I’ve paused to take inventory, especially with my grandfather’s passing at the end of this past March. I also look back at what I was taught about America being thought of as the greatest country on Earth. I compare it to the America I see around me. It makes me feel embarrassed to be labeled an American and angry that it has been allowed to get this bad.

I was taught that as an American, one is to give everyone their dignity, no matter how rich or poor. Standing up and doing the right thing is the expected, not the extraordinary. Family and neighbors take care of each other. Justice is about what is right and fair, not just how one can manipulate the law. Those in public service are there to serve the country, not get rich from it. I was also taught we defend freedom.

Yet, here I sit, seeing one political party cower before a man who would be a lifetime dictator if he could find a way to do so, the other refusing to fight disinformation with facts. Why? Maybe because the last one who succeeded got caught in a scandal over an affair, after which his family got turned into the villain version of James Bond. Yet, his predecessor got a pass, even after it was proven he helped sell weapons to our enemies. 

The people suffer from it, especially the poor. They are treated as ingrates just for needing help with food and health. They are talked about as if living poor is so great. Try having limits on what you can own and having to show all your finances to the government. Fail to do so and lose any help you do receive. Add losing it the minute you go a penny over anytime in any category.

 Yet, this is still the place where you can make it by pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. I fail to see how when you can’t even own bootstraps being poor. Instead, you have to take out a loan to get them. Then you face eternal doom because of the debt from that one loan if you fail to make it on the first try. 

On top of all that, we look weak for not being tougher with Russia. We are too busy complaining about wearing masks and having to get vaccines. Instead, what should be simple health matters are being used for political gain. Basically sending the CDC into their own bunker of sorts. Since every time they make a recommendation lately, certain politicians try to make them out to be some kind of villain.

 We have even made people in Canada grumpy. That says a lot since they are regarded as some of the nicest people. One thing is clear: something has to change soon. The latest trends and the biggest companies are not meant to be in charge of this country. Nor are politicians meant to sit in office and get super-rich. Especially, when they fail more often than not to carry out their duties to the best of their capability. 

*Tips hat walking to the fire tossing a globe and the flag in watching them burn while staring off into the night*