Depression

I know the word “depression” is being tossed about regarding the economy. Last month 600,000 jobs were lost. Businesses are closing. Banks are failing. Wall Street is in a panic. People are afraid. But truly, our country, given its history has survived much more than this and can survive much worse. But the depression I am talking about is my own depression.

Why am I depressed? Carol and I have jobs. And they are good jobs with stable companies. We have good health, good family and faith in God. Thank you God for your provision. So what am I depressed about? It’s because of the changing face of our nation.

I’m sure that part of this stems from me becoming more mature every day. Yes, in most cases older does mean wiser. I also believe in the God of the Bible, so He shapes my world view and every day I see the world more clearly and all the things that go on in it. God is the standard by which I compare everything that happens in reality.

Let me explain what I am seeing.

Last month the entire nation celebrated US Airlines pilot Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III. “Sully”, saved 155 lives by landing that plane just right—level wings, nose up, tail down, glide that baby in, get everyone out, get them counted, and then, at night, wonder what he could have done better. The national collective reaction was to shake our heads in awe and jump for joy with tears in our eyes. He is cool, modest, competent, and tough in the good way. He's the only one who doesn't applaud Sully. He was just doing his job. This is why people are so moved: We're still making Sullys! We're still making those mythic Americans, those steely-eyed rocket men like Alan Shepard in the Mercury rocket: "Come on and light this candle!"

But Sully, 58, Air Force Academy '73, was shaped and formed by the old America, and educated in a culture in which a certain style of manhood—of personhood—was held high. The fact is, Sully’s are becoming more and more rare every day.

There are many examples on the other end of the spectrum. One is “Octamom” Nadya Suleman. The dizzy, selfish, self-dramatizing 33-year-old mother who had six small children and then a week ago eight more because, well, she always wanted a big family. Suleman doubletalks with the best of them. She had needs and took proactive steps to meet them, and those who don't approve are limited, which must be sad for them. She seems aware of the predicament but she doesn’t care about anyone else but herself. She doesn’t care about the health and welfare of the children, her parents, or the state which is left holding the financial burden for her selfishness.
Another example is society as a whole. Each generation of Americans become more selfish, greedy, entitlement expectant, blame shifting, and out of touch with our National heritage and the people that made this country great.

During the presidential campaign it was clear that a majority of American’s prefer a government that will give them stuff and the new Democratic party is ready to give it to them. I turned away from the Democratic Party around the 2000 election. Although I was on the fence at that time I did vote for Al Gore in that election (excuse me, I just vomited a little in my mouth). I had voted democrat in every election in my voting past. I was all for the call of JFK “Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country”. At the time of Al Gore and Howard Dean’s campaign I began noticing a shift in the Democratic Party. More and more to the left with an ideology heading toward socialism. Their policy was “You give us your money and we’ll take care of you”. Now, I am all for responsible social programs intended to help people in a time of crisis. But it’s like the old analogy of the tow truck. A tow truck is intended just to get you from the point of your trouble to a place where you can get your car repaired and back driving on your own again. Tow trucks are not meant to drive you all over the place forever! Apply that to our welfare system and soon to be welfare state.

The first Republican I voted for was Mitt Romney when he ran for governor of Massachusetts in 2002. This was the first election I paid close attention to and what I heard began a changed in me. First I am ashamed because I never really paid attention in the past, yet always voted Democrat anyway. Why this is true is explained in the last paragraph. Anyway, in this election the democratic candidate was State Treasurer Shannon O’Brien. I watched every single debate and was shocked to hear how she was radically pro-abortion, so much so that it shocked me! By the way, at this time I was firmly planted in the pro-choice group. But she was in favor of all abortion methods, at all times, for everyone. She was against parental notification. She was for gay marriage. She was for wiping out any mention of religion in schools and science class was to be centered on evolution only. The list went on and on.

Now we have President Obama. Although he didn’t win by a land slide, 53% to McCain’s 46%, he is exactly what a majority of the nation asked for. We have seen the shift happen and the shift is toward a nation of greedy consumers who, when faced with tough times, point fingers and say gimme-gimme-gimme!

During one of Obama’s election rallies a reported interviewed Peggy Joseph who was excited after hearing Obama speak. Ms. Joseph was asked why she was so moved by the experience, to which she replied “…I never thought this day would happen. I won’t have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won’t have to worry about paying my mortgage. You know, if I help him He’ll help me.” Click Here to watch the video.

Last week President Obama travelled to Florida to promote the Stimulus bill. Some of the questions posed to the President were all about how is the government going to provide for me? Click Here to see a news report that talks about the very thing that is upsetting me and shows these peoples questions.

Bottom line. If the parents are greedy, lazy, entitlement minded people, so will their children and so forth and so on. Steel is refined by fire. In tough times you make tough decisions. If you make less today than you did yesterday, then you cut back, spend less, change your lifestyle.

People, please; open your eyes. The Democratic Party has changed. Look at what it is today and vote your conscience based on your values. Hey, if you are for unrestricted abortion, for gay marriage, for bigger government, for higher taxes, for open borders, etc. then vote Democrat. I respect that. But I refuse to believe that most Americans are for those things. They just vote Democrat because that’s what they’ve always done, their family has voted that way and that’s just the way it’s been.

But the Democratic party of today is, in my opinion, dangerous. Unless you want the USA of old wiped out and a new nation built.

One last thing. I firmly believe that those who vote Democrat are made up of a minority of people who truly understand the party’s values, agree with them and can verbally explain why they agree with them. The vast majority of people who vote Democrat are uninformed people who cannot even begin to rationally explain why they are a Democrat. They’ve been spoon fed by the main stream media. I’ve heard time and time again people say they do not understand how anyone can be a Republican. Just a week or so ago Cher was quoted as saying “I don’t see how anyone could be a Republican except maybe rich, white, Christians. That’s it.” Republicans, on the other hand, are the complete opposite. More Republicans have investigated the issues and have made a decision based on where they stand on the issues based on their values. It’s a rational decision based on fact and knowledge. A majority (but not all) Democrats base their decision on “feelings” but cannot tell you why they vote the way they do in a rational fact based manner. See my post from November 19 called “The Death of Journalism”.

My opinion; That’s it.