Message for Elected officials across the nation!

 

Message for Elected officials across the nation!

A person in public office who wishes to stand before their fellow Americans, and make stupid statements, a joke or not, does not deserve to be elected into office. I have no respect for any elected official who is not willing to adhere to the following rules of etiquette as an elected representative. 

Rules of Etiquette for Elected Officials.

1)         Speak publicly on issues before you in Congress. 

2)         Speak publicly about the concerns of all Americans, for you represent every American while in elected office, not just your home district. 

3)         Set an example for citizens of our country to follow:  serving with character, honesty, integrity, morality and patriotism

4)         You have a responsibility to safeguard unity, patriotism and most of all the foundation of American values. These values include service to our country in uniform of the armed forces. This responsibility does not give you the right to degrade those who have, are, or will serve in that uniform now or future generations. 

5)         Most of all remember that when you open your mouth in public or in private, you represent me and my fellow Americans – be careful of what you say, because those that are the enemy of our country are surely listening to what is said and could ultimately cause us all harm based on your actions and words. 

I think those who have taken up permanent residency on Capitol Hill in both Washington, DC and every state capitol have become complacent and need to think about retiring. I think it’s time that the system be changed to term limits, maybe then we might be able to choose leaders who will truly represent the people. Then maybe, just maybe, we might have leadership worth respecting?

For those who received your seats in Congress or Senate based on family name, you are not true servants of the people. You are nothing more than tokens for the people who are paying for that seat. You have sold your souls to the lobbyists, corporate America and special interest groups to be their voice and nothing else. You are the people who are the most dangerous, because you are willing to sell out this country for a buck, rather than serve honorably in the footsteps of our founding fathers’ intention of what a member of the House of Representatives was supposed to be. 

The founding fathers did not serve based on monetary rewards, pensions or benefits. They served because they loved this country and everything it represents – FREEDOM! 

Benjamin Franklin writing as Silence Dogood once said,

"Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech; which is the Right of every Man... This sacred Privilege is so essential to free Governments, that the Security of Property, and the Freedom of Speech always go together; and in those wretched Countries where a Man cannot call his Tongue his own, he can scarce call any Thing else his own. Whoever would overthrow the Liberty of a Nation, must begin by subduing the Freeness of Speech; a Thing terrible to Publick Traytors." The New-England Courant, July 9, 1722.

Mr. Franklin was accurate in his statement. Therefore, we must not allow the mistakes of the past to reap their ugly head once again. We must look to ourselves rather than to our leaders for answers. We must ask ourselves many questions. Have we become complacent in our thoughts about our country? Have we become so materialistic that we are blinded by reality? Have we become so self-absorbed that we do not see what is happening around us, how special interest groups and politicians are manipulating us? Have we hidden ourselves in our homes, rather than admit there is an evil knocking at our doors and in our communities? Do we really need to be that affluent that we fail to see that our economy is spinning into an abyss?

Politicians say it is because of bad leadership in the White House. Others say it is a sign of a different world. Some say it is because of the war in the Middle East. I see it as three individual indicators that are causing the major problems within our society, indicators that every American has the power to change. 

1)         Smoke and Mirror Politicians: 

In the political arena smoke and mirror politicians raise issues that get a candidate immediate press; such as Roe v. Wade, gun rights and gay rights. A candidate will raise these issues if he or she has no real platform to stand on. When a candidate brings up these issues, this should tell you they are a token candidate for their political party. Their political party does not have a real leader within their ranks to represent you in office. Political parties know that the voter is uneducated when it comes to issues. This allows them to entice you to vote for their token candidate so they will have control over you in that office. The world sits and watches as we struggle with the thought of losing everything, we hold precious in our lives, as the political wars begin, what will you do to stop it? 

2)         Bait and Switch Issue

The environment should be a key issue to all who live on this planet, but we should look closely at those who are delivering the message. 

Many of those who are on the bandwagon of the environmental issues have personal investments in the outcome if this one issue. These are the very people you should be concerned about because they speak out of both sides of their mouth. On one hand, they say cut the defense budget to ensure that war-fighting capabilities are halted in the war effort and we can all live in peace. What they do not understand is that every time we cut the defense budget, we cut funding for the environment. 

The Department of Defense is the largest environmental program in the world. On a daily basis, they are the leaders in environmental resource management, conservation and education, on U.S. military bases here at home and throughout the world. Funding from DoD helps to support colleges, technical schools and students in education and research projects that help the environment. Those who receive their PhD and Masters degrees, in most cases, have done their internship on a military installation or through a Defense Department funded project. These projects concentrate on our life in and around waterways and streams, land use, conservation and clean up, air purification capabilities, rescuing and safeguarding animals and endangered species. 

Who will benefit the most if we are to convert to electric vehicles? It will not be the car dealers directly. Who is the leader in the environmental issue these days? Who will benefit from laws enacted to ensure cleaner air? Will it be one man or a group of people that lead the fight? 

It surely will not be the citizens of the United States or even the world, because someone always has their hands in the pocket of someone who controls the money at some point. We the people should take a stronger, active role in saving our environment because we live here. We as a people should be more responsible in our efforts to recycle and conserve wherever we can. This issue doesn’t just affect us; it affects the future of our children. 

3) Economic Destruction Issue:

Now we have the major issue that most directly affects us all, the economic issue. We have those who control the very essence of our economy; he was a man who could cause the stock market and other indicators to going into a tailspin, Alan Greenspan! This man had been out of touch with reality for many years prior to stepping down, yet for many years prior to his replacement the stock market reacted violently any time he sneezed! Reality is that our economy is now feeling the full effects of the attack of September 11. This was the goal and objective of the terrorists from the beginning, destroy the economic well-being of the strongest country in the world. As with recent events in our economic status, they have begun to succeed. 

Instead of our financial leaders advising and encouraging Corporate America to reinvest in the American People, Corporate America is looking at their bottom line. Corporate America undoubtedly has been thinking incorrectly. Instead of investing in their employees as if, they are their private stock market, they listened to Greenspan. One has to wonder what would happen if they changed their mentality of the stock market being a better investment than a loyal employee! Companies wonder why they are continually sabotaged, if only they would look at themselves and how they conduct business with their own employees. Corporate sabotage results in other people losing their jobs and the income that supports their family.

One of the basic lessons in any business course is when a company is in a slump, that’s when you need to reinvest in that company, reevaluate its past performance and modify, as needed its policy, practices and results. For some strange reason companies are not doing this. Is it because our thought process is so turned around, we cannot think about business ethics, but rather focus on always making money? We need to start thinking about reinvesting in our own companies, from the top down. Presidents and CEO’s should voluntarily not resign that leased vehicle agreement in favor of driving their own vehicle. As would any good leader, they should consider setting the example by making the same sacrifices their employees are being asked to make... such as cutting back expenses for any unnecessary items until things turn around. Leading by example retains loyal employees and creates a cohesive team willing to weather the storm and help strengthen the company in the future. This also ensures confidence in consumer loyalty as well. If Corporate America thought properly, they would know that this is the time to reinvest in this country and the people who helped make them rich. 

The above is an exert from my book, Soul of an American Warrior: A Writer's Journey Comes Full Circle. 

Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, journalist. business professional, and creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Masters in Criminology and a BS in Business Management who stepped out of the loop for a while, but who is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel, photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.