I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THESE UN-UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Do you ever get the feeling that we are drifting on a sea of uncertainty? Does anyone really know where we are going and have the knowledge to bring us safely ashore again? Or are we just pawns in a political game being played out by politicians who really have no idea of how to sail a distressed ship of state, and are more interested in keeping their "mates" happy than finding a way home. America's ideals were built upon the concept that we are all created equal, and we have welcomed every culture that came aboard our ship----we were to be one big, tolerant, if not always harmonious, family---a sort of Noah's Ark, that floated above the problems of other countries, because we pulled together toward one goal. But it seems these days that just the opposite is happening in this country----instead of blending and mixing, we are cracking and breaking apart from each other---into political, religious, racial, and cultural divides. We hear a lot about how how one group should gladly pay more taxes on money earned for those who have less---"spreading the wealth" is the rallying cry used to engender support from all who believe the rich should share more of their profits with their less fortunate citizens. Or is it meant to deliberately divide and create a culture of class warfare and therefore garner more votes for those who promise more and more government benefits? Some are calling the government the "ruling class", as they seem to be taking charge of more and more of the country's businesses and instigating ever more regulations, fines, and stipulations. Even our private lives are being scrutinized and then influenced by government mandates as they tell us what our children will be exposed to in school, what we eat in some cases, and now even whether we should have health insurance.States such as Arizona are discovering that they don't have, as previously thought, the right to protect themselves from illegal immigrants---even if it's simply to enforce federal laws already on on the books. President Obama, who has done his level best to not only discourage Arizona from pursuing their new law, has had no problem making them the butt of jokes and discouraging others from supporting their efforts---where is the magnanimous man who promised to bring us all together? The ugly and over- used charge of "racism" is hurled against anyone who dares to support Arizona. He and his administration have succeeded in getting an injunction against the state, disabling them from proceeding with enacting their law---under the premise that thou shalt not assert authority over the almighty govenment, even if the latter is refusing to do its legal duty. This is chilling behavior for a country whose original responsibility was to protect its own citizens first, and allow states to protect theirs. And now, we  have the state of Virginia suing the United States government, contesting the validity of the new heath care bill, and stating that that the govenment has overstepped its bounds in forcing Americans to buy insurance. Other states will follow. It seems that rather than bringing us together, this administration has rendered us outraged and divided, as the states fight back, boycott each other, and confront the race card at every turn.

Are we coming apart at the seams here, or are these just symptoms of growing pains as we evolve into a very different country? There are those who think we are sailing through some rough waters, but that we will be just fine if we just hang on long enough---and believe in the man who promised change. They are happy with the current administration and feel that his philosophy of higher taxes and more government control are necessary for this sinking ship of state to hold all of us and keep us healthy and happy. Contrarily, there are those who think this is a very serious crossroad of time and that it is imperative for all of us to take much more notice than usual so that those who would change the very fiber and soul of our nation will not do so without resistance from those who do not want to be radically changed. Even more interesting is that there are those who believe there is a sort of an underground movement, financed by big money within political , private, and even corporate circles by people who believe in a global government, and are working with all the power brokers in this country and elsewhere to shift America from its original position of a democratic, military, economic super power to become more of an equal player on the world's stage. Their objective is to finance, mold and shape us without our even realizing it into a more socialistic government, one that, in their view, has fewer enemies, more empathy for others, and will show the world how to live in peace and harmony, sharing the profits more with the workers and the government, using less energy and acceping a less luxurious life style--- a simpler but more noble life, if you will. These changes will come stealthily and slowly in some cases, and mind bogglingly fast in others You will not read about these groups of people or their efforts in the newspapers or magazines---might rock the boat. Do these people really exist? And are we the unwitting victims of a slow and deliberate takeover? It is thought provoking. But always having believed in the inherent goodness of people and our country, I find this shocking, disconcerting, and difficult to believe. I don't think it will take a conspiracy to take this country and turn it upside down, shaking out the pockets of all who earn the most, spreading the wealth, and supposedly creating a virtual utopia where everyone has enough, but nobody has an abundance----it could and is happening, not by conspiracy, but perhaps by complacency. But, wait---hasn't this been tried, and proven to not work? Yes, many times. We have been the antithesis of those types of government---we exist because of the failure of those governments to breed robust economies, strong military, and a people free of government's yoke.

I am not a conspiracy believer---our ship is too big and smart to be steered and manipulated by just a few people. But there is reason to believe that if we, the passengers on the ship, don't watch where we are being led, our destination is in grave danger. If this great nation is to remain so, we must allow it to breathe freely without excessive government restraints invading, impinging, and finally suffocating the very life force that made it great in the first place---freedom from the boot of an over bearing government . The flaw, of course, is that there are those who cheat, lie, and cause greed to glut and make a mockery of the system. But as we have seen this past week, even politicians who would preach ethics and accountability to us, while creating laws for us to live by, have their feet of clay. They will always be with us--unfortunately, we cannot rid greed out of the human DNA by over regulating and over taxing, any more than we can rid the society of folks who could easily do for themselves, but who prefer to game the system and ride on the welfare of others. Utopia we are not, but we are a huge,fabulous nation of many tribes, beliefs, and cultures, with one burning passion--- freedom from oppression and love of a country which is still the envy of the world for its tolerance, its multi- culturalism, its generosity, its strength, and its richness of ideas and intellect.

We are indeed the United States of America, but our very diversity demands and encourages many different opinions and our liberties allow us to express them within a framework of constitutional laws and without reprisal or prison. What a country! Our differences are at the same time our strength and our weakness. Hopefully, our saving grace and one common denominator is our united voice which speaks loud and clear---don't fence us in! We are of the people, for the people, and by the people---not of the government, for the government, and by the government. If we lose sight of that one thing, then we will have lost our way, our identification ,and our reason for being.

Our ship sails on---keep an eye on the steering wheel, and those behind it.