PRIORITIES
We all set what we think, consciously or unconsciously, are priorities. A priority is defined as anything that is regarded as being more important than another. It is not uncommon for us to have misplaced or misguided priorities. Every priority we set and act upon has a consequence; some good while others we wish we had avoided. I have a permanent set of priorities that guide my life and they are; my God, my family, and my country.
My priority to God is very basic and somewhat simple. I trust God to guide me in every activity I undertake. Through my faith I feel God will direct me to do what is best for all endeavors I attempt. To live the best life I can live, God must be, and must remain, my highest priority and closest companion.
My priority to my family is second only to God and yet it involves his countenance. I have set a priority to provide all the needs my family may have and then some of the things they may want. It is my priority to keep my family safe from all outside forces. The basic needs are housing, food, clothing, safety and love. Some of the wants most families have may include TV’s, electronic games and name brand clothes. At times it becomes difficult to differentiate between the needs and wants, especially due to peer pressure in today’s world.
My country is a huge priority to me. This may seem strange to some because it covers so wide an umbrella of concerns. Our economy, sovereignty, security and freedom should be close to the top of the list for our leaders. One priority each candidate, and resulting office holder, had was raising money for his campaign. There are large amounts of money to be gathered by each candidate enabling them to run a campaign that is successful. Once elected, we hope their priority changes and will become one to serve our country faithfully and completely. However, too often, that is not the case. The priority now settles on getting reelected, even though they have just been elected. There is more time spent in the offices of all representatives soliciting funding for the next campaign than there is working on the challenges facing our nation.
Money becomes an addiction as strong as drugs or alcohol. Money breeds more greed. We must regroup. The fundraising issue alone is enough reason to mandate and create term limits. When indebted to the donors of one’s campaign funding, no one can escape the obligations of returning the spoils of victory to self serving individuals. Money brings power and influence. It was never intended for the best financed candidate to be accepted as the usual winner. We the people must step up and take control of our country.
The only way to eliminate the influence peddling and continual solicitation of money is to vote out the guilty parties and elect new representation. We need to lobby for term limits and rid ourselves of the career politicians. Money is vital in our lives but it is a known fact, money corrupts. We need complete transparency in all aspects of government.
In this country we have the opportunity and the responsibility to vote. The way we need to approach the voting booth is through education, reasoning and yes, common sense. Education can be readily obtained or gathered. Responsibility and common sense are traits that have to be taught and learned from the earliest age a person can comprehend. Therefore, as adults we have another critical responsible duty and obligation to perform. That duty is to educate our children; they are the future voters and leaders. Our public education system is not capable of teaching history and civics as it was and is meant to be. It is our responsibility. This must become a priority in our lives.
It must be our priority to take control of our country now and in the future. Get involved and demand the respect from our elected representatives that we expect from our family members and friends.
Jack's Blog 