Cranky Jennie ;-p

It’s unavoidable. I have to talk politics again.  When the President of the United States has to resort to threats in order to get legislation moving, you know you’re in trouble as a nation!

Most Americans, according to current polls, are unhappy with the current administration.  Americans believe that politicians are corrupt and Washington is in shambles.  I am personally appalled at how things are done.

So, here’s my flippant, unresearched and  idealistic plan for America:

1. Accept that the president is nothing more than a project manager.  That said, we should elect people who have a proven work record in this area.  Project managers, coaches, teachers, CEOs, etc. have proven leadership skills.  We need a leader who does more than speak of hope, we need one who can actually inspire it through their actions AND words.

2. Abolish political parties.  Then the politician’s loyalties are not to some old school group, but rather to the people.  I don’t want you to tell me what I want to hear, I want you to show me what you believe through your actions and the bills/groups/ideas you have proven to support.

3.  Elect people who have common sense.  I want people who know they need to put money away for a rainy day, who know what it means to work hard, who appreciate the life they lead and reflect that in the work they do.   These people accept that they are servants of the country and its people, not power-hungry narcissists.

4.  Appoint people who have work experience and a proven record.  You want ideas, no financially-backed promises.

5.  Set up non-partisan (see above), public debates on each and every issue.  Listen to both sides without bias and make an educated, common sense decision.  Instead of what is best for YOU, think of what is best for the country.

6.  Congress is taxed like the rest of us. Why do they live high on the hog when they’re supposed to represent us?  How can they represent us when they can’t even relate to us?

7.  Remember what our country is about.  Everyone has the freedom to succeed.  Stop making it about “us” and “them”.  We’re just as divided as we’ve ever been.   With enough drive and ambition, anyone can succeed.

8. And finally, STOP SPENDING MONEY!!!!!!  This is what got us into trouble in the first place.  From Joe Smith in Little Town, U.S.A. to the federal government, no one has stopped spending money.  Joe Smith took out and ultimately defaulted on loans.  The federal government just keeps spending money.  STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Tighten your belt.  Find your footing again.  We can’t continue building a house of cards with the belief that it will continue to stand.  It WILL COME TUMBLING DOWN!  Fund the necessary things:  Education, public safety, national security, social security…Cut everywhere and anywhere you can everywhere else.

Oh, and a final word to President Obama: stop apologizing to the rest of the world.  Take a stand and have the fortitude and conviction to stand by it.  We’re not out to please everyone else.  Charity begins at home.  You have a lot of ground to make up with the American people and I suggest you start listening!

God Bless America