As I look around at everything going on today, I'm beginning to think the real problem with America today is Viagra.  That quick fix little pill that encourages inflation, reinforces self importance, and has little other purpose than giving it's user the ability to screw the closest thing to him.  Medical studies have shown, by the way, it reduces fertility, so it's really counter productive.  (Kind of like the government.) Viagra's and Cialis's only purpose is to serve the pleasure of its consumer.  When I was in my late teens, my mother used to refer to others my age as the "Me Generation".  I made sure on no uncertain terms I was offended by that statement.  But today, I understand what she meant, it wasn't necessarily me she was talking about, but referring to others my age. 

Do something as simple as walking through the door at your local mall.  More times than not, you'll find yourself opening the door, only to have someone pushing their way through from the other side.  It wouldn't be half bad if the other party said "Thank you" or otherwise acknowledged something was done for them.  (Last time I checked malls had double doors.  I don't see many people who would fill up the entire six foot opening, but some will try)  There was a time when we were a bit more self sufficient.  We'd open our own doors.  

I had my nephew visiting with us for two weeks one summer.  I had work to do around the outside of the house.  While I toiled in the heat, my nephew sat in air conditioning comfort watching TV.  When I was his age, I'd be out there with my uncle getting things done.  If I helped, it meant we had time to do other things, like take in a ball game, go fishing or such.  It also meant I had earned my keep.  One day recently I witnessed my neighbor's daughter raiding mom's purse for cash.  When confronted, she said her friends were heading to the movies and she wanted to go as well.  It didn't matter that she had just received a sizable allowance just the day before.  The young girl siad she was trying to save her own money.  I've watched other neighbors sweat it out in the South Florida heat, while their kids stay inside and play video games or watch TV.  

Ever get caught in a long line trying to exit the freeway?  How many times do you witness someone flying past the stopped cars, only to wedge themselves in at the last minute? 

I read a story yesterday where a man ran over a NY cop just to get out of a ticket over a parking space.  (Story here ==>>.  Man Runs Down Cop to Avoid Parking Ticket

Every year we prep for storm season down here in South Florida.  My wife and I start stocking up on bottled water, canned goods, batteries and gasoline. I have to check the storm shutters and their bolts to make sure everything is in working order.  We have a check list we break out and post on the refrigerator.  Storm related shopping lists move to the garage door from the refrigerator so we don't forget to pick up this necessity or that.  Business trips are scheduled with flexibility.  Vendors, Clients and Co-workers are informed when situations arise that may create modifications in plans.  I get the generator out, fill it's tires with air so I can move it easily and make sure it will start.  I change the oil and flush the fuel lines each year and do whatever else I need to keep it working. I inspect the extension cords for damage, and clear the area of brush where the generator is always setup. Yet every year, you'll see people somewhere crying the government didn't have water, food or other supplies for them.  Ever look closely at some of the cars in those free bee distribution lines?  You seldom see a news story about people who prepared for the worst and were ready when the storm hit.  When you do see the people who prepared, they are usually cast as evil people who don't help others.  Tell that to my neighbors when I ran extension cords to their houses so they wouldn't loose the food in their refrigerators.  One of my neighbors overloaded my generator by trying to run half their house from it.  They then yelled at me for refusing them help after the next storm.  I'm surprised the government hasn't stopped by and confiscated part of  our stockpile in the name of some local tax or fee. 

When I was young, we participated in scouting.  We didn't need the government telling us to clean up after ourselves.  We knew if we didn't take care of the outdoors, we wouldn't want to go back in the future.  We went to church almost every Sunday.  We were taught it was our responsibility to serve a higher purpose than our own.  We weren't expected to be perfect, nor expect those of us around us to be flawless either.  We would make mistakes.  It was part of  being human.  When the kids struck out on their own, my parents built houses for habitat for humanity.  They loved it so much, when they retired they bought an RV and traveled the country helping others.  When mom was dying, we all came and worked in the community she and dad were helping build.  Mom made sure we all used her hammer, a gentle reminder we were all here to serve more than just ourselves.  In retrospect, she was reminding us we are our parents most important legacy and our children are ours.  At some point we need to look at ourselves and ask if we honor our parents (or grandparents with our actions, the see if our children will honor us, long after we are gone..

There isn't a magic blue pill our country can take to make things better.  This weekend we honor the lives of the greatest generation, who gave literally, all they could in the name of freedom and making life better. And today, almost all of them are gone.  Now, too many people are only focused only on themselves to really make this a better better country.  (There are more than you can imagine that put themselves in front of their children) They want the rest of us as well as the government to do everything for them.  But the government can't be everything every individual wants it to be.  That's impossible.  But it does seem like the ruling class are trying to do just that.  .  I believe for years our government and too many people have been overdosing on Viagra and Cialis, and it's trying to make the rest of  us, the closest thing to it.