by Ed Mattson
Congressmen headed to a meeting with VP Biden on budget deficits including military cuts
When I started writing about military and veterans affairs I never realized we had so many veterans that have developed such a low esteem for their country (perhaps even themselves) and the system of government that has perfected liberty and purchased freedom for others through dozens of wars and at a cost of millions of American lives.
I call myself a Conservative, not Republican or Democrat, and believe each of us is accountable for our action. I served in the Corps and then got on with my life. Others apparently have a real struggle with life as a civilian believing everything about government is bad and behind every event is a conspiracy. After having lived and worked Eastern Europe and traveled extensively around the world, I understand those feelings which border on paranoia, and I attribute much of that to serving in a war zone. It is easy to become skeptical, but I attribute much to post traumatic stress disorder. The full effects of PTSD are finally being understood and those with such feelings should seek help.
Many folks forget just how good life is in America in spite of the foibles of politics. I am far from an apologist. I won’t give up supporting those trying to get the US back on a “Constitutional course”, and will vote in every election until the course changes. For the naysayers who damn everything about the U.S. they might want to check out other countries to find one which is more suited to what they seek in life. With hundreds of countries from which to choose they may find the one they want.
That being said, I cannot fathom anyone who has worn a military uniform, to so despise our system of government and in many cases, our country. The Founding fathers predicted that our form of government would create scenarios that might rock the foundation of what they gave us when they drafted the Constitution and proclaimed the Declaration of Independence.
“Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories”.
Thomas Jefferson“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent”.
Thomas Jefferson“Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the people. The history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it”.
Woodrow Wilson
Certainly our system is not perfect…far from it in fact. But in my opinion, it is the best there is and outside of armed insurrection, it’s what we have to live with. The amazing thing is our form of government is a “representative republic”, meaning we vote for someone to represent our voice in Congress. Unfortunately, less than 50% of the people vote (compared to Moldova, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ukraine, and yes, even Iraq, where voter turn-out is always somewhere between 75%-90%), so little will change with apathy, but if you were awake at the last election, you saw how THE VOTE changed things. Another couple of elections and maybe we’ll clean out Washington, because there is no doubt that sleaze and profiteering are running rampant.
If we are to persevere as a nation as we once knew it, with freedom, self responsibility, and economic opportunity for all, a lot of work must be done. It all starts with becoming an informed voter. The four steps to changing what has become the status quo:
1. Learn our system of government
2. Research the candidacy of those running for office
3. Write letters to your representatives stating your opinion backed up with facts and if you don’t get a response, pick up the phone and call.
4. VOTE and keep voting until things change
With this in mind, we need everyone’s vote and help to preserve the military and veterans’ benefits we’ve earned.
Following his service in the Marine Corps Ed Mattson built a diverse career in business in both sales/marketing and management. He is a medical research specialist and published author. His latest book is Down on Main Street: Searching for American Exceptionalism
Ed is currently Development Director of the National Guard Bureau of International Affairs-State Partnership Program, Fundraising Coordinator for the Warrior2Citizen Project, and Managing Partner of Center-Point Consultants in North Carolina.
Mr. Mattson is a noted speaker and has addressed more than 3000 audiences in 42 states and 5 foreign countries. He has been awarded the Order of the Sword by American Cancer Society, is a Rotarian Paul Harris Fellow and appeared on more than 15 radio and television talk-shows.
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