Glenn Beck: America needs a 12-step program

I read this article several times. I don’t agree with everything Glenn Beck says, but on this he is right on target. I am guilty of complaining about our government, especially during tax season, and as I’ve watched things like the Patriot Act get passed. The thing is, we’re all in this together and we all need to take personal responsibility to uphold the values our country was founded on.

I remember once listening to a radio program where they interviewed people on the street, and asked people if they knew what the “Bill of Rights” is. As you might expect, most Americans did not know. When I started listening to the program I felt proud that I knew that the Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution – but was convicted when some of the listeners were asked what each of the amendments actually are. I could only name a couple at best.

Read Glenn’s article (http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/09/beck.twelvesteps/index.html) – he is right. America needs to own up – it’s too easy to complain and do nothing.

I read an article a couple of days ago saying that a high percentage of Americans think we’re on the wrong track as a country. I agreed wholeheartedly. Glenn’s read the same article, and his take is this:

“A recent polls says 81 percent of Americans now say that our country is on the wrong track. If you’re one of those people, who do you blame? The Bush administration? Congress? The media?

Here’s a crazy idea: How about blaming ourselves?”

To pull this around to finances – he makes a great point, which is why I wanted to post a blog entry about his article:

“But we have to start somewhere, and the best place is with the defects that almost all of us agree on. For example, does anyone really believe that being addicted to Saudi Arabia’s oil is a good idea? What about China owning billions of our debt? Speaking of debt, what about the fact that we’ve saddled our children with $53 trillion in future Social Security and Medicare obligations?”

America, we need to act.

I’m going to start by really investigating the choices in the coming election.  I am going to try and become more involved, and try to never allow another election to pass without participating.  I’m not sure that’s enough – but it’s a start.