It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving, it consists in professing to believe what one does not believe. Thomas Paine 1794

As we wait for the Democratic and Republican conventions to begin, I ask is it not just a staged show for us. Did we have any input on the candidates that represent their parties? No, not really. Unfortunately, they are groomed and then packaged for sixty-second sound bites that are supposed to satisfy our thirst for democracy. The shame of that, after the sixty-second sound bite we then are treated to a six-minute interpretation from a media "talking head," which in most cases reflect their personal, and company’s agenda. Then after being bombarded with his/her’s opinion we have completely forgotten about the candidate’s proposal.

The scary thing about this electorate process is that no one seems disturbed by it. Everyone’s life is too busy to take the time and understand what people are really saying, what their beliefs are. In some ways I liken it to the magician who keeps your eyes focused on his left hand while he takes his right hand to execute the conclusion of the trick. In my opinion, I feel this has never been more evident than in the past eight years, in both corporate America, and our political perspective. Now I am not a rabid, gun-toting Right-winger. I’m just a man that wants his grand children to experience some of the luxuries I did as a child growing up, in what I believe to be the greatest form of government there is. A government for the people, and governed by the people.

So, how did "we" as a people become so complacent with our elected officials? When did we violate our instinct for wrong . . . and convince ourselves it was right? Perhaps we are too busy with our 160 channels of entertainment, along with our cold six-pack of beer, or our many adult toys manufactured for our relaxation? But, when one does feel the urge to flex their moral muscle they quickly discover an alternative: real television. Reality based TV shows like, Survivors, Big Brothers, or MTV’s Real World. These so-called reality based shows are supposed to show us the errors of our ways, and make us a better people. Not unlike our political leaders these shows have been packaged, and sold to us as entertainment with an edge. The edge is supposed to be today’s reality. I suspect the true reality of these shows is that it keeps us divided: skin color against skin color, gays against straights, men against women. We sit in our comfortable surroundings and righteously judge these people. For with judgment there is resolution, and we feel better about ourselves. We can convince ourselves that our instincts tell us we are okay—we are not like them. We are concerned citizens that do the right thing. Then we get up, go get another beer, and switch the channel to ESPN, and fall asleep.

Wake up! I know that I am but one man, with one opinion, but I can not help from thinking that we as a nation have become too rich, too free and maybe just plain stupid. How do I assure my grand children that they will have the freedom to grow up as I did? What can I, only one person, do? I suggest that we listen to our candidates, and not the network "talking heads." We listen to our God given instincts, that knows right from wrong, which is still inbred in most of us. My belief is that if we do at least those two things, and then execute our precious right to vote, we can keep our country. The alternative, caused by our gluttony for moral independence, will create a country of less freedom, and less hope for all. As we blindly watch our televisions, and become more indoctrinated for acceptance, we will slowly continue to lose more of our freedoms. No one person, or one government, should be given the power to dictate morality. I feel morality is instinctual, a clock within ourselves, that face shows us the honest time.

However, the clock is ticking and we only have so many ticks in our life. After we are gone there is nothing left but a legacy of what we accepted. Therefore, to paraphrase Thomas Paine, I hope my grand children will not have to suffer the infidelities of their own beliefs just so they can exist in a corporate governed world.