As we ring in 2011, there are many thoughts and concerns on the minds of all Americans. With majority of the House shifting to the Republicans, and significant gains in the Senate, it is hard to say what direction the country will go in with Obama still in office. The economy is still not where we want it to be, unemployment is still high, immigration still needs serious reform, the healthcare debate rages on, and people are still looking for assurance that they can trust our government to lead us in the right direction. So, in the tradition of the new year, I put together a little list of resolutions for both the government, and for us to keep moving in a positive direction.
1. Democrats need to move back to a more middle of the road stance. One of the reasons that they lost the faith of the American public is because the ideas coming out of the Democratic party started leaning to far left. If they want to truly serve their constituents, then they need to start realizing that a far left point of view is NOT what the people want.
2. Obama needs to concede the fact that his first two years really have not been very successful, and will start really considering the fact that he needs to learn how to properly negotiate with the Republicans. Americans aren't stupid, and the majority aren't buying his crap anymore. If he wants a shot at getting re-elected, he had better start learning that that his ideas need substance more than they need flash. Trying to change everything quickly is a losing strategy, especially if those changes are too radical for the majority of people.
3. Republicans need to stick to what got them elected. If the public feels like the Republicans are just going to sit around and say no to Obama, then they will get kicked out as fast as they rose to power. Ideas need to be generated to protect the people that elected them. The Tea Party movement is real and growing every day. What seemed like a small group of conservative radicals has evolved into a real powerhouse in the political arena. It may not be long until there are more Tea Partiers than Republicans. Therefore, the entire GOP needs to heed the advice of the people, and work to keep lower taxes and cut excess government spending. Ahhhh, a Conservative's dream!
4. The American people need to stay up to date with what's going on in the political arena. The next election will be huge, since it is a presidential election on top of everything else. Being informed and involved is crucial to helping out our country and keeping it going in the right direction. The worst thing we can do is become apathetic to the system as a whole. Instead of just writing off our civil duties, it is time for us to step up. The world is in a highly competitive state, and we need to keep our country strong. In the famous words of Edmund Burke, "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Let us never allow evil to rise because we stood by and didn't care.
I hope that these resolutions will be upheld in the new year. Too often, we make those promises to ourselves but never keep them. But maybe... just maybe... with the right motivation, we can keep those promises. If we hold our government accountable, we can make sure that our nation continues in the right direction. May we protect our freedoms at all costs, and may we be a light for freedom and hope in a dark world. May God bless you and keep you safe in 2011.
