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We have the power to change our country's future but to do so we have to change nearly everything we understand and accept as the norm. We can no longer continue down our current political path. We are not really Republicans, Democrats or Independents. We are AMERICANS! Until we think this way we will continue down our current path of decline. Perhaps our decline will lead us to the depths of a third world nation. Think about this. While we worry about voting along party lines and pushing important decisions to the next election or the next congress, developing nations like China are improving all facets of their society at a feverish pace. Our need to turn things around has reached criticality. We are at a "Pearl Harbor" moment and need everyone to rise to the occasion. Unfortunately, unlike during World War II, we get manipulated by the media and those who control it. The few at the top understand that even those of us who are informed, educated and able to think critically have little time to worry about or change the current state of our country. For the others less fortunate, well, they are easy to manipulate by soundbites and banners . This is a sad state of affairs and I am sickened by it.
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I want to desperately see the trajectory of our country change. I believe we have created such an incredible society by focusing on the right things; hard work, determination, trust and myriad other attributes. These values have made us the preeminent world power. Now, I don't really care if we remain the world leader as much as I care about not loosing our standard of living. I want my children and their children to enjoy the opportunities I had and have. As an immigrant from Cuba I was able to attain a graduate degree and serve as an officer on submarines for the greatest Navy in the world retiring as a Commander at age 41. Where else could you make something of yourself with little, to no initial advantage? Yet, we now strive to fend off the best immigrants because we have swung the pendulum so far after 9/11that all semblance of common sense has been lost. Our opportunity to recruit the best and brightest is frequently squandered by archaic immigration laws. Then to compound our problems we don't properly invest in education. We let teacher's unions, bureaucratic red tape and poor pay rule the day. We continue to slip down the education ladder while other less developed, less affluent countries rise through it. How is this possible? In my opinion, it's because we have become Fat, Dumb and Lazy! When you are the preeminent power you forget to innovate and invest in your future. You expect to be great just because you've been great. You take education, health care, the deficit, defense and many other critical areas for granted. Well it's time to turn things around.
In future blogs I will define my proposed path to maintaining America's standard of living even while many others improve theirs. We are all so very lucky to be part of this great nation yet many of us, especially the rich and powerful, are letting our future slip away by attempting to gain more wealth and power. In my upcoming blogs I will focus on how we can and should improve our education, government, foreign relations, investments, innovation, freedoms, politics and more.
