Election 2010

In November 2010, we, as a nation will have a midterm election. We will be electing House Representative and Senators, and in some states, Mayors and Governors. America, for over 40 years, the majority of Americans have been shirking our duty.

When people talk politics, law, elections, police or anything political or legal, people are quick to start spouting the rights we have, or more to the point, the rights we’re suppose to have. But rarely, if ever, do we talk about OUR DUTIES we as Americans have. We as Americans have duties as well as rights.

Somehow we place disproportionate emphasis on our rights against our duties as citizens. Rights and duties are the two sides of the same coin. Our inalienable rights are inherent and fundamental; the constitution simply safeguards and guarantees them. As rights are inalienable so are our duties, for every right there is a reciprocal duty. The duty of a person is an inalienable part of his/her right.

Mahatma Gandhi stated eloquently the responsibilities of all citizens:

“The true source of right is duty. If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek. If leaving duties unperformed we run after rights, they will escape us like will-o-the-wist, the more we pursue them, the farther they will fly.”

Although the duties of citizenship appear minor, everyday American citizens seek to avoid them, forgetting the importance of an active citizenry in a Democracy.

Being an American citizen carries with it a number of duties and responsibilities, chief of which is active participation in the democratic process. Yet many Americans take these duties for granted and some will take steps to avoid them altogether. In Iran, for example, recent elections demonstrated that everyday people were willing to risk injury and even death in order to cast their vote.

Citizens Should be Active in the Democratic Process

In 1945 Germany was shedding its totalitarian Nazi past when the United States began the process of helping Germans write a Constitution and move toward a fully democratic society. A nation that had limited participation in the voting process changed because of the U.S. model. In the recent 2009 federal elections, voter turnout in Germany was only 70.8% compared to 77.7% in 2005. Yet in the 2008 US presidential election, voter turnout was 56.8, up from 37.1% in 2006. The United States experienced voter turnout percentages of over 60% only three times between 1960 and 1968.

Being active in the democratic process means becoming familiar with key campaign issues, knowing the candidates, and voting on election day. Part of this process also means that qualifying citizens should consider either running for an office themselves or volunteering time on behalf of candidates.

Government is corrupt for lots of reasons, low voter turnout, vote tampering by officials, etc. But the second largest reason our government is so corrupt, is because the “same politicians” keep getting re-elected. Oh sure, every few years we kick out Republicans and put in Democrats and vice versa. It’s the recycling of the same old, criminal, and corrupt politicians.

When an unknown runs for office, we seldom hear about them. The media won’t cover them. But with little effort, “we” can find out who they are, what they stand for and their thoughts and beliefs on our current issues. We have the obligation to know “ALL” the candidates, not just what the national propaganda nightly broadcast tells us, and pay no attention to the barrage of endless commercials for and against candidates for they are “ALL” untrue. These candidates don’t spend millions on advertising and commercials to tell the American voters the truth! If they did, none of us would vote for them and they know it.

So what are our rights “and duties” as Americans?

 Thomas Jefferson on Politics & Government

Duties of Citizens

There are many duties that come with American citizenship, as of these:

• You have the responsibility to be a faithful citizen of the United States of America and to expect the same of every other citizen or immigrant to this great land.
• To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
• To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the United States of America;
• Accepting citizenship means that you are, first and foremost, an American, not a hyphenated American or a native of another country who is here solely for “economic advantage”, or to exploit our entitlement programs. While you do not need to agree with every law that is passed, you do have the commitment to obey the law and work through peaceful means to achieve change, NOT to hold violent demonstrations, or initiating or participating in boycotts of the laws of our land. Further, for as long as you are living in this vast country that continues to guarantee more freedom to its citizens than any other, including the one from wench you came,you have the obligation to be grateful for the blessing of living in such a land. In America you have the freedom to leave at any time, should you not be satisfied. No permission is necessary.
• To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
• You have the responsibility to speak up when the criminal or legislative actions of any persons threaten the well-being of your family or your nation. It is not someone else's duty to blow the whistle; it is yours. "They" shouldn't do something about the problems. You're "they." It takes courage and time to stand up against foul and destructive forces, but if you do not do it, who will?
• You have the responsibility to support yourself and your personal immediate and extended family. Being self-sustaining, providing for your own family, and serving your neighbor to the extent possible are requisite for a healthy economy and society. No society can flourish when a sizable amount of its citizens expect to do nothing while accepting a government dole. Reliance on government entities inevitably destroys individual self-respect and the economic happiness of both citizen and state. If you take care of yourself and family, and the community picks up the laziness, this nation will have one-third more funds for worthwhile projects and both you and this Nation will become strong and resilient.
• You own the responsibility to be educated and informed. A public education is not ample. Finding truth is a challenging lifetime job that you must pursue diligently. You have the responsibility to search the truth from many sources. You must question what you read in any publication or listen to in any media report and be willing to consider all parts of any question. You must realize that such a mission for truth will take a tremendous effort to seek it out. The truth is not revealed unless actively sought after.
• You have the responsibility to use wisdom in selecting those who will top you. You must learn to search for men of good character, not those with only charisma or a handsome face. You must become a expert of character rather than a pawn of a salient slogan. You must remember that character is never old-fashioned. A man or woman with no self-control should never be trusted with the welfare of our country. You must never bear leaders who are untruthful, deceitful, or seek to exercise power rather than give service.

• We have just 4 short months until the November 2010 elections. Four months isn’t a lot of time, but it is enough time for citizens to start familiarizing your selves with the candidates’ --- ALL the candidates’ --- the rich and powerful candidates, as well as the NOT so rich and powerful candidates. So let the “vetting” process begin. Uphold your duty as an American citizen, research, learn make your choice and then in November …. GO OUT AND VOTE! It’s your responsibility and your duty, so put aside all the petty excuses and “just do it”.

  Remember, a true patriot will readily and passionately criticize his or her government when it is evil, corrupt, and infamous; refusing to do so is treason! It is the duty of every American citizen to criticize, censure and scourge the political criminals who pretend to serve the public when in reality; those villainous brutes serve only tyranny, greed, hatred, and prejudice.

  To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity, so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.