Here's a little excerpt from Glenn Beck's speech at America's Freedom Festival in Utah.  It says everything you need to know about what makes this country the greatest nation on the planet.

 

"We, as a nation, are facing tough times. If you listen to me, you know. You`re like, "Glenn, shut up. I get it."
Now that everybody is recognizing that the tough times are here, I bring you a new message. It`s not about the floods or the fires, or the twisters in Kansas. It`s not about the stock market being down. It`s not about the gas. It`s not about oil being up 700 percent. It`s none of those.
It is that all is well. And we will make it. As long as we look at ourselves and ask ourselves the question, "Who are we?" in a time when America is begging for a leader. In a time where America is shouting out, "Where is the leader? When will he step forward?" I am here to tell you, you are the leader. The leader we seek, the leader we need, is you. It always has been.
We cannot continue down buying into the lies that somehow or another this country isn`t a special place, that we aren`t a special people. We are this country`s next great dispensations pioneers. We are the ones that are going to take us into a new place beyond your wildest imaginations. It will be hard. It will be rough. But, oh, we will have this tale to tell. We just have to be who we really are.
People ask me all the time, "Glenn, I get it. I know we`re in trouble. Where`s the hope?" The hope is found in just waking up. The hope is in the recognition of who we truly are, not who we`ve allowed ourselves to become. All we have to do is remember. All we have to do is remember and celebrate, and wake each other up.
Let`s start talking about the things that are great instead of talking and debating and arguing about illegal immigration. While we do that, let`s remember one thing: people are dying in the desert to have a small piece of what we take for granted every day.
How could it be a place -- how could it be a place not worth fighting for? How could it be a place that`s oh, so terrible, if people will give their lives just for a small piece in the shadow? It is a blessed land.
The Founding Fathers gave us a map out of anything. They were magnificent and divinely inspired. This week, we celebrate the signing of the Declaration, the group of men gathered in Philadelphia to sign what they knew was their death warrant. They knew if their name were on that document, they would be killed. But each one of them stepped up and signed it. Signed it.
We are the United States of America. We can solve any problem. Not in Washington. Here. Here. The answer never comes from Washington. That`s the answer."

 

We are the leader that America needs right now.  It's not Obama, it's not McCain, and it sure isn't Nancy Pelosi.  I have always said that the people of this country are what make it great, what make it special.  We can solve any problem.  We are Americans and we can do anything.

 

Happy 4th of July, and Happy Birthday to the greatest nation in history.

In a day and age when the political climate is as volatile as can be, the divide in the country grows more severe on a daily basis.  Issues like immigration, national security, the war in Iraq, taxes, health care (the usuals) are now at the forefront of national discussion.  Many Republicans are not happy with Senator McCain as the candidate and I include myself in that group.  Kicking and screaming I will vote for him in November, as well as vote for Bob Schafer (US Senate) and Wil Armstrong (6th Congressional District in Colorado) as I urge all of you to do for one simple reason: the only real issue this election season is the economy. 

 

Our dollar is weak, the market is unstable, and commodities prices are only going to increase.  With these conditions present the only real answer is to keep as much money in the American people's pockets as possible.  Already we are seeing the effects of $4 a gallon gas and rising food costs.  The more people change their spending habits to meet their necessities, the more we are going to see people spend less in areas of choice.  This can include anything from vacations to simple things like going out to dinner or to a movie.  When the impact of the current state of the economy is fully felt, the only solution is to keep taxes as low as possible.  My brother (a pronounced Democrat) will argue that taxes are good, that they pay for things like roads and the military.  I don't dispute that.  Taxes are a necessary vice needed to run any country, especially one the size of the United States.  But to over tax, like Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi wish to do, will be the breaking point for an economy on the brink.  If you don't believe me, just look at what happened to the state of the economy during the Carter administration.  His answers to the economic problems (similar to those of today) was to raise taxes and increase government control on pricing.  This has never worked and Democrats would do well to take a quick study of history to learn this. 

 

I propose a simple and easy tax policy.  A flat income tax of 10% with no option for deductions.  Think about this for a second:  Now the issue of gay marriage as a tax exempt entity is moot because married couple can claim no deduction.  No deductions for children.  No deductions for charitable giving.  If a flat tax of 10% was implemented across the board, regardless of if you make $10 million a year or simply are working a summer job for $10 an hour, everyone is equal.  If 10% is what God requires to run His kingdom, 10% should suffice for our government. 

 

When politicians come to the understanding that the people of this country, through hard work and sacrifice, and not the people in Washington are what make this country great, we will all be better off.