Happy Birthday USA

Today we celebrate the nation's birthday.

A country that was founded by rich folks that looked after their interests and the interests of the poor.

 The wild eyed dreamers found in compromise a country that was so different from any other in their era that it was worth fighting for. Even now, at its best, it protects individualism and lets the minority voice be heard.

It is not a country that requires membership or support to any particular religion but recognizes the part of religion or lack their of in its citizens.

It is not without fault. It makes mistakes. Just as the people that govern it do as well.

We are proud of our country when it accomplishes great things.  This country moves on it .... it looks forward.  It uses the past as a benchmark, but it moves on.

Some are worried about the loss of manufacturing in this country. They really shouldn't be. I never thought that that in my lifetime that BMW, Korean and Japanese auto plants would be thriving on American soil using American workers.

Some are worried about he education system. Yet every year thousands of students from other countries enter our high schools and colleges to get the education that is denied them in their home country. Why do they do this? Because we have a system that educates them all. Our biggest issue it seems to me is how to utilize their talents after they have finished their American Education.  Our world is going to be better in the next generation because of this. Some leaders of the world have become less scary to us because they have been to the United States for education. Case in point, the new president of Egypt.

Some fear that we have offered too much in entitlements. Yet we will not, as a country, stand by and allow our elderly no support in their last days. Its sad to see that many of the elderly that have a few bucks want to separate themselves from the people that have so little.  The little towns across the United State a filled with elderly that their only self support comes from the property they live on and Social Security, the elderly federal insurance program, which allows them to eat and pay their utility bills. Medicare, the health care portion helps them with their medical needs.  Is this too much? No... I don't so.  Is it too expensive for a country founded by wild eyed idealists?  Nope. When moneyis spent in this country, all near and wide benefit. The dentist bill gets paid. The pharmacist gets paid. There may be even money left over to buy something at the big block store. This supports the people that clerk, stock and manage. Most of it stays home and multiples.   If the money stays in the United States it gets passed around and makes other lives  successful.

Some fear that we overreached our charter by pouring our money and our lives into changing the world in other countries.  Its hard not to think that with all the issues that we have at home that we just cannot afford to be overseas running wars. Can you imagine that if we felt that way about our involvement in World War 1 or World War 2. What would the world look like now? Sometimes we need to take a stand as a country.  We also have to temper this with the threat perceived or otherwise of loss to our country's way of existence. This is one of the reasons we have leaders. They must be free enough to make the right decision. Is the military piece of this conflict so important that I would send my own son or daughter in to protect the life of this country? There are not many that would do so.  My hats are off the conservatives hawks that send their kids to do the war.

Some fear that our judicial system is broken. It is one that requires proof for a conviction. After seeing the tragedy of Amanda Knox in Italy, it is clear that we have a better way. Ignoring major pieces of evidence in this case, the prosecutor was able to convict this American student hearsay.   I really don't think that would have happened here. Our frustration is from the possibility that some are let go because we do not want to convict an innocent person.

Setting our worries and fears aside. we are so fortunate to live in this country. Its a great time to celebrate its strengths and its future.

Best to all... : ) Pat