Family traditions and prophetic conjecture

I have not written in quite awhile. Mostly, due to changes in my life; I have a life outside of work now, and it is a very busy place.. However, the other part of not writing is simply sheer frustration at the lack of logic I keep encountering in this world, and our country.

For some reason, I was born into a family that not only did not allow political ignorance, but actually was conducive to debate and discussion at the family table.

Some families sit down to dinner and it is utter silence; outside the noise of chewing and fork hitting plate. I was married into such a family for 14 years and know that they exist. My family dinner table was a crazy, loud, competitive environment where we each tried to create the most dramatic story or debate.

Perhaps it had to do with having three sisters. Imagine a houseful of adolescent, teen aged, and preteen women. Each of us had our own agenda and issues. My parents, encouraged our debates and discussions. Interesting commentary at our table.

Neither of my parents were college educated. They both went to work after high school. My mom, worked as a telephone operator, my dad went into the navy then worked at a local farm implement dealership before he bought his first farm.

My parents, despite not having a college education; stayed informed. They attended farm bureau meetings, my mom was on township board, and my dad was a school board member for several years. They both shared a deep appreciation for capitalism, family values and a strong work ethic mixed in with a good dose of catholic morals and guilt.

Coming from this upbringing, where political frustration and debate happened on a fairly regular basis, I come to my yearning to be involved and express my thoughts naturally. I have however discovered that my upbringing in this politically charged, debate driven environment was not the norm for most of my peers.

Subsequently, I have also come to appreciate my father for demanding that political choices make logical sense to all involved. Logic to him means that decisions and choices must have a real purpose with a rational being. I also appreciate his business sense; i note this as a gift from his father who had a very smart business sense about him.

My mom, has given me her passion and drive to stop injustice and create change. I often joke that my parents were conservative hippies. My mom, taught me to stand up for what I believe in, using my voice and skill to get my point across; and to not give a rats...(behind?) about what people think of you for doing so.

Coming from this background; is it any wonder that I write about and share my angst with the changes coming to our country and feel helpless to stop the tide of change that will forever change the face of a great democracy? Yes democracy. It is not the dirty word those in Washington want you to think it is..

Another family insight...

My grandfather, told me that America was forever changed for the worse when they introduced income tax at the federal level. He told me that my generation and my son's generation would never be able to find the wealth and success that his generation did due to income tax and the social programs that came with it. He stated he understood charity, and I might add that he and my Grandma were generous donors to the catholic charities. What he did understand was simple economic principles, and these principles were lost on my generation and it would be the end of America as a democracy.

This conversation was the only real conversation I ever had with my Grandfather. Being one of over 25 grand kids, we didn't get a ton of one on one time. His message has stuck with me. I had this conversation with him shortly before he passed away, he was very weak, sitting on his couch. I don't remember how the conversation came up, but we had it, and I keep his message as a mantra and focus in my political work and choices.

Simple economics to my grandfather, and my father, tells me that to keep a country like America great and number one it demands that we place no limits on human ingenuity, success and innovation.

While there are many personal motivators for creativity and innovation, the human motivator and definition of success is wealth and money. Note I did not say greed, I said money. Many of you will argue that the reward is simply knowing that you did it. I will argue with you that having worked as a leader for over 15 years, kudos are great, but financial rewards with success rewarded by public acknowledgement is the best motivator for creativity.

If you are really honest with yourself, how do you get motivated to do your best work? I like the atta girls, but I really like the extra cash incentives for a great job completed. They tell me I am on the right path and I feel successful when they occur.. I think any of you can recall a time when you were given a raise, a bonus or attained a new higher paying job and felt that bit of success and self esteem that came with it coursing through you..You felt like you could take on anything at that moment.. It is that feeling and personal experience of success that the leaders of this country wish to destroy with the social program changes and taxation/shared wealth programs that are going to foisted upon us..

So what happens when successful and innovative, creative people can't keep their financial rewards or have financial success?

If we take away these very human motivators, and crush them with high taxes and forced wealth sharing you create apathy and apathy leads to laziness, and laziness stops creativity and soon we will be France..Or England...Or Germany...Or Canada..

Seriously...outside of good food, what inventive, creative, ingenious things have the socialized European countries created in the last 50 years? Not a hell of a lot...

My Grandfather's wisdom has come full circle. My parents push to remain involved and not allow political or economic ignorance has given me the gift of sight.. some days I curse them, and loudly, for not keeping my childhood ignorant...I so desire to be part of the unknowing...simply blissfully unaware or not caring...It seems so much easier...

Welcome to socialism, communism and the new way of life in America. Who needs to work hard? all it will get you is more forced charity, so others don't have to work quite as hard as you do..