We had a chance and we blew it!

He also split the vote in Clinton's favor. We are to blame for the mess. I agree. We haven't changed our lifestyles or expectations, how can we expect our elected officials to do our bidding?

We haven't held their feet to the fire. Instead, our information regarding candidates is based upon the spoon-fed positioning of their handlers.

The media has appointed themselves as our brains and will explain each motive and thought process as if we can't understand it ourselves.

When the manure gets too deep. You had best grab a pitchfork and start shoveling. Goodness knows that the people that have created the pile will not be on hand to help you deal with the stinking mess that they have left behind.

I am fearful that we have finally gone past the point of return with this nation. But I also know Who is in control and have faith that He will prevail in spite of our stupidity and selfishness.

You ask a valid question..... and what have you done in the last 20 years to support this Republic? Well, lets see.... voted, tried to stay informed on the positions and issues, paid my taxes, written,called and supported proposed issues or asked for votes in Congress to go the other way..... and on and on. My life might be different if I had made lots of decisions differently 20 years ago and so too with politics and who we voted for 20 years ago. By the way, I am SURE I voted for that fellow 'way back then'. The follow up question that needs to be asked now is .... now that we are in in mess, what do we do next? Certainly we can learn lessons from history but we probably will follow the same pattern we have for the last 20 years. There are a few things we should change... which would make things better (in my opinion) but as I reflect on our past mistakes and ask.... where (or what) is the bottom line? I keep coming to the fact that we have career politicians who are in there for whoever is going to greese their palm. I would suggest that we might have a chance to wiggle our way out of this mess by passing and enforcing term limits. Sure a term or two is okay but not 20-25-30 years. To many "I owe you" or "You owe me". To many up and down the aisle decisions rather than what is good for America. With term limits we ask fellow Americans to serve your country and fellow citizens then GO HOME and do what you used to do. Under the Republic, law rules for ALL citizens. Congress must live by the same rules as everyone else... no special retirement, health care, bennies, etc, etc.

So your question is valid .... but so is the question... what are you going to do for the Republic during the NEXT 20 years? Term limits and equality for all people is a start.... just a start but it is moving us off the dime we are currently stuck on.

Republican party, democratic party, independent... what difference does it make ????? Spend more, tax more, spend less, tax less. I am willing to bet that you and I could figure this out in a reasonable way.... now, why can't they figure this out? because decisions are made up and down the aisle based on party position. I suggested my place to start to turn this around.

What is your solution????

I hear many many people talk about their displeasure with the "government" ( mostly I think they mean Congress)and I ask them "who" or "what" do you mean by government? hmmmm, makes them think. If you bring a problem... bring a solution. Think through the black hole of politics and set some kind of a solution in your mind then work toward that end. Do something!

Vote Early and Vote often- was the rallying cry of 2008.

We made history all right. And discovered that a majority of Americans are selectively blind in their rush to be politically correct. And deaf to the voice of reason on all levels.

We hear voices now, pretty loud and clear, and it is scolding us for being "fat cats", or being lazy or "gasp" being a Republican or Conservative.

Our voice will only be heard if we vote with a conscience instead of an ideal. If enough incumbents lose their jobs in 2012, I would say that was a good start to contributing to the Republic.

Well I was just a young man who barley got his right to vote. At the time all I saw was some crazy dude with big ears and charts and I could really care less about what was going on with our government. Looking back over the past 20 years I wish I had cared more about what was going on with or government because now I think we are so deep in and so many politicians are corrupt (this is why I am teaching my kids now to think for themselves and challenge them). I agree with so many of the comments above to include my dad. I agree that there should be term limits and we need to have a balanced budget. I also know Who is in control and I know my bible and every time Israel fell away from God he left them up to their own demise until they came back to Him. So knowing that and what our country was built on I believe that we as a country have another issue and it is not our government it is with us and our falling way from the founding fathers, their beliefs, and why we put God at the forefront with all of our decisions.

Not preaching, just my opinion.

Ron Paul is a viable candidate. If the election were today I would vote for him. Hmmmm, sort of reminds me of Ross 20 years ago. His views on the gold standard, foreign aid, and a balanced budget are far and above the rest of the field.

Bonnie, Mike, and the rest of you, may I intoduce my son Stephen (CrazieKids).

Ron Paul has some very good ideas, sadly, he has some very bad ideas also. While looking at the views such as the gold standard, etc, one must also look at his other positions. My son and I have some large differences regarding the place of religion in politics. I respect him and he respects me. I view those who wear their religion on their sleeves while running for office with great suspicion. Without a doubt, human right and civil rights to one extent or another seem to get thrown under the bus. Let's face it, pandering is pandering, no matter who does it.

So, what am I looking for in a candidate?

1) Supports a balanced budget amendment.

2) Supports the paying off of the national debt in the shortest time period possible.

3) Supports INDIVIDUAL liberty of EVERYONE.

4) Opposes the extreme concentration of the wealth of the Republic that we see today.

5) Opposes the intervention in and corruption of our political system by BIG MONEY.

6) Supports strict federal term limits.

This isn't a complete list or in any particular order. Like I have said before, my views are complicated at best.

Well Mike, where to begin? Constitutional term limits are needed because without them there will always be a seniority system and with that comes power. Power all to often go goes hand in hand with corruption and money. Once entrenched, those with the power of seniority and the backing of money will never leave office of their own free will. They know that if they throw enough bones in the direction of the voters, they will be re-elected. The voters like those bones so they will continue to re-elect those politicians so they can continue to get those bones they hold dear. An example, Simpson and Crapo. How do they continue to get re-elected? Simple answer. They have the seniority to procure the right bones and that keeps a majority of the electorate happy and they will return them to Congress over and over. It's human nature Mike. It's called GREED. If not for money, then for power over others. It's an ugly statement but true. I'm going to leave it at that. To say more would start a war of words that would serve no useful purpose.

One last thought for now. The popular rant is 16 trillion and growing. By the numbers, the national debt has doubled under every president since Reagan. That was also when we started becoming beholden to foreign governments and banks.

Buckshot, I have stated before, I have no problem with people accumulating wealth, it's how they do it. To force people into poverty so one can have more wealth is MORALLY wrong! It has nothing to do with politics. Please define entitlement programs. Also it IS a crime to offer a bribe. Read the laws. In closing, who's God? The Protestants, Mormons, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Unitarian, Deist, shall I go on? And what of the atheist or agnostic? I almost forgot the native Americans and a host of others that worship nature or what ever.

Buckshot, you are completely wrong on the subject of bribery. There is harm done when a bribe is offered.Define Welfare, Social Security? Medicare/Medicaid? Food Stamps? Energy Assistance?

Your last statement sounds extremely arrogant and condescending, not to mention, how other countries run their affairs is non of our business!

Lots to think about.... thanks guys, I just need to ask.... both of you, all of us, me included.... what is the solution?????

bob, speaking for myself, the solution lies in everyone taking a long hard honest look at ourselves and our attitudes to achieve any real change. The alternative is unthinkable.

Buckshot, "As an afterthought Mr. Pratt, the fact that we allow other denominations to worship here in the USA is an innately CHRISTIAN one! Try worshiping Jesus in Saudi Arabia and see what happens." is what sounds condescending and arrogant. We allow? That sounds not much different than saying to the mentally ill and physically challenged, we allow you to live.

The freedom of religion is a RIGHT guaranteed in the Constitution not a privilege as the term "allow" implies. Also remember that not all in this country "worship Jesus".

Sorry Mike, but his allow statement just doesn't sit right with me when it comes to Constitutional Rights, that's all. Too many have died safeguarding those rights.

To bad we weren't christian enough when we took this great country away from the indians

I bet they say what zook wrote

"They don't need to bring those SAME WAYS WITH THEM....then try to get US to swallow it".

It just popped into my mind ! My husband's Mom was a Cherokee Indian and I remember story's she had told me and what different things in life meant to her.

Custer's last stand?

Oh Buckshot, I get it. We stole it fair and square.

How do you seperate the evil from the lesser evil?

Let's see Cain was going to go against our constitution if elected but that is ok because hes Republican ? Ok got it!

Buckshot, you may not want to read this as it may offend your delicate sensibilities.

http://freethought.mbdojo.com/foundingfathers.html

Nope because if he does,........ the Republicans would of been whinning and ranting and raving and trying to throw his butt out the front door, along with Mama and Mama's Mama and the 2 girls and the dog.

Impeach Impeach Impeach that is what I have heard the past 3 years and guess what it hasn't happened yet Why? He's to smart he knows what he is doing?

Yes My PRESIDENT who I won't abandon when the road gets rough....... And if/well I know he will get re-elected I will still support him, and just in case a smitchin of a margin (is that a word lol)the vote count changes and he doesn't get elected I will not bash the new sitting President until his time is up ! That's how I roll!!

Buckshot, I never knew the founding fathers were alive in 1932 when the Supreme Court building was constructed. As to your link, there is only one name I recognize. Nice try.

Well folks, I don't know how it happened either, but the truth is it happened on OUR WATCH.

How to solve it? I don't have an answer, but I do have some ideas.

And while I take thousands of dollars worth of prescription drugs every month to keep on breathing, I pay for them all in one way or another. But that's the price I am paying for my "sin" which was and still is smoking cigarettes.

I could trace the problem back way further than I can trace my own family tree, but why bother.

I am getting off track, and need another cup of coffee to clear the cobwebs.

Since I retired in 2005, I have come to "know" many of you folks via my computer and the magic of the internet. And I would fight to the death to defend your individual or our collective privilege to say what we feel. When it was all done, "they" could pry my 140 year old Peacemaker from my cold dead left hand.

I suspect those of you that were alive in 1963 know all too well what you were doing on one November day back in 1963.

And yet none of us paused long enough to reflect on that truly terrifying time.

More later, if Joy sends me my instructions on how I can become an official, member here.

Warren

Whoa up a little there Buckshot, please.

Real buckshot, the kind that comes out of the business end of a weapon, is pretty harmless until it gets going too fast. It can totally miss an intended target because there are so few pellets in a single load.

On the other end of that spectrum is No. 9 shot. It is extremely effective for stopping rattlesnakes for instance. And it can be used in a wider variety of weapons.

Might I suggest stepping outside for a moment to cool down and rest the horse you rode in on.

Excuse me, Buckshot61. I did say please and I only suggested a possible solution.

Back to my yellow brick road.

I think that in another 20 years, we'll all look back and be saying the same thing about Ron Paul that you now say of Ross Perot. Any of the other candidates and we just get more of the same old, same old, and I'm pretty sure by this time that it doesn't work. Ron Paul has been consistant for years. I wrote him in on the ballot in '08 and I'll do it again in '12 if I have to. Never again will I cast my vote for the lesser of evils, "main stream candidate" as I did in '00 and '04.

As you stated, Mr Pratt, this is OUR fault, OUR problem and it will not be fixed until we stop our bickering and work together to somehow fix this mess. I really fear that this won't happen and the country will continue on the downhill slide. This country has thrived for generations and it breaks my heart to think that it may fail on my watch.

So what do we do? I really don't know except for try to work together, put aside our quarrels, stop focusing on our differences and concentrate on the things we can agree on.

Regards, Doug

First off, Doug and Warren, nice to make your acquaintance. I find it refreshing when those that comment use there first name.

Buckshot, two items. First, people do answer those comments meant for others, get used to it.

Second, had you originally stated that this country was founded mostly by Christians, I would have let that go. You chose instead to insist that this was founded as a Christian nation. That is not the case. Regard all the names on your link, none of them signed the Constitution, so I could hardly qualify them as founding fathers. I am not contrary, but I do hold people to being factual in their statements of fact. Your opinion is just that and should be stated as such to avoid any further problems.

Now as a last comment, if we as a people can not come to mutually agreeable solution to the problems facing this Republic the outcome could very well make the Civil War pale in comparison. There you have it folks.

Here's another link for you guys. I hope this helps Scroll down to the bottom it talks about Religion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States

What about the 13 delegates to the Constitional Convention who left without signing or the 3 delegates that refused to sign?

Were they perhaps independents or just unwilling to accept the other people's opinions?

My apologies Buckshot, I did miss some of the names that did sign the Constitution. None the less, while this country may have been founded by Christians, I still can find no statements from the founding fathers that this nation was founded as a Christian nation. Can you enlighten me with specific quotes from any of the signers of the Constitution that they intended this to be a Christian nation?

I haven't asked that Mike. I also never intended for the topic to end up where it has.

My last thought. To declare that this Republic was founded as a Christian nation implies that it is a theocracy as opposed to a democratic Republic.

It depends on your personal point of view. It could be said that the complete lack of morals in big business may be the result of taking God out of everything.

Most politicians for as long as I can remember have had the morals of an alley cat. D and R.

You see, I'm not for removing God. I do object to a group of people almost boasting their superiority for being "Christians". Tell me, what of the Jews? What of all the other people who have their own perception of God? Being constantly told I wasn't religious enough drove me out of AA. I am still sober though. I have my own perception of God that is no more or no less valid than yours.

Trying to force feed ones point of view regarding God and what he or she may approve of on another is without a doubt completely immoral.

God loves us all including the liars, the thieves, murderers, mentally Ill and Gay's and Lesbians.

I hope we can get back to putting God in everything, as he knows we all need his help!

Roy Some religions have turned their backs on a few I mentioned in my last comment. Is that a Christian thing to do?

Thanks to a very nice e-mail, I went back and looked at some of my blogs and comments. My style does need work.

Here is a reworked comment from yesterday. Does it make more sense properly punctuated?

Trying to force feed ones point of view regarding God, and what he or she may approve of on another, is without a doubt completely immoral.

It's been about 45 years since High School and creative writing courses.

This country also belongs to every other citizen. They have rights also, even if they don't agree with both of you.

Tell me, either one of you, were there any Jews in the early colonies?

Lastly, if Christian means being Christ like, I'm afraid both of you have failed miserably.

To all that care to read this. I am without a doubt a conservative fiscal hawk, make no mistake about that! On social issues, I do not mind being called a liberal, but I believe a calling me a moralist would be far more accurate. I have tried my best to let everyone know which way my moral compass points. True morals transcend politics and any form of organized religion. Not much in the world irritates me more than a person to cloak himself or herself in the guise of Christianity and then fail to stand up for those to whom harm is being done. The pursuit of profit, regardless the cost to the environment or human dignity should offend anybody with even a semblance of a moral compass. If you wish to label this point of view as Socialist, or Communist, or Liberal, then so be it. At the end of the day when no one else will be present, we each will be called on to answer for our deeds or lack of deeds.

Well Buckshot, between you and my son, you have both managed to run the train off the track. I have let it happen and contributed to it. I am referring to the blog getting off topic.

Now, the environment and human dignity. Which party fought the last increase of the minimum wage? The lowest possible wage employers can get away with paying? Which party has constantly tried to hobble the EPA through budget cuts and any other means they can get away with? Which party did an administration belong to that LIED through it's teeth and took us to a war that cost over 4600 dead American warriors, untold thousands more wounded physically and emotionally? Which party has tried to hold unemployment benefit extensions hostage by adding policy positions to bills that had nothing to do with unemployment benefits? Do you really want me to go on?

By god, that's it! Let's reopen the poor houses and bring back indentured servitude. The workers are scum and expendable. If they can't afford the rent I charge on the wage I pay them and can't afford to eat, so what? Who cares? I've got MINE!

Your blessed Reagan deficit spent more than all the presidents before him. Democrats may be tax and spend, but that is a far cry better than cutting taxes and spending more and more every year like the Republicans have. You want to go out and start a war, freaking figure out how to pay for it before hand.

And none of them started an unfunded war!

9/11 has nothing to do with Iraq!

Emotional? Oh you bettcha. Your comments and attitudes have shown that you have no respect for the working man! The people on whose backs this country was built. Use them and then discard them. They get old and rely on Social Security, cut their benefits to help cure the deficit. Cut their Medicare, so if the get sick, then they die and are no longer a drain on society. I wonder how Mr. Bradbury will like it when you want to start cutting his military retirement and health benefits?

And for your information Buckshot, I have only taken down 1 blog.

Mr Buckshot61: Thanks for providing the facts.