I know this may seem like a simple question with an obvious answer...but is it?  

I personally take responsibility for defending myself and my family.  I would also defend my friends and neighbors if the opportunity arise.  In my sphere of interaction I know who is defending me.  It is me.  

But beyond my sphere...I can’t honestly answer the question.  Why?  The reason: There is no national unity toward American defense.  When I look around at all the open issues, I personally get very nervious...the list is extensive and complex:

Our borders are perforated...why does the government move so slow on fixing an obvious national weakness?

South America is moving toward war.  Our only real ally is Colombia.  Why are the other countries not our friends...where is the national initiative to stabilize our neighbor continent?  Why do we allow Chavez to run around buying political support with the oil money he gets from us? Where is the leadership to stop purchasing oil from those countries bent on our destruction.

Why does our government insist on dealing with China?  Don’t they see what China has done and it is doing to it citizens, to its enemies, to the cats and dogs, to the environment, to freedom...do they just don’t care?...are they blinded my money and power? Are they stupid?  We have been buying “the rope to hang us” really cheap for the last 10 years.  Meanwhile China has been in their largest military expansion.  Umm...see the connection?

I do, but who am I?  I am not a senator or a congressman or a national business leader or the President.  I am just a concerned American citizen.   I have not been elected to defend the Constitution and the American people (although I would regardless).  These officials have the responsibility to focus on making sure our country is safe...are they doing it? No.  If there are, it is one of the best kept secrets in Washington.  

Why do our officials care not that American manufacturing jobs are fleeing America like Californians fleeing California?  One of the best examples (there are many) of this, is the migration of the power tool manufacturing from America to overseas.  About 10 years ago...if you went and bought a circular saw...it was made in America.  If you go today, not one brand is now made in America except some high level specially tool. Brands such as DeWalt, Black and Decker, Bosch, Rigid, Skil, Milwaukee, Hilti and Ryobi are made over seas or in Mexico.  A lot of them are made in China.  Where is the leadership at the national business level to unify and keep the jobs in America.  These are very smart people, why don’t they see that it is better long term to keep manufacturing in your own country.  It is better for every American.  Of course, we know why they leave...because our government leaders do nothing to ensure our businesses have a competitive edge.  Instead, they allow extensive regulation, environmentalism and taxation to constrict our competitive edge to the point that businesses trying to survive look to other countries for support.  It, really, is amazing. 

The list continues:

Middle east chaos is strong and steady.  No surprise.  Israel appears to have lost their backbone, more than likely they have been corrupted by the same European socialist thinking that is confusing our leaders.

Hollywood is still pumping out garbage...no change there.  They must think that all is fine.  You know...most living creatures don’t poop where they sleep unless they are a Hollywood producer.

Russia is moving toward a Soviet revival.  Nothing there for us to worry about.

China is getting massively stronger...again, why worry.  If our leaders are worrying, it is very hard to tell by the lack of concrete action.

Our energy needs enslave us to other countries.  We have plenty of oil, coal, water and American ingenuity and know-how to provide completely for our own energy needs.  Why does our leadership enslave and in debt us to other countries for oil?  Why do we let the Democrat and environmentalist wackos dictate our energy policies?  

Where are the adult leaders?

One of the biggest reasons we have become weaker is that we have not been allowed to build refineries, nuclear power plants, drill for oil, etc.  Instead we spend our money and American lives for wars to maintain stability in regions that we depend on for oil.  We will, more than likely, be moving our troops to South America to try and stabilize our access to oil in that region.  This is, of course, if we have enough troops.  

Please explain to me why the last three Presidents have consistently reduced our military strength?  I just don’t understand why this has happened.  I know the stated reasons, efficiency, save money, etc.  I agree with these ideas...as long as our military stays very big and very powerful.  This has not happened.  Our carrier groups have been reduced, our submarines have been reduced, our troop number reduced, our bases reduced, etc, etc.  On top of that, we no longer do extensive testing of our nuclear arsenal, who knows if they even work.  

I am very proud of President Bush for helping freedom to take hold in Iraq and Afghanistan. But, I would rather the effort was made with a very strong America as the base and the reason being simply expanding freedom and hope.  I would rather our expansion of freedom have nothing to do with energy stablity, but, because it is right to fight evil.  

If we had our energy needs handled within our country we would be more physically empowered to save the world from tyranny.  If our home base was secure and safe...our economy growing beyond the pathetic 3 to 4%.  We would be able to stabilize the entire planet.  Our enemies know this.  This is why we are constantly being destabilized internally and externally.  The world tyrants fear a unified America.  (I wonder if the bad guys realize that without America, they would have to fight each other... )

America is becoming on a larger scale like Israel, increasingly alone and surrounded by enemies.  If American was attacked who would we depend on...Canada? Mexico?....France?....give me a break.  Who? No one.

Who is defending us?  Who is making sure America is around in the next 20 years?  Who in our elected leadership actually cares about these issues...I see some talk...but seldom any real action.  

The action we often see is the action of in-action...like we saw two weeks ago when the House decided to go on break and not vote to reinstate the wiretap program the Senate just voted for.  So, for about the last two weeks we have not been listening in on phone calls of suspected terrorists.  The House is clearly not defending us.  When the Democrats voted to take a break...the House Republicans should have made a very big deal...did they...no.  The House republicans aren’t defending us either.  

Where was the press conference by President Bush to protest the inaction by the Democrats.  Where was the presidential candidates to protest this inaction.

Where was the media? 

Israel, Colombia and other allies are under attack...where is our leadership?

You would think that all these people in leadership roles (including the media) did not live in this country and have a personal stake in America surviving and flourishing.  They all seem to view, in the third person, the very challenging and scary issues threatening America.  Like they are reading a novel.  Unfortunately, this is not a story...it is happening real time and our leaders are MIA.

When Reagan and Thatcher where leading the world...even though there where many threats and challenges, they projected a feeling of continuity, rational thought and moral strength.  Today, it feels like chaos.  Our leaders project uncertainty, confusion and contradictory actions.  

I feel like we are in a slow motion crash, hoping that all will be fine.  As we are skidding and sliding across the road we are hoping that there will not be an impact.  We are hoping that China is not really attempting to take over the world, that Islamic terrorism will not succeed in setting the world back 300 years, that the family will stay intact and is not really being undermined by the counter culture.  We are hoping, as we are skidding, that the great traditions of our country will be there for our kids and they will experience the same American freedom we grew up with.  While we are thinking this, we also see European Socialism and political correctness moving toward us like a fog bank...slowly encompassing all in its path.  Today, we are in a period of contradiction and uncertainty because our leaders are weak.  

When clear action and moral strength is replaced with uncertainty and moral confusion it is hard for the future to look bright, but as Americans it is our responsibility to stay bright.  Without America...the world is a very dark place.  This may be God’s challenge to us, maintain the light through the chaos of evil actions and corrupt thought.  The ultimate test of moral strength and conviction.

The question I ask myself...is what can I do?  At times, I feel very powerless. 

I can do what I can to stay informed and inform others.  

Get involved.  Write a blog.  Contact our elected officials.

Vote for candidates that have the moral strength to defend America.  

Maintain my faith in our Creator.  Expand the faith.  Expand the philosophy.

Stay strong and optimistic...as hard as it is...once you give up...once you allow the darkness to enter your soul...all is lost.  The only hope is to work hard, work happy, stay focused and fight for what is right.  

After all, we are responsible for defending America. 

- I am RIGHT -