American patriots--where are they?

June 24, 2013

What would patriotism look like?

I am often asked why we can't seem to find true patriots for our highest elected federal offices. A large part of the answer to this important question is staring back at us every time we look at ourselves in a mirror. After all, no office-holders ever elected themselves to office. Nearly half of us who were eligible to vote did not do so in the last national elections, and almost none of us is actively protesting in any way.

Clearly any nation's challenges constantly change. To me, patriots are leaders who will always face their own era's unique challenges by consistently and passionately placing the best long-term interests of the vast majority of their nation's citizens ahead of powerful special interests, their political party, or even their own.

If the President of United States, or members of either of our lawmaking bodies, were true patriots, they would spend every waking moment during these trying times solely focused on the following: 1. Our economy...and most importantly the creation of jobs. 2. Our national security. 3. How to control deficit spending and reduce our debt. 4. How to deal with entitlement promises. After all, aren't these really our most important challenges? True patriots would never stop working together with the opposition party to find effective solutions to these serious challenges.

After all, no individual or political party alone can ever effectively solve the multitudes of problems for the benefit of the vast majority of citizens. Both parties in the legislative houses have obstructed. Isn't it the President's role to bring them together for the benefit of all Americans...and not just stand by his party's side? After all, aren't they all supposed to govern for the benefit of all Americans...not just those in their own party? Indeed, all of our elected have much blame to share for placing their own party's interests above the overall needs of our nation's citizens.

Would a true patriot ever even consider adding to our future citizens' debt burden by taking luxurious vacations? Can you imagine George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, or Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in the midst of their era's national crises, doing such a thing?

According to the Huffington Post, the Obama's family trip to Africa will end up costing around $100 million...all borrowed money. It has to be borrowed because nearly every dollar spent on discretionary items does. Administration spokespersons say the majority of these expenses are the result of Secret Service efforts to protect the first family's safety. And the $100 million doesn't even consider the millions of additional dollars it cost for Michelle and their daughters to recently tour Ireland and Germany during the President's attendance at the G8 Summit. Is this the same administration which cancelled school children's visits to the White House because of sequestration cuts to the Secret Service budgets?

This seems no different than a family using a credit card to finance additional spending for luxury items. Except, this is America's first family using our credit card instead of their own. And it's being done when we can't afford the additional debt.

Can you imagine any way the trip to Africa can positively address our nation's joblessness, increasing debt, national security, and entitlement dilemmas?

I do not begrudge our President for taking time off to recharge his batteries. And, I understand how incredibly expensive it is these days to protect a President's safety. I also understand the need to travel in order to find solutions for our national challenges. However, this trip to Africa demonstrates more of an "emperor's mentality" than of a patriot. It certainly does not show a hint of the single-minded determination and perseverance a true patriot would display every waking hour in attempting to lead our nation out of the deep hole in which we all now stand.

During ordinary times perhaps this behavior would be more acceptable. However, these are far from ordinary times. Our nation is in deep economic trouble and our future is in grave danger. Does President Obama not understand the terrible signal he is sending to all ordinary Americans? Does he not understand how many of his fellow citizens are living paycheck to paycheck, or worse, barely surviving on food stamps and welfare checks?

Is this truly the legacy he wishes to leave behind?

To those of you who will say a hundred million dollars is chicken feed in the greater scheme of things, you may be right, but please remember...it's our chicken feed!

Even President Obama's most ardent supporters should be disgusted at this overt display of royal privilege! Does the old story about Nero fiddling while Rome burned come to mind?

These are my opinions. What do you think?

Mike Tower