We don’t all agree. If we did, we’d belong to the same political party, religion or we’d all live in the same style house and drive the same kind of car. This has been tried before in different countries but always fails in the end. People are too different. We’re nuanced, it’s what makes us human.

Accepting the human side of politics is an important step toward bridging the divide that resides in our American republic. Too often, we forget there’s a human being on the other side of the yelling. Understanding why they’re yelling and why they feel slighted is much more constructive than yelling right back.

As we limp toward our next Presidential election, the nation’s consciousness is on high alert. We’re all waiting with bated breath for the next shoe to drop. I’ll drop one for you right now.

I won’t be voting for Kamala Harris or any other Democratic candidate. The fact that I’ve admitted this means you’ve either stopped reading altogether or you may be curious as to why that’s the case. You may also decide to keep reading if only to disagree with me on any points I make from this point forward. All are acceptable and welcomed.

Unfortunately for some of you, I will not lay out my exact reasons for not voting Democrat. I’ll just say that I don’t vote on party lines, I never have and probably never will. My vote changes daily between RFJ Jr and Donald Trump. I see valid reasons to vote for both. I see none to vote for a Democrat due to a vast majority of their policies.

You may disagree with me. Fantastic. There will be millions more people just like you that will. We don’t live in a Communist country (yet). One party doesn’t control everything nor should it. Without a check and balance every now and then nothing would ever change.

The founding fathers definitely didn’t agree on everything. This is evident in the fact that factions that would later become political parties existed as early as the ratification of our constitution. You can go further back than that to delineate the loyalists (pro British) from the colonists (pro independence). The reality is, we’ve never had full agreement on anything.

What we have had is compromise and discourse. We’ve always figured out a way to get along just enough in order to continue moving our country forward. The advent of social media has made this more challenging than ever. The fact you can gather information in real time is great but it can also be crippling.

Plenty of deals were made over a significant period of time and a healthy dose of name calling, arguing and political wrangling. I’m not saying it’s bad that we receive the information real time, but it can also be a deterrent to making real progress.

Our access to information these days is staggering. I can remember the network news being the only place you’d trust to receive your news of the day. Now, I’d trust any number of sources before I’d put my faith in what a network is telling me. As divided as we are, we have them to thank for much of it. Taking sides of one political party or another is no way to provide the populace with the information they need to be informed. It saddens me to think of what the American media has become. I’m hopeful it can one day come back to the center and provide a more reasoned view of events as they unfold.

Prior to the American revolution, Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense. A book that was widely circulated in the colonies. It served as inspiration for many of the founders, including Thomas Jefferson when writing the Declaration of Independence. Several years later, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay published the Federalist Papers. A series of articles and essays to promote ratification of the constitution.

Both of these were placed in front of the people in the best way possible at the time, in print. Print is still a great way to get your message across; however, it’s been replaced in many ways by digital media. If you’ve read this far down, the point is proven. Blogs, social media and the like are an effective way to provide your viewpoint and make your opinions known.

I often see people rail against sharing political views on social media. As annoying as it can be sometimes, I don’t agree. To be an American is to care about what happens to your country. If you feel it’s headed in the wrong direction or you want an opportunity to express how you feel, I welcome the sharing of those opinions via social media. You may not change my opinion or stance overall; however, hearing a different viewpoint on something is important.

Like it or not, social media is our new public square. Rather than nailing flyers to a tree or a bulletin board, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X serve as the place where many in America find their information. This may not be a good thing; however, is it better to put your trust in the media that obviously lies or manipulates the truth on a daily basis?

NOTE: I would stipulate that pretty much all of the social media options I mentioned have also been found to withhold information. The one exception would be X, which appears to be the last bastion for truth.

There’s of course one way of communicating that’s always best. Having open conversations with your neighbors and friends. I’ve already established I won’t be voting for Kamala Harris but I have plenty of friends that will be. I welcome the conversations I’ll have with them in the coming months prior to the election to understand why. My opinion will most likely remain the same; however, it may have an effect on how I view the country under her leadership in their eyes versus my own.

Talk to your neighbors. Talk to your friends. Use social media to provide your opinion. In the end, care about what happens to your country. Take part in the democratic process and understand why someone may be voting differently than you.

Keep an open mind and be civil, it’s the only path forward if we’re to keep what appears to be a fragile hold on our great republic.

The post America Was Founded on a Difference of Opinions appeared first on Free the People.

Childhood is Special, We Need to Keep it That Way

One of the great things about being a parent is you’re able to see the world through the eyes of your child. We’re all in such a rush to grow up that when we do, we completely forget the feeling of being young. It’s somewhat easy to remember being in your 20s or 30s since these are the years when major life choices happen (marriage, your first car, first house, etc). It’s harder to remember being 7-years-old and what that actually felt like.

The carefree attitude of your day, when the biggest thing you had to worry about was whether you were getting chicken nuggets or fish nuggets at lunch (not sure they serve those anymore, thankfully). Being a kid is the greatest. That’s why it’s odd to me that so many parents and people in power are wanting our kids to grow up quicker than they should.

I listened to gangster rap in high school. You can picture it, suburban white kid in my parents 3,000 square foot house in a nice neighborhood listening to young Black men rapping about their difficult and violence-ridden lives. It didn’t make any sense of course, given the fact my life was nothing like theirs. I liked the beats, the various rappers that would enter in and out of a song and quite honestly, I listened to it because my friends did.

That’s kind of what you do when you’re a kid. You’re more than willing to set aside your individualism to be “one with the herd.” This allows you to not only fit in but avoid scrutiny and judgment. It’s normal and it’s something many grownups take with them as they enter adulthood.

Kids are impressionable. I don’t need a Masters degree or a PHd to know this is true. My 16-year-old stepdaughter has a mind of her own and is quick to separate herself from the herd, no matter the consequence. She’s pretty mature for her age and always has been.

My 7-year-old on the other hand will most likely land somewhere in the middle. Although I don’t see her high school self bullying someone just because her friends are, it’s easy to change who you are to be accepted. This is especially true when you’re young and your entire worldview is defined by the circle of friends you have at school and/or the neighborhood where you live.

Childhood is a great time in our lives. This is especially true during the grammar school years, when the school work load is less, recess is an integral part of your social awareness and your worries in life are at a minimum.

I wake my daughter up each morning with a puppet show. We take one of her various “stuffies” and I let my so-so voice impressionist talent do the talking. She loves it and considers it part of her morning routine. She’s able to wake up in a good mood and get ready for her day, which most likely centers around what she’s having for lunch or whether her friends will all get along.

Keep in mind what I’ve just told you. I wake my daughter up each day by mimicking voices with her stuffed animals. I don’t think she sees these animals as real necessarily, but it’s somewhat of an in-between phase in her life. She’s probably assuming her stuffed animals, cartoons, and action figures aren’t real in the same sense that she is, but if they’re not, what else isn’t? It’s a mysterious time in her life when so many things are in question while also providing her with a sense of wonder on a daily basis.

Why then are we so eager to have our kids grow up so quickly? I’ve talked about this in previous articles, but why would we want to expose children to subjects they couldn’t possibly understand? Sex is certainly one of them and it’s a big one.

You would never be able to convince me that my 7-year-old daughter, the same one who questions whether her “stuffies” have feelings, would know what it means for two adults to have sex. This alone is hard enough for her to fathom.

Add on top of this the idea of gender fluidity and the like, and we’re simply going down avenues that no child would be able to grasp. Again, there’s zero chance you can tell me they would be able to. They can be conditioned to believe one thing or another, but to fully grasp it would be challenging to near impossible for most children.

It’s harder and harder to find a movie to watch as well. They’re either Rated G and simply terrible for a family to watch together or PG-13 with way more cursing, violence and sex or sexual innuendos than you’d want your kids to be exposed to.

We actually loved watching the movie Ready Player One. We’ve seen it more than a few times and all of us agreed it was a great movie. Having said that, the number of times they said “shit” or something similar was tough to take with my then 6-year-old watching it with us. Perhaps this makes us bad parents for not watching Clifford 2 for the umpteenth time as a family. I won’t apologize for not subjecting myself to one more viewing of a big dog bumbling about town laying waste in his wake.

“You’re just getting old.” Perhaps, and this is very true as I constantly have to remind myself how old I am. It’s also true there were curse words and certain inappropriate subjects in the movies of my childhood. More than once I’ve noticed gay slurs in the movies I watched as a kid. Some as late as the mid 2000s in movies like American Pie and those of a similar genre. I don’t condone this either.

I think featuring same sex couples makes a ton of sense in movies, TV shows, and entertainment in general. It’s a facet of our society and one that we should expose children to in a positive way to remove the stigmas that have landed on this population for decades up to this point.

What’s positive? A loving same sex couple raising their children in a happy home would be more positive than a picture of that same couple having sex in a children’s book. Somehow the two get mixed together as the same thing or same level of appropriateness.

My point in all this is to simply use common sense when it comes to our children. When it comes to my kids, and my biological daughter in particular, she’s my reason for doing just about anything. There is no more important responsibility that I have in this world than to keep her safe, make her happy and provide her with the best childhood possible. This will hopefully lead to her being a responsible adult who will leave a positive mark on society.

Common sense isn’t common. No doubt you’ve all heard this saying before. This can be light-hearted when speaking about using a turn signal or grilling a burger on the grill but when it comes to kids, it’s tragic.

Like most things right now, kids are being weaponized for political reasons on both sides of the aisle. Enough. We need to remember that we’re dealing with the future of our great country and the leaders of tomorrow. More importantly, kids represent the best of us. They’re what we once were prior to being jaded, self centered and disillusioned.

A utopian society is defined as an “ideal society that doesn’t exist in reality.” It may as well be defined as “an ideal society in which children exist.” Don’t take that away from them, not just yet. They’re too busy anyway, Barbie just called and apparently her dream house needs redecorating.

It’s always something.

This article was originally published on Reverian.

The post Be an Adult, Leave Kids Out of It appeared first on Free the People.

Secondary Flags Should be Just That, Secondary

Flags are becoming a big topic these days. We have a flag for almost everything. I’ll fully admit, I’m a certified flag dork. I especially love colonial American flags (Join or Die, Don’t Tread on Me, etc). There are also plenty of people that like to usher in the seasons with their Summer, Spring, Winter or Fall flags flying proudly from their house. Add in any number of sports flags to boot and it’s amazing we can even see our houses through all the logos waving proudly in the wind.

Flags can be fun, they can tell a story and they can help us identify with a group or subset of like minded individuals. They can also be divisive or even downright evil. The Don’t Tread on Me flag mentioned above has been used by some white nationalist groups over the years while a black swastika on a field of white represents a regime so horrid I don’t even have to define it any further.

Flags are normally secondary within America, the flag of our country taking a primary position a majority of the time. Yet, more and more, we’re beginning to see the flags people identify with as their first flag of choice. Black Lives Matter, Trump (MAGA), LGBTQ+, etc. All of these are beginning to assume a place of both prominence and definition of being. I’m a Trump voter, therefore that flag represents me. I’m either gay/lesbian/queer/etc, therefore the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag defines me. I support Black Lives Matter so this flag best defines who I am. Flags are great, except when used in this way. The American flag is being slowly and, what appears to be, deliberately marginalized.

Go down most suburban neighborhood streets and you’ll see multiple American flags. Hanging proudly in front of houses, they symbolize everything that America is and has been throughout our history. This includes the good and the bad by the way. There’s no way to separate the two from one another. I always find it funny when people say, “that flag doesn’t represent me.” Sure it does. There is no other flag that could represent you as a citizen of this country. You can certainly have secondary flags that represent you as well but the primary should always be the American flag.

What about those items that “bastardize” the American flag? This is also an issue. Similar to what’s done with the UK Union Jack, the stars and stripes are draped over every piece of clothing from skirts and bikinis to tank tops and hats adorned with glitter. People wear them as a point of pride, that much is true. But could there be anything more disrespectful to those who laid down their lives for our freedom than our flag being reduced to a $0.99 beer koozie or bottle opener? Noting the price, you can guess both of these items aren’t made in America either.

I visited my old neighborhood recently. I was always proud that I was able to buy a condo at 27 years old in one of the older, more established neighborhoods of Charlotte. My condo would definitely be considered the “low rent” district of my neighbors considering the houses around me were hundreds of thousands of dollars more than what I could afford. Crazy enough, those same houses are now millions of dollars while my old condo has basically doubled in value. Time will do that in the case of real estate, especially nowadays.

The houses I passed on my stroll through memory lane were as beautiful as ever; however, I did notice one glaring issue that dispels what I considered to be true everywhere. Limited patriotism in the form of American flags. I must’ve passed at least 50 houses. Of those 50, I counted 3 American flags. If we were doing the math, this is about 6% of the sample size I was able to witness. That’s incredibly surprising and pretty depressing if I’m being honest. In years past, you would’ve seen closer to 33% or maybe even 50% of the houses with an American flag proudly displayed somewhere on the property.

I observed this trend when I was visiting Charleston earlier this summer as well. Using a similar wealth indicator (given the type and location of homes), the Charleston houses were sparse with American flags but had plenty of Ukrainian and other flags hanging from their homes. I found this both odd and slightly disheartening.

This got me thinking. Why are these people, who are so obviously wealthy and have gained this wealth through this great nation of ours, not necessarily proud to display their patriotism? Do they think they could have accrued such wealth in a different country so it simply doesn’t matter where they live? I’m not sure of the answer but I can venture a guess.

I’ve discussed this in previous articles but patriotism is now seen as Alt-right or somehow aligned with Trump. Unfortunately, the American flag falls into this category as well. Trump has done such a great job of appropriating the flag within his propaganda that many are unable to distinguish Trump’s America from the rest of us. This needs to be fixed, and quick.

Many have no issue flying the flag of their favorite sports team from their house. I actually noticed one house on my aforementioned walk that had two flags hanging from their front porch, both representing local sports teams. This isn’t a crime and there’s certainly nothing wrong with it. You and anyone else has every right to hang whatever flag you choose from your house. I do mean, ANY flag. Just be ready for the consequences if one of those happens to offend those around you. It’s a free country but your neighbors are equally free to despise and shun you as they see fit based on what you display.

There are flags that are offensive, of that we can have no doubt. The American flag cannot and should not be one of them. If it is, we will have lost all sense of what it is that we identify with. The American flag is the glue that binds us together. All other flags are simply chapters within the book of our country’s history. You identify with that particular chapter (i.e. BLM, Trump, etc.) and are able to display it for all to see. That’s great and as it should be. But it’s equally important to have the actual book on display as well, to show that we’re all reading from the same text. To mitigate or slowly eliminate the American flag from our houses, restaurants, or sports stadiums is to remove the book binding from the book altogether, allowing the pages to scatter in the wind.

Pride is defined as, “the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated.” Our flag has landed on the moon, won the Indy 500 and been on display for every great achievement in our history. I wasn’t alive when our soldiers fought in the battle of Iwo Jima, but our flag is immortalized in the famous statue, standing proudly on a leaning flagpole. The flag is our great unifer. There is no America without it.

Go ahead and hang the flags of pride for the particular group you identify with but, do me a favor, put the stars and stripes in a place of prominence. You may not have done a ton of things in your life to be proud of, but you can bet our flag has. A symbol of freedom and liberty, it’s the flag of our fathers and mothers. It’s you, me and all of us. Blood has been spilled, battles won and lost and soldiers’ graves draped reverently to honor the ultimate sacrifice they made for your freedom and mine.

We’re all incredibly lucky to have been given the gift of freedom we enjoy on a daily basis. Provide a small token of thanks to lady liberty by proudly displaying her chosen garment in a place of prominence outside your home or office. She may not be able to say thanks, but the rest of us will.

This article was originally published on Reverian.

The post The American Flag, Our Great Unifier appeared first on Free the People.

Lasting Change Takes Time and Conversation

There were times over the past 3-5 years where I thought I was going nuts. The world was changing around me at such a rapid pace it was impossible to keep up with it. In general, I’m not a fan of change. I can definitely roll with the punches to a certain extent but real, serious change to anything can be mind numbing and crippling to me. Our views on America and American pride are changing and I don’t always agree with it or want to accept it.

Take Captain America for example. First published in 1940, Captain America was created as a symbol of American freedom, strength, and pride while World War II was raging across Europe. Although America hadn’t yet entered the war, the superhero was most assuredly seen as a way to boost morale and act as a sort of positive propaganda for the country. Who would be our Captain America today? What would he/she look like? Would they even be a man or a woman or would they identify as something else? The very sentence I just wrote wouldn’t even have made sense 10 years ago and yet, we’re asked to simply accept and respect the change for what it is: progress. It may well be, but the fact of the matter is, Captain America or any other superhero espousing the greatness or might of America would never be created today. No one would want it.

In order to understand why so many of us are confused on a daily basis we need to only look at how much the world has changed. During the formative days of my youth (the 90s), we had an “I don’t care what you do, just be happy” kind of attitude. I always considered it similar to what was seen in the 60s except a lot more built up angst, flannel, and perhaps better hygiene habits. I was always proud of who we were as a generation. Our parents had been a bit too conservative, caring about whether someone had long hair, was gay, or lived a lifestyle different from their own. We simply didn’t care, none of that concerned us. Do whatever you want to do, just respect yourself and those around you. It was a pretty simple concept and one I thought we’d be able to build on as we got older. Unfortunately, the building blocks grew wings and started sprouting every which way.

In my humble opinion, the iPhone is the single greatest product of my lifetime. The genius of Steve Jobs and his team cannot be understated. The smart phone has transformed our society. Unfortunately, the transformation isn’t always for the better. Human beings are flawed creatures. We say things we shouldn’t, do things we wish we could take back, and have regrets on a daily and/or weekly basis. If you’re reading this thinking, “that’s not me, I have zero regrets.” My response would be, “hey Jesus, great to finally meet you.” You’re not perfect and neither am I, that’s the point. We all make mistakes, it’s part of what makes us human. Yet, having a camera and microphone at the ready allowing you to take video of total strangers and post online is the very definition of a big brother society. This exposes all of our flaws and inhibitions, giving the populace an ability to pass judgment and sentence you without any further discussion. A trial of your peers happens in a town square format, it’s the digital version of stoning someone to death.

The digital society that we now live in has allowed us to move further away from humanity and embrace a mass construct sharing the same thoughts, ideas, and feelings. This sheep mentality has wormed its way into our politics, parenting methodologies, and social structures. How else to explain people being ok with children being castrated in order to change their gender? Children used to be a coveted part of our society worthy of our protection. They’ve now been reduced to chattel in the ever-expanding gender identity debate. Count me in on those who think it’s insane that some states provide boys the decision making ability to cut off their own penis before they’re old enough to legally have a beer. Providing flexibility, understanding, and empathy for those children struggling with their gender identity is extremely important. Showing a little common sense as an adult in providing them the ability to find themselves in a safe and caring environment is a much better idea than life changing surgery. Rather than altering the course of their lives forever, allow them the freedom to find themselves as they struggle with raging hormones and daily changes to their emotional state. Protecting our children from this madness is the only course of action worthy of discussion.

There have been a couple of online interactions I’ve watched recently that have provided me hope for the future of America. One was a Tucker Carlson interview with Ice Cube. The fact I’m even able to type those two names in the same sentence gives me hope. The image of a staunch right wing conservative like Carlson sitting next to the venerable Ice Cube having a conversation about the state of America was a welcome sight. Regardless of what you think about Tucker Carlson, interviews like this one are essential for America to move forward and face head on the many issues that present themselves on a daily basis. The interview is available on X (aka Twitter) and I would encourage you to watch it.

The second interaction I watched more recently. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was approached by a pan-sexual reporter who asked his opinion on the LBGTQ+ community and same sex couples. He calmly responded that he believes there is a “Tyranny of the minority” happening in our country. This is in response to the “Tyranny of the majority” to remove the majority that has been in power up to this point in our country. He further states he thinks it’s wrong when agendas are forced upon people who either don’t agree with them or fundamentally disagree due to their religious beliefs. In both interviews, there were disagreements and different ways of viewing a particular issue. Rather than forcing a divide between them, there was civil discourse and a conversation about the differences. We need more of this in America.

As a country, we have a lot of issues. The fact we’re finally facing many of them is a step in the right direction. We just need to keep in mind that real and lasting change is both hard and time consuming. As I’ve gotten older, I realize the younger generation is almost always the more progressive. There’s a tendency to want to change the world and society for the better. I certainly commend this thought and would want nothing more than to make America a more inclusive and better society for my children. Forcing agendas on them in the name of change will not help us get there. It’s my job as a parent to provide my kids with the proper foundation on which our country can continue to positively progress. It’s not the job of her school or a government administrator to fill her head with their opinion of what America is and isn’t. You can leave that to me, thanks anyway.

Change in the name of eradicating our freedoms is not the answer. Taking videos of someone at their lowest moment(s) and posting online to either embarrass or shame is not positive progress. Listen to your neighbor. Have a conversation with someone who resides in a different socioeconomic sphere than your own. Understand how inflation is impacting them differently than you. Understand how they may be struggling with their identity or mental state. Understand, listen, and have empathy for each other.

Sounds easy enough, but it can be hard to hear the progress we’re making above all the shouting.

This article was originally published on Reverian.

The post Keep the Change? Not an Option appeared first on Free the People.

Newsflash: You’re Already Living It

You hear it referenced all the time. The American Dream, but what is it? Is it a set of American values we once had but that no longer exist? Is it a series of items you own like a house and/or a car? What about owning multiple houses and multiple cars? Would any of these fit the bill of living the American Dream? To me, the answer is pretty simple, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

More often than not, the American Dream is tied to two things: ownership of a house and a car. On the surface, I would agree with both of these. Owning your home allows you to have a sense of place, belonging, and safety. There’s nothing quite like coming home from work and pulling into your driveway. As you enter your house, your wife and kids are all sitting in the kitchen, waiting for your arrival. The smell of home, the feeling you get as you enter your house, these are all sensory emotions tied to our basic human instincts. I still remember the smell of my house when I was a kid. Even though I didn’t have a perfect or idyllic childhood, home was safe. I knew what to expect and that was always comforting. You can have a similar feeling as you enter your apartment, but a house is special. That’s YOUR grass in the front yard, YOUR furniture on the deck, YOUR driveway. As long as you pay the bank and taxes when they come due, the house is yours. You won’t get that same feeling as you enter a rented apartment or condo.

What about a car? There’s definitely something special about owning your car. It’s amazing to me how people forget that feeling. Owning a car is like having your first car, forever. It’s yours, no one can take it from you and you know all the quirks and gizmos it has to offer (both good and bad). You don’t get that when you lease a car, I can tell you that. Leasing is just renting, same with an apartment, there’s zero pride of ownership. By the way, pride of ownership extends beyond cars. Owning your furniture, your TVs, your clothes, anything and everything. All of this is important to nail down what I’m about to reveal as the true American Dream.

Ready for it? Freedom. Yes, freedom, that’s the American Dream. Don’t think it’s that simple? Trust me, it is. When you own the things in your life, you have the freedom to do pretty much whatever you want. Remove the false expectations heaped on you by TV shows, your friends, whomever. Your dream is most likely different than mine and that’s perfectly fine. But if your dream is to lease a BMW while scraping by each month paying for your mortgage and your kids to attend private school, that’s not a dream. That sounds more like a nightmare. A nightmare created of your own doing that will never help you attain the American Dream because you’re not living in reality.

I’d much rather own a 2004 Chevy Malibu and live in a trailer for the rest of my life with my freedom intact than to lease a new BMW and live in an upscale apartment owned by a government that provided it to me. I’m not sure those younger than me would agree with this sentiment but it’s important to understand what life would be like if we didn’t have the freedoms we enjoy today. We need only look to China and their social credit system, continued COVID lockdowns, and restrictions on free speech to understand how we’d be made to live.

You wake up every day and are provided the greatest gift anyone can ever bestow on you and it was free. You did nothing to deserve it, you didn’t work or ask for it and most of us certainly don’t appreciate it. I’m attempting to avoid making this a protracted “freedom isn’t free” sermon but it’s truly not. There are citizens living among us who sacrificed their lives so you and I could wake up in the morning and make major life choices like going to Chick-fil-A or Wendy’s for breakfast after an all-night bender. The ridiculousness of it all is mind blowing, which is why I always get fired up when I hear people say the American Dream is dead.

The American Dream exists because America still exists. As a citizen of our country you’re provided with so many options and pathways to success it’s astounding. You’re reading one of those pathways from me right now. I honestly have made nothing monetarily with my writing thus far; however, success never comes easily or quickly. I consider what I’m doing practice to allow myself to have the success I desire. I have the freedom to do this, everyday if I choose. How great is it that we have the choices laid out in front of us to be successful or not. We simply need to work hard and strive toward ownership in all things. This will allow us to break the ties of debt, our reliance on the government, and begin to build wealth for ourselves and future generations.

Many believe America is in decline or is “past its prime.” Don’t believe it. The propaganda being shoved down our throats suggests this is true. This is purposeful and targeted, a way to make us believe we’ve lost all hope and only “they” (big government) can save us. A recent Gallup Poll revealed a steady decline in young adults who were proud to be American. The study showed 18-29 year-olds in 2013 “extremely” or “very” proud to be an American 85% of the time while a similar age group of 18-34 year-olds were only 42% likely to say the same in 2023. A 43% decrease for similar age groups in ten years! Years of media bias skewed toward the idea of a world economy and cultural socialism have resulted in a young America that’s listing at sea without a paddle. However, where there is darkness, there is usually a light if you only look for it. I just so happen to see a couple of them on the horizon.

The disgruntled among us has opened the door for outside presidential candidates to begin making noise. I will admit, I’m enamored with both RFK Jr. and Vivek Ramaswamy. Although they don’t align or agree on everything and I certainly don’t agree with all they have to say, both are intriguing candidates for different reasons. RFK Jr. is a true Kennedy Democrat who wants to restore peace and posterity to America while leaning on liberal values that have been lost within his party. Vivek’s mantra of “truth” speaks to his desire of making real change within the establishment and bringing back the principles of government on which America was founded. Each of them would bring something different to the table but both are using a refreshing word when speaking of what’s important for our country to thrive in the future: freedom.

I bring this up because it’s important we drive out the current politicians that are bent on dismantling our country piece-by-piece and return sanity to our everyday lives. Less government intervention, the destruction of censoring free speech on social media, and a restoration of freedom as we know it will help to restore the dream that’s out of reach for so many of our fellow citizens.

A dream is defined as, “a cherished aspiration, ambition or ideal.” The main word that sticks out to me here is “cherished.” We must cherish the freedoms that have been bestowed to us by our forefathers allowing the American Dream to move forward for a new generation.

Thomas Jefferson said it best:

“My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!”

Wake up America, you’re already living in a dream.

This article was originally published on Reverian.

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There is an odd movement happening in America. Day by day and more often than not, the populace is placing their complete trust and faith in the federal government. This is not only a scary proposition, it’s short sighted and will reap disastrous consequences if we’re not careful. As Americans, we need to throw off the constraints forced upon us by the existing political framework and band together in the name of freedom. Utilizing this as our foundational core will allow us to view each other equally as we’re all working toward the same goal; to be free.

Freedom has multiple definitions:

• The power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint
• Absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government
• The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved

Let’s break each of these down as they relate to our current society and see where we land on the freedom spectrum.

The power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint

On the surface, America still provides this right to its citizens. The fact I’m able to write this article and you’re able to read it proves that point. But, that may have more to do with my lack of influence on the overall population. Rather than the 100 or so readers I currently have, what would happen if I had 1 million or even 10 million? Would there be an attempt to censor me? You think it wouldn’t happen? Simply look to Instagram, Facebook, and pre-Musk Twitter for any number of things that were censored related to the 2020 elections or COVID “misinformation.” Why is it the government’s responsibility to form our opinions within the news or via social media? Technically it’s not, but they did it anyway. There are of course people who are upset about this, but I find most simply don’t care or feel they’re not impacted by the government not allowing them to form their own opinion.

Without hindrance or restraint. It’s right there in the definition. Does it sound like we were allowed to form our own opinion related to COVID without any hindrance or restraint from the American government? What about our elections? Do you honestly think there’s a free flow of information through a mass media that is bought and paid for? According to the media, the sexual exploitation of children is somehow a problem on the far right only, those on the left are completely fine with it. I don’t think that’s true. I do think there are those on the progressive left who are perfectly fine having a play by play within a children’s book on how to perform oral sex. This is nothing new. What is new is the media portraying this as normal and many on the left in agreement. This is somehow framed as a right wing issue instead of an American issue. These are our kids. Give them the freedom to decide what they want without introducing complex social and sexual issues they can’t possibly grasp at such a young age. It would be like saying all those who struggled with their faith as a child have now miraculously figured it all out because they’re an adult. Plenty of us do figure it out, but plenty more are still questioning and working it out on their own. Allow children the same courtesy.

Absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government

The absence of subjection to foreign domination portion of the definition is pretty simple. America is not currently owned by anyone or beholden to another government. I could make an argument that China “owns” America in many ways financially as we’re so dependent on the goods and services they make on our behalf, but this could be shifted to India or elsewhere over time. It may be a long time and a very tangled web to unweave, but it’s still possible.

A despotic government is another story. A despot is defined as “a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.” There’s a lot to unpack here as not all of this would apply to America, but I do think some of it fits. We’ll use the COVID example again to prove the point. I could argue that Dr. Anthony Fauci was a despotic ruler when it came to COVID, masking, and the vaccine mandates. I understand there’s almost always one person in charge of a certain situation; however, the fact he wasn’t even questioned provided him with absolute power. Those who did question or even question today are considered “against science” or “uniformed.” Why is it being uninformed to question? I’m not a doctor or a health provider but I’m not sure why I would be vilified for asking general questions about something I’m about to place into my body. I should have the freedom to decide what I want to do and when without being bullied into making a decision. I’m aware of the fact this continues to be a decisive topic within America and I’m fully aware many would consider my take on this to be incorrect. I have zero problem with that. We both have the freedom to disagree with one another which simply affirms my point.

The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved

As I’ve gotten older, I understand freedom is such an easy concept for me as a white male who grew up in a middle class home within an upper class neighborhood. There was never a question of me or my family being enslaved. We were American, this was simply something that wasn’t considered or discussed. How very different this must be within the black community. When I was researching the definition of freedom to use in this article, the part about being enslaved struck a chord with me. There was no way I could discuss the concept of freedom in America without at least touching on this aspect of the definition. It’s eye opening and helps me understand the idea of a Juneteenth holiday better. Plenty within our society continue to think this is a “made up holiday” or one not worthy of inclusion as a day of celebration. I can’t say I fell into that category but I certainly fell into the category of “what is this anyway?” I no longer have to say that, as I have a better understanding given the definition of freedom.

You can also make arguments related to the prison system and over incarceration of the black population here; however, I’d like to focus more on imprisonment as it relates to the mind. Americans are being attacked on a daily basis through the use of mind altering tactics that undermine our democracy. The very fact I’m writing about freedom would place me in the Alt Right category for some. Think about that for a minute. The foundational principle used as the reason to untether ourselves from the British empire is now tied to MAGA America or the far right. The media and progressive politicians have done an incredible job of convincing you it’s for your own good, whatever it is they’re attempting to sell you. Removing “disinformation” from social media or ensuring “hate groups” don’t have a chance to be heard. You aren’t being given the ability to make up your own mind. In the end, you won’t have your own thoughts or ability to reason, you’ll simply be sheep following the herd.

The ability to reason and question is fundamental to our democracy. Without it, America doesn’t exist. We would no longer have the freedom to dictate our own lives. I can assure you, those currently in charge want nothing more than to control your every move. Examples include: COVID lockdowns, corrupt media propagandizing American thoughts and fears, and a deep underbelly of sick individuals doing their daily best to undermine our social and societal values. This is the America we live in today, this is the legacy we’re leaving our children.

As we celebrate the founding of America this 4th of July holiday, I urge you to think about the freedoms we have today. Consider the possibility of those being taken away and how your life would change. As Americans, we’re constantly striving to do more, be more and accrue as much wealth as possible so we can fill our ever expanding garages, closets, and storage units. As you gather with your family at the lake or for backyard cookouts, take a minute to think about those who risked it all in order for you to have those items gathering dust on a shelf.

When you have time, hop on over to your storage unit and pull out the 3-4 American flags sitting in the corner. The 13 red and white stripes and 50 stars on a plain of blue tell the story of a nation still attempting to find itself almost 250 years after its founding. Imperfect as we may be, freedom remains our greatest gift to the world and each other. John Adams said it best:

In other words, get out there and celebrate America. Let freedom ring for all to hear.

This article was originally published on Reverian.

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Joe Biden is not a great president. I have zero doubt he was an effective senator and vice president (regardless of whether I agreed with his policies, he was effective) at one time, but this is very much in the rear view mirror. This is a president who is completely shielded by the media on a daily basis and yet, we still have video of him stumbling over his words, fumbling to find where he needs to exit from the stage, or physically stumbling off of a stage after a speech. America deserves better but somehow not all of us know it or are saying anything about it. This is a president who has a series of handlers helping him every step of the way, attempting to provide direction on what he needs to do and when, and he still has issues finding his way. I honestly feel sorry for him and for the American people that this is the best option that was available to us.

“He’s better than Trump.” This is the standard line I hear from most people on why they voted for him. I don’t disagree but it has less to do with Trump and more to do with the American media and how both are portrayed. Trump was branded a racist early on and perhaps there’s truth to it. There’s enough footage of him uttering negative references directed at marginalized communities to make this argument. I won’t debate this as there’d be no point anyway; such is his polarizing power to either love or hate him. I will, however, debate that Joe Biden doesn’t somehow fall into a similar category. There’s plenty of historical video showing Biden making insensitive remarks about people of color over the years. Most people in power would look down on marginalized communities, owing more to their economic situation than anything else. The difference is, Biden is presented as a caring and kind president who has your best interest at heart. Anyone who says differently is branded a “Right Wing Republican” or “MAGA Trumper” who wants nothing more than to slander a sitting president. I’m neither of these but I firmly believe our country is being led by a series of oligarchs bent on destroying the civil liberties we currently enjoy (COVID lockdowns are a perfect example). Joe Biden is the perfect shill to help further this agenda, given his lack of acuity and daily declining cognitive ability. Again, to say otherwise is the very definition of insanity.

As far as I can tell, the bigger problem doesn’t have anything to do with Joe Biden the person. I firmly believe America is now managed by a uni-party system. Meaning, Democrats and Republicans argue and yell to each other’s face but pat each other on the back during closed door sessions. Why would I believe this? The war on Ukraine is a perfect example. Both parties are in support of a war because of the money involved. Wars make politicians rich, which is really all that matters in the end. Although their philosophical ways to govern may differ, furthering their bank account is all that matters in the end. This would explain how a senator or congressman making < $200K a year in salary is a multi millionaire within 5-10 years in office. It’s fascinating to me that this would be considered a conspiracy theory when it’s so blatantly in your face for all to see. Trump was impeached twice and has now been indicted on charges he mishandled confidential documents. You’ve hopefully noticed that although there has been an outcry of injustice from some Republicans, most would be fine if he were put in prison forever. You've also hopefully noticed that Hunter Biden got a slap on the wrist while our esteemed President hasn't been indicted let alone questioned (aside from a few reporters who have been panned for even suggesting he was involved) on his role in anything scandalous. This brings us back to the uni-party concept and the money to be made by allowing a puppet president to remain in office. And let’s be clear, Joe Biden is indeed a puppet president. He’s the perfect AI-generated human bot, able to regurgitate the narrative needed to further an agenda of totalitarian like control and state owned media. Don’t believe me about the media? To prove my point, I’d like to reference an article I received from The New York Times several months ago. To be fair, this was an opinion piece so it’s not considered “news” although the difference between the two is pretty gray anyway. I’ve provided his thoughts in italics and then added my comments after.

The article was called, “Good morning. As Biden starts his campaign, we ask why he doesn’t spend more time in the public eye,” by David Leonhardt.

I somewhat understand the comparison to Reagan since the former president was diagnosed with Alzheimers shortly after his presidency (1994), but the evidence on whether he suffered from a cognitive decline during his presidency is not widely accepted. The fact that he would use this in his argument is a massive stretch. A bigger stretch is his use of FDR. The man had polio as a child which crippled him and confined him to a wheelchair, a degeneration of the body is very different than that of the mind. This is both irresponsible and quite honestly ridiculous.

Ahh yes, the stutter. This became a much more pronounced argument during his presidential run. He may have a stutter, I half believe this could be true, but where was it when he was younger? I’ve watched many of Biden’s clips when he was younger and there is no notice of a stutter. Perhaps it becomes more pronounced in a person as they grow older or (a more probable answer is) it’s a convenient way to avoid his cognitive decline coming into question. The King of England, George VI had a stutter, they even made a movie about it (The King’s Speech). Yet, when I’ve gone back and listened to any of his WWII speeches to the people of Great Britain, he appears to be resolute and in command. I’m hard pressed to feel the same way when I listen to President Biden.

Leonhardt does go on to say:

But aging does seem to have exacerbated these issues. In the upcoming campaign, you can imagine that a verbal misstep could cause some swing voters to wonder whether Biden is up for a second term.

Give credit where it’s due here, he does mention aging and the potential of “exacerbated these issues” but refused to take a stance one way or the other. It’s pretty plain to see there’s an issue here, I’ll state what he won’t since I’m beholden to no one other than myself.

One of my favorites. He had a good speech and was able to make salient points that were both clear and concise to members of congress. Well, congratulations, you’re doing what a president is supposed to do. Keep in mind, he’s not being given credit for what he’s saying at this point, simply for coherently speaking without fumbling around or forgetting what’s on the teleprompter right in front of him.

There you have it. Just one article among a daily barrage of positive and fawning coverage of a man who is undeserving of it. Don’t we want more? Don’t we deserve more than this? Are we going to re-elect a man who’s clearly past his prime simply because he’s a member of the part you “root for?” I have news for you, the Democratic party you knew as a child is long gone, replaced with a Progressive leftism bent on destroying America from the inside out. Joe Biden is simply the shadow president we have in place to further this agenda. There is hope in the likes of fringe candidates like; Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F Kennedy Jr. and Tim Scott. Each are unlikely to make major strides regardless of their views and the fact they could do infinitely better by America than what we currently have in place.

Joe Biden put it best recently, “God Save the Queen, man.” I couldn’t agree more Joe, Lady Liberty is our queen and she deserves saving. Cross your party lines and let’s figure this thing out, our country and our sanity depends on it.

This article was originally published on Reverian.

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