Made in the U.S.A......

 I thought of a list. People keep asking, "What do YOU suggest?"
    Well, here it is.

How to help turn things around in this country:

1. Reduce spending... I mean EVERYONE. Businesses, CEO's, government, and individuals. If you don't absolutely need it, don't buy it.
2. If you must spend, make sure you are spending your money on American made products and American services. No exceptions. If that cannot be done, see rule #1 and hope a U.S. Citizen invents something just like it.
3. Stop accepting marketing as fact. Demand actual facts proven using scientific method.
4. Perhaps the citizens of this country should all sign a legal document accepting that if they cannot follow steps 1, 2 or 3, they will be sanctioned with higher taxes for each infraction as well as rationing.
5. Insist on better quality of foods. No more exceptions based on financial gain. Consider the long term gain. What on earth are we feeding and nourishing the future leaders of this country with?
6. Insist on better education standards. It is not okay that children from third world countries are able to speak and write better English than our own children and adults are able to.
7. Remember that we have a common goal and that each of us bears the responsibility of ensuring that we reach that goal. It is not the President's fault, or your neighbor's fault. Stand up and be accountable for the affect your choices have on this economy.
8. Again, every single person in this country needs to pay down their debt. If it is a habit shared by all, it will also be a habit in Washington.
9.  Insist on respect. No matter your party affiliation or your personal views, use the correct title when addressing the President. It shows that you have pride in yourself and your country. So, no more "Obama said" or "Bush said". That would be President Obama and former President Bush.
10. Learn the flag code. This again falls under self respect and the respect of our nation. (It just happens to be a pet peeve of mine... once you know the flag code, you will see the violations everywhere.)
11. Learn what the U.S. Constitution actually says. Not someone else's interpretation of what the authors "really meant". Read it, learn it, and THEN speak your point.
12. Know where your money comes from and where it is going. Every time we purchase goods or services from another country, we are investing in the people of that country. Learn where the money trails are in your life and see what changes you can make to invest locally, in America.

Ahhh.. now I feel a bit better. Notice I do not have solutions for everything. I can only do so much.. Besides... these are the top irritants in MY life.
       Basically, we need to quit blaming and making excuses and just plain do better. ALL of us. We could all use some improvement, but if we were to all focus on these things, our country would have to become stronger. We would create more jobs by needing factories to create all of the things that we are currently importing.
        In my own personal dream world, politicians are qualified volunteers who must work as a team... oh... and they must also undergo a polygraph test while participating in any speeches or debates... Ahhh.. but alas.. it is simply my dream.
       If I were to add a few more of my petty irritants it would include:
     It is not permissible to write natural cheese flavor on a package if no actual natural cheese was used.
      Well, just add chocolate and fruit to the list of "flavor" misleading statements on packaging.
      Regulate all vitamins, herbs and supplements. Natural substances can be as powerful and as toxic as prescription medications and should be treated as such.
      Do not use the label "One size fits all"... it's just mean to shorter people, taller people and fluffier people.
      Do not allow your pet to defecate on public or private property without cleaning it up properly.
      Read the nutrition guidelines and do an honest evaluation in your home. If it does not even resemble anything found in nature, and no natural products were harmed in the making of it, it is not food, it is filler... Water, corn syrup and flavoring should NEVER be called juice. If only 10% is juice, it should not be called juice.
     
     You see, it's not that I believe the public is stupid, but honestly, if you had to read the legal fine print on everything every day, how much would you accomplish? This is exactly what it feels like reading food labels. This does NOT have to be that complicated. Actual truth in labeling would help.
     This also applies to the MPG rating on car stickers. Quit moving the rules... Use the scientific method for data collection and just print it... Do not alter the data based on what you would like the outcome to be... that is dirty and it is a lie.
     Let's quit allowing marketing to dictate our poor choices and demand better. If we insist on better, the marketing will change also to reflect the respect and pride we have in ourselves.