As a nation, America was once the most revered country in the world and her citizens were the envy of all societies. The Declaration of Independence officially proclaimed to all: that we dared stand united in a common goal to instill, promote and defend freedom in every way while ensuring each man equal opportunity to achieve his own dreams. The United States Constitution was composed…not to outline or to suggest, but to purposely and deliberately identify and specify the manner in which the governing bodies received and delegated the powers given them as representatives of the people. It resolved to guaranty that no one man or group of men could take any of these freedoms from the people. Formally, officially and ostentatiously, it declared that every citizen had a voice in how they would be governed, that government  would represent their voice without prejudice or dictation, and if it failed in this that very government would be resolved!

The American Dream has since become horrendously distorted-it's now a nightmare of red tape, unrestricted taxation, and threats; and its politicians (in the pretense of perpetuating freedom, world peace and liberty) are exhibiting more and more unconstitutional muscle with desire to force the whole of humanity into the same mold. Individual goals are being replaced with group hysteria; individual choice is now being tragically dictated by a government that has matured so powerful that it can and does at its every whim; completely and shamelessly ignore both the purpose for which it was established and the principles it was meant to uphold.

As far as humankind is concerned, history is yet to log complete and lay to rest the chapter titled "Man's Atrosities towards Man." I was wondering where we would be if it weren't for patriots...if individuals stopped caring for others, stopped being proud of who there are, and forsook their principals for profit the same way that the heads of state around the globe obviously and shamlessly do.

The world is a srewed up mess-that's a certainty! Yet, when I hear people tell me "just how bad things are today," I think about our sons and daughters who are sacrificing comfort and challenging personal safety every single day so those very same people can sit at home complaining. Then I count my blessings and putting them in perspective with the times, I come to the realization that all things are relevant.

 Without the sacrifices and efforts to uphold our principals these blessings would be meaningless. There is no good to be had from anything that is not worth some sacrifice. Those who know, that from the very first battle, on through who knows how many more are yet to be fought, all tell the same story. That story is about man and his wants, 'tis a tale of injustice, greed, and selfishness. A sad truth that proves man prefers comfort to humanity…a tale that should grow "old" with each drop of life giving blood lost to the earth. Instead, unlike the resounding echoe that fades in the distance it is repeated and repeated, time and time again-the same story. So it is, that without men and woman like those who are willing to sacrifice...we would all have real reason to complain.

The younger generation clamors for a government and a society, which will once again respect individual rights, encourage freedom, and promote both without bullying or false reasoning. I am not referring to the endless platitudes and tendentious excuses that today, in the guile of preserving freedom, are being shoved down our throats-choking off dignity while suffocating the right to choose-but a real freedom; one capable of upholding sincere and established principles of integrity, morality and common sense without sacrificing a single person's rights. This generation wants and demands action and future generations deserve it.

Our entire legislative system has deteriorated far beyond repair and there is no Mr. or Ms. Do Gooder, who can take on the corrupt political gorilla ruining our country. To think that one day some uncorrupt patriot will arrive in Washington who can institute change, restore honesty, and all the while still respect individual rights is completely ludicrous. Those with true integrity, honest ideals, and sincere desire to make changes are conveniently silenced or ignored and those who dare fight the system end up facing trumped up lamebrained charges and are scorned by a media whose only concern is keeping alive the corrupt system that feeds it.

Washington, D.C., akin the Land of Make Believe, is filled with politicians who play roles carefully staged by higher powers. These profit conscious conglomerates have no intentions in allowing the American People to decide their own fates. We chant patriotic slogans and remain oblivious to the fact we are cheering on the demise of every right imagined for us by the Founders of the United States of America. In restricting our ability to govern and care for ourselves, this corrupt political machine has handcuffed our personal liberites.

Therefore, you may wonder if there is a solution to this problem, well I think there is, but it lies dormant, somewhere within the spirit of liberty that helped found this nation. We as Americans can no longer vote, then sit back, and merely trust elected officials to act in our best interest. Both politicians and the courts have to be responsible for every decision that restricts personal freedom or encourages the idea that the Constitution is merely a list of basic ideals that can be toyed with on a whim. Accountability is the foremost requisite to leadership and our government officials must be held accountable.