to today's problems in our country.  A better path for our country is supported by the majority of Americans and would move us forward.  Research shows us that there are solutions which would have a ripple effect throughout our economy and would resolve many of our struggles.  These solutions are not supported by either party, yet they are embraced by Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

The Problem With Being Thin

My daughter and I, especially, run into several issues with our build.  Jeans don't fit as intended, as neither of us was blessed with a butt.  For that matter, neither was my son blessed with a substantial gluteus maximus.  Buying pants is an exercise in patience as we have to try on pair after pair, skinny, husky, different sizes, etc. until we find the right one.  And, these days, my kids are growing exponentially so this becomes a regular occurrence in our lives.

We don't starve ourselves by any means, we eat huge amounts of food.  My grocery bill regularly runs $900+ per month.  However, we are all very active; I just run after the kids and work in my yard regularly.  My daughter swims 4-7 days per week for nearly 2 hours a day.  And, then, there is Will...Will plays hockey 24/7, 365 days a year, inside and out.  The kid has endless energy and embarrasses his teammates with his unending supply.  We all build up a big appetite doing these activities and we are regular consumers of pasta, bread, cheese, milk, and, of course, bacon.  We, of course, have our healthy foods as well.  My kids will demolish fresh fruit like a normal kid will eat candy.  They choose vegetables over desert on a regular basis.

So, why do I need a politician regulating my children's meals at school?  Yes, I get it; there are many kids and families overweight out there.  But, for kids like mine, they can't get enough food at lunch to fill them up.  They also tend to need a massive snack when they get home every day and before their practice or game begins.  And, why are they skinny?  Chalk some of it up to genetics, but a good portion has to do with our active lifestyle and the insistence that our children don't sit in front the TV or on their electronics (as I sit here writing on my computer, ironically).

Every Day is Veteran's Day

It only comes around one day a year; Veteran's Day.  But, it is a reminder that we need to thank our brave men and women, not just on this day, but every day.  Many of us seek out the opportunities to thank Veteran's, but struggle to find the ways to say thank you to many of these strangers who surround us.  After all, how can you thank someone who offers so much, yet gets so little in return?  So, the question becomes, how can we thank our Veteran's every day, not just this one day of the year?

For starters, we can do something very simple; when you see someone who can be identified as a Veteran, stop for two seconds and go shake their hand; tell them thank you.  We all live busy lives, but this only takes a moment and lets these people know you care.  I do this every opportunity I see, and it is amazing the reaction you will get.  There is not a better feeling than shaking hands with a hero; and yes, that is my opinion of each and every one of them.

Teach your children about Veterans.  My children see me doing this all the time; it has made a profound impact on their view of these men and women.  But, it goes further than that....my children will also go up to these, mostly, strangers and thank them as well.  I can see it in the eyes of these Veterans; they enjoy every child that appreciates them.  I have taken the time to educate my children, show them pictures, read stories and visit with men and women at the local American Legion and VFW.  We take them to ceremonies honoring the fallen and we teach them about respect at these events.  My children catch me off guard with their own thoughts how to thank Veterans as well.  They are incredibly excited about this summer's family vacation; we are going to Washington D.C. to visit Arlington.  They are already researching all of the heroes tombs that they want to visit. Educating our children ensures that respects will be paid, thank you's will be given, and we c

an continue to give back.

Another simple gesture, stand in reverence when at a parade or other event where Veteran's are presenting the colors or marching.

During the National Anthem, stand in silence (unless you are singing), remove your caps and stand facing the flag.  It amazes me how many people I see not doing this at events.  And, quite honestly, it disturbs me as to what kind of people they are!

If you happen to be a hiring manager in a business, actively seek out qualified Veterans to fill open positions.  There is nothing better than hiring a Veteran to work on your team.

Anonymously pay for a Veteran's meal or drink or whatever chance you see.  Why do it anonymously?  This is simple, we don't need a thank you from our Veterans.  What do they need to thank us for?  There is no amount of thank you's that we can ever give to these men and women.  The pure satisfaction is knowing that I just did something nice for a great man or woman.  And, it is hard to argue that the unexpected is one of the best things in life.  I know that they are not expecting it and it will make their day a little brighter.

When waiting in line for something, whatever it may be, let a Veteran take your place in line and move to the back.  Is it really all that important to wait a little longer for something?  It is just a way to give of your time to a Veteran.  It doesn't cost anything and it is a simple gesture.  Recently, I was traveling alone with my children and waiting in the security line at the airport.  My son made me and the man in line behind me laugh pretty hard.  He turned to the man, a soldier in full gear, and asked, "Why do you have to go through security?"  The young man couldn't help but laugh.  After all, my son was implying something I have always found odd myself.  Do we really need protection from our soldiers when boarding a plane?  After a good laugh, we were quick to let the soldier ahead of us in line. Miraculously, others saw this and began doing the same; before we knew it, he was some 100+ people ahead of us.  As he was loading his pack on to the checkpoint, he turned back to my son and saluted him.  This, of course, made my son feel 10 feet tall!  He saluted the soldier right back.

Volunteerism drives this country.  Taking your time to volunteer for Veteran's organizations is a great way to give back.  There are numerous different organizations out there that cater to many different aspects of Veteran life.  Use your talents and give what you can. Take the time to visit with hospitalized Veterans at the VA, deliver meals to our elderly Veterans, help with organizing, running, setting up, picking up an event for our heroes....the list is endless.

Give what you can.  There are so many great organizations out there doing great things for our Veterans.  Maybe you don't have the time to volunteer, but can afford to give financial assistance.  This is just another simple way to say thank you.  And no, we don't have to be multi millionaires to help.  If each of us gave $5 per month, it would amount to $1.5 Billion dollars a month to charity.  Think about it, every little bit helps!

Lastly, buy a flag and present it properly on your home.  Whether it is Veteran's Day or just a normal day, the flag can always be present on our homes.  Make sure that you follow proper display rules to show your utmost respect.

This year, let us pledge to do more than say we are patriotic.  Let's show these men and women what they truly mean to us and our families.  Don't just say it, live it.

God Bless each and every Veteran and their families.  America is great due to your sacrifices and service to this country.  When we talk of American exceptionalism, we are speaking especially about you.  Thank you Veterans!

+Daniel Charles +William Briggs +David Johnson 

Related articles

• Starbucks: FREE Tall Coffee for Veterans, Active Military, & Spouses on Veteran's Day! (shortandsassydivadeals.com)
• Freedom is Not Free! (morselsofbread.net)
• Ways to honor veterans on Veterans Day (krqe.com)
• Great Clips will give free haircuts to vets (vindy.com)

Who am I?

I am home from work, sick, today.  Sitting here, pondering life in the quietness of my house, I began to question why I believe in the values I write.  Maybe it is the illness and self pity that has driven me to this point.  Or, maybe it was a blog I read this morning.  I am so delirious I do not know.  Either way, here I am...

I strongly believe that my politics are a reflection of my own personality.  People who know me are sometimes shocked at my political beliefs because of my actions in the real world.  But, for anyone who truly is open minded to politics, it should not come as a surprise.

First and foremost, I am a fiscal Conservative.  Like every family in America, government should live within its means.  This does not mean expanding the tax base or raising taxes for every justifiable cause under the sun.  Americans work hard for their homes, families, food, and other necessary items.  Some are more blessed than others, but many times reflects the education they received or the hard work they have put forth.  Yes, I know, there are always exceptions to the rule.

I was raised in a lower middle class family; we did not have money for extravagant vacations, family outings or any extras in life.  I learned to live with what we had and tried not to complain too much growing up.  My parents worked very hard to provide food and shelter to us and rarely complained.  They gave excessively to our church and paid for me to attend a private school in grade school and high school.  I learned that hard work was required and frugality was a part of life.  We could not live outside of our means without punishment of some sort.  Today, my wife and I are considered highly successful; she too coming from a similar background.  To me, the government's overspending is only hurting those who it purports to keep safe; American families and especially our children.  After all, we are spending so much that our children will now have to pay back much of the debt we are accumulating now.  That would be like my parents charging me for my childhood...so wrong in my mind.