Rip Van Winkle slowly strolled up under the giant shade tree and sat down for a brief nap. As the story unfolded, the brief nap turned into 20 years of sleep and the world passed him by. When he finally awoke, he found a very different world than the one that he had previously known. The same could be said for conservatives in our country. After the takeover of the House, Senate and White House, many of us settled into a nice nap thinking that all was right with the world. And, while many of us slept the few that were in charge and chose to stay up did all that they could do to destroy all of the hard work that had gone into that leadership change.

We slept through Republican big spending, an expanding national debt, and a government that grew quicker than Rip’s gray beard. By the time we started to wake up, and after an extended period of yawning and stretching, our eyes were opened wide to a Democratic freight train that was heading straight towards Washington D.C. All we could do was wave as the express blew by, our eyes still puffy from sleep. We all know how that story ended. We now have a Democratic House, Senate, and a fellow named Obama who is sitting in the big chair. The story of Rip Van Winkle is a fictional children’s story. Unfortunately, the story of the sleeping conservatives was very, very, real. A story that should not be read before bedtime based on the nightmares that it can cause.

However, as recent events have unfolded, there are signs that we have hopefully begun to be wide eyed and no where near ready for a nap. In fact, it would behoove us to never close our eyes again until the November elections. And even then, we cannot rest as we must get ready for another round of elections in two years that may be the most important votes that we will cast in our life times. Recent polls, even those that historically underestimate conservative mindset and opinion, show Republicans a good ten points ahead of Democrats across the board. Several early elections have seen liberal incumbents defeated which is hopefully a good sign of things to come. Recent political rallies are brining in hundreds of thousands of conservative minded voters who have great concerns about the future of this country. We all understand, accept, and enjoy the concept that we must always be ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. But, if our country is not strong within its own borders, we will be unable to help those who live beyond our borders.

And in an even more telling sign that a change is on the horizon, many liberal office holders are distancing themselves from the mainstream democratic mantra for fear of political repercussions to a stance that is being thoroughly rejected by the majority of voters in our country. Just as the Democratic Express rolled powerfully into Washington D.C. two years ago, the train is now seen as out of control and appears to be driven by engineers who have no sense of logical navigation. Even those who bought tickets to ride the train complain that they are being taken to destinations far different from where they were told they would go.

We are approaching an opportunity to retake the country and secure the type of future that our children deserve. We’ve been in this position before and know the area well. We are making steady progress but the work is far from being done. Surely, we have rested long enough to have an ample supply of energy to see this job through. And if we are able to get back there again, we must be careful about the long naps that we have been known to take. We know all too well how quickly things can change behind the darkness of a closed eye lid. Another nap like the last one and we may not be able to muster enough energy to ever wake up again. Rise and shine and put on a pot of coffee. This could be an all nighter!

I’ll admit it, I am prejudice. There, I said it and I say it with no apologies. Now before anyone starts rubbing their hands together and saying, “I knew it” let me be exact as to the source of my prejudicial stand. It has nothing to do with race, religion, or political affiliation. Okay, maybe I am a little prejudice about political affiliation, but that is a conversation for another day. I have an absolute prejudice when it comes to our nation’s police officers. Unless there is evidence that is slapping me on the side of the head in direct conflict of my gut feelings, I will always fall on the side of the guys in blue. Every time I see someone on the news talking about how the police brutalized them and violated their rights I just think to myself, “Yeah right, I think I’ll just wait and hear the other side of that story”. And nine times out of ten there is always another side of the story. And nine times out of ten, the press doesn’t give the police officer’s side near as much as attention as the six o’clock news headline.

I am not so silly to believe that we don’t have any bad cops out there; of course we do. We have bad cops, bad teachers, bad preachers and on and on. When being human is a factor, badness will always be a component that will raise its ugly head from time to time. But, it is going to take a lot more than some thug in front of a camera to convince me that a police officer has broken the law. They deserve nothing less. If the evidence proves that they were wrong, swift justice must be dealt, as with anyone who has broken the law. If they are simply the target of a loud mouth that has an agenda in mind more so than what actually happened, the officer’s vindication must be heard as loud as the officer’s accusers.

Having said all of that, I do believe that we are starting to see more cases where police officers are using bad judgment. I don’t see these as cases where any level of malice or criminal intent is typically an ingredient, but just bad decisions being made under stress. The larger issue, than the bad decision itself, occurs when some of these officers attempt to cover up their bad decisions which as we all know merely complicates the matter. Most officers who find themselves in trouble, based on criminal activity, typically get in that position based on a bad reaction to a bad decision. The bad decision could probably have been righted; the bad reaction throws them across the line.

Perhaps it is time that we did a bit of retooling when it comes to a police officer’s reaction to a particular situation. While the basic way that we behave and the level of violence that we demonstrate as people has worsened dramatically over the years, we still basically train our officers, as to their initial response to these situations, the same way that we did years ago. To borrow the lexicon of the technological world, maybe it’s time for an upgrade. I had an uncle who worked at General Motors for years. From time to time, they would shut down the whole plant and retool the factory for the newer, better versions that they would build. The old way just wouldn’t work anymore. Once that version was obsolete, they would shut down and retool again. That is a strategy that we need with our police officers.

In a society that has the diversity, the societal issues, the anger and the stress that we all live within, the old way just isn’t a good fit any longer. We have to teach our officers that any situation can be perceived differently by whoever is involved in the scenario. The “one size fits all” design approach that has been the training standard for so long needs to be put on the shelf with the Edsels, the Corvairs and the Pacers. They seemed like a good idea at the time, but that time has passed.

Our officers have to be well versed in traditional training as a simple foundation but also well versed in how that training should be applied to a population that is evolving at an alarming pace. This population is so much different than even the population that I served as a rookie officer some 30 years ago. My dad was a cop and this is definitely not your daddy’s police force anymore. We have to stay on top of potential outcomes related to conflict that my father, or me for that matter, could never have envisioned in our years on the street.

Luckily, there is one thing that has not changed when it comes to police officers. The large majority of them are still true to their oath to protect and serve the public and our properties in any and all situations. They are still willing to put their life on the line for a total stranger in the line of duty. And, they are still willing to do all of this at a fraction of the pay that they should be receiving. With them willing to do all of this, we should certainly be willing to put them in a position from a training and equipment perspective to react in a suitable manner according to the situation. They have been the literal backbone of our society for such a long time. But, as we all know when large amounts of stress and weight are repeatedly placed on the spine, without proper care, the spine will begin to show signs of curvature. Unfortunately, that curvature can cause an unbalance damaging both the load it carries, as well as that which carries the load until the back is sometimes simply broken beyond repair.

It seems that many of us are spending a lot of time these days thinking about life the way it was before the onset of what some are now calling “The Great Recession.” We are so consumed with wanting to revert to the life that we once knew not so long ago. A time where houses were selling and everyone had a job. There is no doubt that many people are suffering from the effects of our current economic times. Many people who really want to work simply cannot find a job and many people who really want to make their mortgage and car payments can’t because they don’t have a job. I don’t know who first coined the phrase “times are tough all over,” but for some, truer words were never spoken. For those who have found themselves in these positions, based on no fault of their own, we are surely empathetic to their situations.

However, we have another group in our population that is belting out their best imitation of Miss Streisand’s hit song and, to put it mildly, they couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. They don’t know the words to the song, they don’t know the tune of the song, and they have not prepared their voices to be taken seriously. A singer must understand the lyrics in order to do it justice. Anything else is nothing more than karaoke. Most of them did not make their mortgage payments before things got tough because most of them do not own a house. They did not make car payments before times got tough because they do not own a car. Most of them really cannot speak about the effects of a job loss because they did not have a job to lose. Most of them have relied on government housing, government transportation, and government handouts for their entire life. And most of them weren’t smart enough to come up with this life plan on their own as it was handed down to them generationally. It is a segment of our society that will greet you not with an extended hand to shake but with two extended hands so that they can receive their monthly handouts.

As times get tougher, those who have been self sustainers continue on in a quiet manner as they look for a way to provide for their families. They find other jobs even if the job is far below what they are capable of doing, they get less expensive cars, they look at cheaper housing, and they persevere. Those who began the downturn with nothing, and have even less now are the ones that howl the loudest. If you believe what they say, it is their right to have free housing, and free food, and free transportation and all other government handouts that are well….free. Anything less is a violation of their rights and they will not stand for it.

My grandmother had a big glass container in her kitchen that she kept filled with Moon Pies. Every time the grandkids would go there we would attack that container like we hadn’t eaten is a week. And after every visit, our grandmother would restock and wait for the next visit. On one occasion, we all headed to the kitchen and the jar was empty; not a Moon Pie to be found. We screamed and complained to our grandmother who took that opportunity to explain to us that while things are sometimes given to us, we should never expect it. Enjoy it when it happens, but never expect that it will happen again. In fact, if we saved our money and bought our own Moon Pies, we would never be disappointed by an empty jar again.

Many folks today could learn from my grandmother’s advice. Not only do some expect the jar to always be full, they don’t even know where you can buy one of the pies if they had to since their “pies” have always been delivered to their front door; which they also did not pay for. It is true that we must all crawl before we can walk. But, even in order to crawl, one must be picked up and removed from the crib. Otherwise crawling and eventually walking on their own is not a behavior that would ever be considered. Charity should always have a place in our hearts that is reserved for those who cannot do for themselves. Somewhere along the way we have allowed charity and laziness to reap the same benefits.

As we do lament on the way we were, I know that in time we will get back to that comfort zone that so many of us have worked so hard to get to. It may take a little time but we’ll get there. But, as we think about the way we were and the way that we would like to be again, we must do something to ensure that we all contribute to that lifestyle. Allowing people to believe that they are entitled to receive anything and everything for free, simply because that’s the way it has always been, is ludicrous.

We need to plan for a time where we will not get back to the way we were but to the way that we should be. That is a plan that will help prevent the way that we are from ever happening again. And that, like it or not, and with all due respect to Barbara, is just the way that it is. In the mean time, I am going to have myself a nice Moon Pie….that I bought on my own.

Of course it is true! We all stared aimlessly at the screen when Dorothy clicked her ruby laden heels together and said “there’s no place like home.” My dad used to say that “a man’s house is his castle.” And probably the most popular of all expressions as to the importance of home is “home is where the heart is.” This and so many other iconic expressions lend us to believe that when all else goes to pot, at least we have a safe haven in our homes. The validity of these statements goes well beyond mere verbiage or a cinematic moment where houses actually could fly. The “home” and all that it stands for has always been a place of comfort and safety where the troubles of the world could be left behind; albeit temporarily.

But, the home and all that it stands for is as much under attack as anything else in our society today. For some, the home is merely a venue where verbal, physical and sometime sexual violence is dolled out in a manner that makes Dorothy’s bad dreams suddenly seem not all that bad. Victims of domestic violence which by the way is not limited to adults, but also includes thousands of children every day, would rather be anywhere but at home. The home, in these instances, is nothing more than a venue where screaming, yelling, hitting and much worse is common place. Home is the last place that they would wish for if they had the ability to make the transformational wish that Dorothy made…anywhere but home.

If a man’s home is truly his castle, someone needs to alert the king that the castle is under attack. Home invasions are no longer just anomalies, but are occurring at a frightening pace. The burglars of old, whom we have always feared, do not hold a candle to the criminals that are committing these invasions. Burglars prefer to find a location where no one is home and the basic victimization tended to be more of a monetary aspect than a physical one. Certainly, there is always a sense of violation when one’s home is entered but physical violence is rare in a typical burglary case.

Home invasions are committed by criminals who could care less if someone is home and even appear to welcome the opportunity of committing further crimes against the occupants of the residence if encountered. Physical violence almost always happens in these cases and the perpetrators seem oblivious to any concerns for the age, sex, or anything else about the occupants. Other than the act of the invasion itself, many acts of physical and sexual assault have occurred to people who just minutes before had been sleeping peacefully in their beds. Unlike the typical burglar there is no apparent rhyme or reason as to which house is picked for the attack and no prior surveillance made to ensure that the house is vacant. They seem to just pick a house at random and the attack begins. These crimes are committed by people who are armed and prepared for confrontation. Violence seems to be the “battering ram” used to cross the threshold and positions the victims in an immediate and defenseless situation.

What is it that has caused a historically sacred location to be targeted? Well, when you think about it, it is really quite simple. Why would these thugs pick commercial or otherwise locations that have prepared for these type offenses? It is much easier to descend on unwilling and unsuspecting victims of a residence where their chances of a successful assault are much greater. The chances and or sophistication of alarm and warning systems is not as great and many of these attacks happen without a sound being heard by a neighbor who sleeps soundly next door. They then slip quietly into the night and retreat like the creodonts that they are to whatever it is that they call a home.

And, the most important part of all; law enforcement is somewhat helpless in battling both of these issues. Most often, they are only notified after the event and all of its carnage has occurred. With domestic violence, they are sometimes never notified, based on the victim’s fear of retribution, unless a neighbor finally alerts them. Home invasions are a phenomenon that law enforcement is still trying to evaluate but prevention has proved difficult based on the randomness of the acts. In the meantime, for those of us who still can find safe haven in our homes, we should thank our lucky stars. For those of you who are not so lucky, getting the police involved is the first step toward regaining that one piece of security that we all should have; our homes. Neighbors must start behaving like the neighbors of old and looking out for each other. I would much rather have nosy neighbors that prevented or resolved such an issue instead of ones that choose to cast blind eyes to anything that did not concern them personally.

These attacks on our home, from outside and from within, are not problems that can be solved by the police alone. If our homes are not worth defending, then what is? We have to do all that we can to get ourselves back in a position where the home truly is where the heart is. Right now, too many of us simply occupy dwellings that are far from an actual home. The heart may be present, but it is most often broken.

We have all been there before. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, it is inevitable that it will catch up with you sooner or later. It’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Do I go left or go right? Should I go or should I stay? Do I speak or should I just remain silent? You are literally stuck between a rock and a hard place whereby anything that you may do will have negative consequences. Not only do we find ourselves from time to time in this unenviable quagmire on a personal level, our government is just as bad. We can’t seem to get anything done based on our system’s ineptness and inability to create policies that are not in direct conflict with other policies that already exist. Therefore, we find ourselves between a literal rock and a hard place while the very life of anything that resembles common ground has had the life sucked out of it.

As if it is not already bad enough, and to make matters even worse, we now have this ludicrous way of thinking being forced on our law enforcement and judicial systems. The recent debate on the illegal immigration laws that were recently passed by the State of Arizona have set off a show of power between Arizona and the Federal Government. More importantly, this issue has created a major sized headache for Arizona law enforcement agencies. They are the ones who will have to sort out the mess that they have been handed. It is remindful of two parents going through a divorce arguing about what a child can or cannot do. One says that you can go to the movies and the other one says that you cannot. Neither seems willing to budge and the child is caught in the middle. Based on not knowing which way to turn, and worrying about who might have the better argument, whichever decision the child makes usually turns out to be the wrong one.

Arizona has instructed their law enforcement personnel to begin enforcing the state’s new immigration laws in just a few days. The Federal Government has told them that they do not have the authority to enforce laws that are unconstitutional; in their opinion. Arizona has said that if the Federal Government had enforced the laws, they would have never created the state laws. The Federal Government says that they are going to file a lawsuit against Arizona to keep them from doing anything. And it is now turned into a real life situation of “yes we can,” and “no you can’t,” and “we’ll do it,” and “you better not.” We are now watching the shouting back and forth and school yard posturing of everyone’s lawyers that has included everything except “nanny nanny boo-boo.” We have heard from a judge this week that she will rule on the issue soon and will probably strike down some of Arizona’s new immigration law, but probably not all of it. All the while, cops from Phoenix to Tempe are scratching their heads and wondering what they should do.

If this new law is constitutional, any police officer will enforce it just as they do the hundreds and hundreds of laws on the book that they have the authority to enforce. However, it is unfair to ask any police officer to enforce this law, or any law for that matter, that may be unconstitutional. Someone needs to make this determination and it does not need to be the police. This type of behavior may be okay in politics, but it is a dangerous precedent to hand off to our law enforcement and judicial systems. It is one thing when a person who is charged with a crime may not agree with the validity of the law itself. It is a far more serious breech of confidence when the very people who are sworn to uphold our laws hold that same reluctance. It is simply a recipe for disaster and a scenario that we should never visit. Injecting the police into a situation that has not fully passed or failed its constitutional muster is insane. The rock moves and the hard place moves with it. The hard place moves and the rock slides over the gap. All the while, one illegal immigrant after another is trying to wedge in between the two as they posture for position.

There is no doubt that the issue of illegal immigration in this country is a major problem. It’s sort of like acne. It probably could have been resolved easily when it was first noticed as a small pimple on the face of our country, but by choosing to just ignore it the problem has now festered to the point that it requires some professional lancing. Unfortunately, our governments both on the state and federal level have asked the police to be the needle that will prick the boil. And, oh yeah, once you do how about cleaning up the mess as well? Nice!

As a kid, my dad was one of those guys who would sit back and watch quietly as events played themselves out. If I were ever able to figure out a situation, which was not that often, he would stay out of it. But, inevitably, when he realized that a whole lot of wheels were spinning with little or no movement occurring, he would step in. With a solution most often in hand he would simply state, “what’s the game plan here.” In other words, it was time to cut to the chase.

I wonder and worry, if as a party, we may now be at this juncture when it comes to conservative politics and policies. We have been moaning and groaning for the last eighteen months or so as we continue to try and launch the USS “Blame Obama” ship as we head toward the next sea of elections. We’re doing the same thing that the Democrats did when they blamed Bush for everything from excess government growth to a squeaky bed in the Lincoln Room. I personally believe that the squeaky spring issue might be the fault of another President that we know; not Bush. But, I digress. While we agree that we are unhappy with the way that Obama has been handling most everything, many people are still waiting to hear from us about how we would do it different. And not only what we would do differently, but who would be our leader as we go about doing it. As we approach a critical point with November elections, elections where we must at least take the House of Representatives, we are very vague about what our game plan is.

We hate the way that Obama has dealt with the economy. Check. We hate the way that Obama has forced national health care on us. Check. We hate the way that Obama has run up the national debt with bailouts. Check. We hate his decisions as they apply to illegal immigration. Check. We have no trouble in identifying what we dislike about President Obama’s strategy. What we can’t do is come to any agreement on what we will do when we get back in. The answer to most questions, regarding policy shift, usually ends with “well, we certainly will not do it like President Obama.” We get that. But, many of us hope and pray that our game plan is a little more detailed than that. I hate it when the Braves games get rained out, but a better story would be if I had a plan to prevent future rainouts. Let’s see the plan!

We, as conservative minded voters, should not have to ask the questions about what will we do different. The Republican Party should be publishing, speaking, and by any and all means available, shouting to the tops of their lungs about what we would do different. Each and every one of us should have access to policies that would change immediately if we are successful in the elections. This is true with not only the November elections, but the 2012 elections as well. And, as far as who the tip of this spear might be as our leader, I don’t know about you but I don’t have a clue. Is it Newt Gingrich, or is it Mitt Romney, or is it Sara Palin, or is it someone who is being groomed and manicured at the National Republican Spa and they just haven’t told us about him or her yet? All I know is that when I am asked who we will put forward that can actually beat President Obama, I just say something like I’m not really sure, but we’ll come up with someone. I hope that we know before long who that someone will be.

All we have right now is one pundit after another getting in front of a television camera and talking about the end of the world as we know it if the current policies remain in place. That was a great REM song, but is doesn’t really hit the mark when it comes to a national platform that must be embraced by all conservatives and one that can be presented, with a straight face, even to those who are not conservative. I hope that we do recover some of the seats that we lost eighteen months ago. If we don’t we are really in for some rough times. But, at this rate, our successes may be based on more of what they have done terribly rather than how we said that we could do it better. Getting back in power, in any fashion, is great. But, we need to go back in with a real plan; a comprehensive plan. If not, we know just how quickly we will be kicked back to the curb.

I am all for the slow and steady as she goes philosophy. However, at some point in time, we need to have a plan in place that is smart and that explains in great detail about how we will do it better. And, it cannot be the same plan that we had pre-Obama. That plan pretty much placed us in the position of spectators instead of players. And quite frankly, if we don’t hurry up and get back in the game, this game may be over before we even get the play book published. Put us in Coach, we’re ready to play!

I cannot recall how many times I have referred to myself as a Republican or Conservative. Whether you agree with my political philosophy or not, you know where I stand. And the same holds true with me for those who, as baffled as I am by their proclamation, refer to themselves as a Democrat or Liberal. I don’t have a clue as to how they ended up in that particular grouping, but I do respect them for having the courage to call themselves what they are. Identify your principles, stand by them, and then try to convince everyone you encounter why you are right and why they are wrong. That’s the way it works. We all have partisan beliefs and opinions whether we care to admit it or not.

That is why I find it so amusing as we go about the business of appointing a new Justice to our Supreme Court that we still refer to them as non-partisan.  Are you kidding me? For many years now, the nominations for the Supreme Court are nothing more than a mirror image of whatever party happens to call the White House home. They might as well have the party du jour stamped on their forehead. I am not saying that they are not capable. I am not saying that they are not qualified and I am not saying that they would not make a good Supreme Court Justice. I am just saying that they are not non-partisan.

They do as they have been coached to do so in the Senate and Congressional hearings as they seek approval. Is it just me or is it alarming that a potential Justice of the Supreme Court of our Country has to be coached as to what he or she should or should not say? But, it is done for good reason. If they were able to speak their conscience and answer the questions asked of them, it would be clear that they have partisan beliefs just like the rest of us.  Of all the gall! If they did this, we would actually know how a Justice might rule, based on their opinion and beliefs before they took the bench. What a novel, but apparently unacceptable idea. Of course, all of this could be avoided if we could ever get back on track with the duties of not only the Supreme Court, but of any judge. Some judges, obviously not all but some, believe that their view on a particular topic is more important than the actual law as it was originally written.  If they would simply rule based on the laws as they are written and not based on how they think that the law should have been written, we would not have this problem. If the law is unconstitutional, it should be clear to anyone who has read the Constitution that it is so.  Their interpreting it for us is where all the trouble starts.  

But, the interpreting part of it is much more important, at least for the politicos, than the law itself. Therefore, we have created a system whereby nominees and eventual appointees must pass the smell test from the party in charge to ensure that these interpretations go their way. I am certainly not an expert on the original premise of the Supreme Court and what our forefathers had in mind. But, I do believe that if any of them sat through one nomination hearing, they would rip off their talcum coated wigs and run out screaming. Of course, the same could probably be said of almost everything that was written in our infancy. We have strolled so far from the original intent of our forefather’s documents that we barely recognize the original written word anymore. The words look good in museums and history books, but have little practical purpose anymore. It simply gets in the way of politics. Not to mention that they are just not politically correct. Huh?

I truly fear that the role of the Supreme Court has or will become less important than the ingredients that the political cooks are adding to the mix. Instead of knowing that justice, in its final form, will be a balanced meal well served, we are only worried that “our” ingredient will have the most prominent taste. And, if that recipe policy continues, we will have one meal after another, in the form of Supreme Court decisions that have a smell that is truly unappetizing to our society and is certainly not fitting to eat. True justice can only be prepared from the original recipe that was created long ago and has no room for additional spices to be added.

Partisan behavior and, therefore ultimately, partisan policies and politics are now the fuel that runs this country. The Supreme Court is no exception. Nothing is simply black or white anymore. Now everything has a visible tint of red or blue spray painted all over it.  That may be fine for homecoming banners, but it does not bode well for a country’s judicial system. It’s sort of like seeing a lemon on the fruit stand and having the storekeeper tell us it taste like a cherry. We may look at it and believe it for a moment. We might even try to convince some other shoppers that this lemon is not like all the rest. But, when we bite down into it we are reminded of its true intent and flavor. It may look like a cherry, it may smell like a cherry but it will always be a lemon. We may wish that life was a bowl of cherries, but a lemon will always taste sour; even if you wrap it up in a non-partisan black robe.

I have a 13 year old daughter. Need I say more as to my understanding of brand names? I will admit that she is not as bad as some kids, but she has a complete understanding of clothing manufacturers and their reputation among her peers. We should never be fooled into thinking that today’s kids are only interested in video games and other electronic gadgets. Girls are well schooled in very complex issues such as marketing, advertising, and design; at least when it comes to fashion. And, while the boys may not admit it, they are not shy about flashing a name brand on whatever they are wearing as well.  I think my daughter said it best as to the issue of brand names; “The clothes just seem to fit better.” We all know that it is less about body fit and more about peer fit that makes them more comfortable. But, major brands have done an excellent job in convincing our kids, who have done an excellent job in convincing us, to buy their brand. Apparently if you are not wearing Abercrombie, American Eagle, or Aeropostle you should keep your label closely hidden.     

I wonder if we have not accepted that same line of brand name thinking when it comes to politics? Political parties have also set out to convince the public that if you are not wearing a brand name, then you are out of the loop. The independent thinker or a member of the independent party can say all that they want about their brand being as cool as the others, but mainstreamers look at them the same way a kid looks at another once they realize that their outfit was bought at a discount outlet. Their party may have a good look, it may be as durable, and it might even be made from a better fabric than the brand names; but without the label, they just don’t get the same acceptance as the big boys.

In an attempt to fight this, several political parties have tried to raise a flag that would give them an equal footing to the ones that are more established. Early on, the Communist Party tried to make a run at the voters. Surprisingly enough they were not successful. They would have had just as good of a chance at success if they had called themselves the Spit in your Face Party. It wasn’t going to happen. In more recent times, The Green Party, The Socialist Party, The Reform Party, and The Libertarian Party have all entered the fray thinking that they had finally figured out a way to burst the bubble of the big two.  So far, they are still looking at position number three, four and five on the hit list. No one has been able to knock the Democrats and the Republicans off the pedestal except the Democrats and the Republicans, which as you know, kick each other off every eight years or so.

But, in this year’s elections, we have something that is a bit different from what has been done before. A group of voters, who had similar political views, decided that they were going to try and make a difference on the elections not by entering candidates but simply by supporting candidates. It didn’t matter necessarily what party the candidate belonged to as long as they were in sync with the political views of the Tea Party voters. Most people would have given them little chance of success based on past history, but this bunch has started to make a little progress. The Tea Party has launched themselves firmly in the mix with this year’s elections. You even see political signs that boast of having obtained the Tea Party Endorsement. The endorsement placards may show up on candidates from varying backgrounds and so far the blessing of this group has been one that is highly sought.

They have a basic list of fundamental principles that are mostly based on Constitutional muster. You would think that any political party would embrace that way of thinking. And, they probably do. It is just a matter of the big two allowing someone other than themselves to take credit for these ideas. Never mind that these ideas have been available for all politicians to claim as foundational principles in party platforms for… oh, I would say since, I don’t know, the time the Constitution was written. But both parties have been so busy trying to out mudsling and out spin the other and use their time on things that really have nothing to do with political ideals but more to do with how to win an election that they have forgotten about what the Constitution is really all about. The Tea Party was happy to claim the old Constitution and remind our country that we do have rights; and I believe that their message has been well received.  There are still some who claim that they are just a bunch of fanatical nuts that should not be paid any attention. Unfortunately, for some of those who feel that way, they are no longer in office.  

I’m not saying that a third party is needed (even though this country was started with more than two parties). I’m pretty sure that my great great great Grandfather was a Whig. And, if that is not true, I’m at least pretty sure that my great Aunt used to wear one. If we have truly entered a period where people with ideas cannot be heard unless they have an R or a D by their name, maybe it’s time to make it the Big Three. It may be the Tea Party and it may be the Beans and Rice Party. Whatever it is called it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that a great number of the American people appear to be ready to sport a brand name that might be available as a blue light special. It’s sort of like NASCAR; they aren’t yet the big name on the hood, but they are firmly planted on the back bumper.

The love/hate relationship that we have for police officers is ongoing and one for the ages. Everyone, for the most part, understands the obvious need for police officers and typically has great respect for those who enter this profession. That is, of course, until that person is sitting behind your car with blue lights flashing. It is a good thing that cops are not mind readers, or lip readers, because it would not be very beneficial to the person receiving the ticket if these thoughts were available to the person issuing the ticket. Usually, all of the muttering, swearing, and face twisting, are complete by the time the officer makes his walk to the door to ask for your autograph. Some will still fire off the parting comment, as if they were the first ones to ever do so, wanting to know why the officer is not out trying to catch a murderer and to remind the officer that they pay the officer’s salary. Never mind the fact that you were doing 75 in a school zone; what about the real criminals? 

But, all of this frustration with what some perceive as a waste of time in traffic enforcement, usually subsides rather quickly once the muscles in your face get back to normal and you have used every explicative that you can think of that deals with the officers heritage. You may not say it to his or her face, but it sure did make you feel better as you raked that officer over the coals in the comfort, privacy and sound proofing of you car. “I guess I told him…..to myself.” Whatever makes you feel better I suppose.

However, when the situation that you find yourself in is much more serious than a traffic citation, you cannot wait to see those same flashing lights coming your way. Even if the response time is only a minute or two, it seemed like 30. Where are they? The contractions that you felt in your face when you were getting a ticket are nothing compared to the knot in the pit of your stomach based on real concerns for your safety. And, when they get there the courtesy and respect that is shown to the officer is right out of Miss Manners textbook. There are more yes sirs and yes ma’ams, and thank yous, than you can keep up with. The earlier comments about who pays whose salary is now replaced with “you guys don’t make nearly enough for what you do.”

I guess that is just the way that it works. We hate them when we screw up and get called on it and we love them when we are afraid that if they don’t get there soon; we could really be screwed up….literally. As someone who has been in the business for a long time, I can honestly say that I never took any of the comments personally. Well, that is except for some rather detailed and descriptive comments that were once made to me about my mother. That one hit close to home, but I am pretty sure that the person who uttered the comments still regrets having made them. Police officers know that their role is to enforce the law. Sometimes their actions in doing so are popular and sometimes they are not. It is a continuing balancing act for the public; it is just a matter of doing their job for the police officers. 

As our society continues to evolve, so will the priorities in what we think is most important as to how law enforcement should protect and serve the people. It has always been that way. Today’s police officers do not even resemble the police officers of fifty years ago. And police officers 50 years from now will not understand why we do the things we do today. But, the basic charge has and always will be the same for anyone who pins on a badge.  It is not rocket science, but a failure of its mission would be catastrophic. Police officers should always strive to do their best to provide quality services, in an ethical, honest, and professional manner that allows our society to function in a cohesive and safe manner and to identify and hold accountable those who are preventing this fluidity from occurring. We have had bumps in this ideology before and more are sure to come, but the premise is still the best plan out there. 

It is like any other relationship. We have days where the police are the best thing since sliced bread and days where we would be reluctant to give them bread if they were starving. But, as long as we are all talking about bread, while sitting at the same table, their requirements and our needs will all be met. However, as a side note, I am pushing for lip reading to be a pre-requisite for the job. Now, what were you saying earlier?

I remember the first time that I saw the commercial with the egg in a frying pan. The narrator said, “This is your brain.” And then, I saw the egg actually sizzling in the frying pan. The narrator calmly says, “This is you brain on drugs.” I suppose the fact that I remember it means that it had some impact on me. But, I can tell you from an observational perspective; it didn’t have much of an impact on a whole lot of other people who seemed perfectly willing to hear the sizzle in their brain. Because they showed no signs of avoiding drugs that I could tell.

That response has been typical of the many campaigns that have been instigated by the government in an attempt to keep kids away from drugs. I am sure that when it was created, everyone thought that it would be the message that we had all been waiting for and that drugs would disappear from our society. Obviously it wasn’t and obviously they haven’t. Even Nancy Reagan jumped in with her “Just say no” campaign. While it was a bit catchy, it was more often used as the butt of jokes instead of a credible tool in drug prevention programs. Over the years, many other educational programs, slogans and commercials have come and gone and they really have not accomplished a whole lot.

Drugs are as prevalent as they ever have been and the age of first time users seems to be getting younger and younger. Most kids will tell you that they really don’t think that smoking marijuana is that big of a deal. Many states are doing all that they can to legalize marijuana usage for medicinal purposes. Don’t even get me going on that farce. Politicians now freely admit that they tried drugs in earlier years. With all of this going against the campaign of drug prevention, it has been difficult to mount a movement that would have any real effect on kids who were considering whether or not they would try drugs. Well, all of that has changed with a project that began earlier this year. While its target has only been methamphetamine, its message will be heard well beyond just those contemplating experimenting with meth.

Just as I saw the old “brain on drugs” commercial by chance, I saw one of the commercials focusing on methamphetamine while doing some late night channel surfing.I have never used meth, and I am fairly comfortable in saying that I never will. But, hypothetically, if I was thinking about it this commercial would have swayed me in the other direction. The “I am only going to do this once” and “I won’t be like that other guy” is one of the most powerful public service messages that I have seen; particularly for their teenage target audience. This commercial and others that are being aired through the Georgia Meth Project have actually received some criticism based on their harsh message as to what meth can do to you. This response by some, of course, is and has always been part of the problem. We don’t want our kids doing drugs, but we also don’t want them to see what it can actually do to them. It’s just too dramatic and disturbing! Seriously?

It is exactly what they need to see.  And they need to see it now. The use of methamphetamines is on the upswing at a rate that we have not seen before. It is one of the nastiest, most addictive, life changing and often deadliest drugs that have come along in a very long time. Marijuana doesn’t hold a candle to the destruction that meth can cause. Kid’s lives and the lives of entire families have been ruined based on this little ditty sinking its teeth into unsuspecting and uneducated kids.

We must talk to our kids about this drug, as well as drug abuse in general, even if it is uncomfortable at times. As parents, we are limited as to what we can do to the sycophants who bring these drugs to our children. But, we must take advantage of every opportunity that we can to protect them from their reach.  The Georgia Meth project, www.gamethproject.com, provides excellent material to facilitate this dissemination about meth in a frank and factual manner. The commercials are harsh; very harsh. They present the truth as to what methamphetamine can do and how quickly the devastation can occur. I would much rather our kids see this unarguable result in an educational manner  than in a mirror as they stare at a reflection that they no longer recognize.