Looking back to when I first started writing, I was just as naive and ignorant as the average person I complain about today, with one difference. I had this desire to learn the truth, no matter whether what I found conflicted with my beliefs at the time or not.

What I have learned has, quite literally, shaken me. I compare it to finding a chest in the attic, filled with journals written by your parents. Inside those journals are chronicled all kinds of evil things about them that you were previously never aware of.

If the Neal of today were to go back in time and come face to face with the Neal of 1980, the younger version would consider me certifiably insane because of the things I ramble on about.

I just would not be able to accept that what I was hearing was true. So, in that I can somewhat understand how people today are reluctant to accept the things I talk to them about. Yet the truth is out there, whether or not you choose to admit it or not.

I grew up in what I call the Cleaver era, as referenced to the late 50’s TV show, Leave It To Beaver. Times certainly have changed since then. Many people to whom I speak weren’t alive back then. In fact many of them weren’t even alive when Jimmy Carter was President. They don’t remember the assassination of JFK, the Viet Nam War, and the overall change that took place in our nation during the 60’s.

Having lived through all those things I can see with more clarity the changes that our country has undergone in the past 50 years. I can understand how hard it must be for some younger people to even picture a government which adhered, somewhat, to the Constitution, and the belief that our individual rights are unalienable.

Whether they can relate to it or not, the truth is that with each succeeding administration our government strays further, and further from the limited government established 220 years ago by our founders. As it does, the people of this country increasingly look to the government to take care of their every need, all of which comes at the cost of their rights and liberty.

At the rate things are going our government will soon control every aspect of our lives, and we will no longer have any rights whatsoever. The Senate has just passed their version of a health care bill, moving it one step closer to being signed into law by someone whom I consider ineligible to even hold the office of president.

Politics is a funny thing in that it is much like a sporting event. When two football teams face each other on the gridiron, if one team scores two touchdowns in a row, they are said to have the momentum. Politics is the same. When one party controls both houses of Congress, and the Presidency, when they pass a major piece of legislation they feel emboldened to continue on, pushing more and more bills through while they have the momentum.

Currently another of these bills, HR 4173 is working its way through the system. It has already passed the House by a vote of 223-202. Sponsored by Barney Frank, D-Mass, this bill would give government control over banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. Government would be able to control who gets credit, and how much.

This is not the government our founders envisioned when they wrote the Constitution. This is not the government that existed when I took my first breath in 1958. This is not the government that those of us who understand the Constitution want. Yet it is the government that is being forced upon us because people today are too damn lazy to turn off their TV’s and find out what the hell is going on while they watch sports and reality TV.

What can be done? I really don’t know. I do not claim to have all the answers, in fact I don’t know if there is an answer to the question of how do we fix America. We may be on a runaway train with no conductor, heading for a cliff.

Still, I get really upset when I get into discussions with people and all I hear is people repeating worn out partisan bullshit from both sides of the political spectrum. Instead of thinking for themselves, they sound like a broken tape recorder repeating the same old message over and over again.

America is a country divided, and in the middle are a few people who understand what is really wrong with this country. The two other sides are so ideologically opposed that they can only see their hatred for each other. They refuse to consider anything other than ways in which they can shortcut their enemies agendas.

I grow weary of discussing the issues with people, as I find that they just refuse to think. Instead they resort to knee jerk emotional responses when it comes to the issues. I know this is going to upset many who read it, but it seems to me that not only do most people have very short memories, they are just too damn lazy to do any research in search of the truth. They are far too involved in whatever it is that brings them enjoyment to try to educate themselves.

I do not deny anyone the right to seek enjoyment, we all need it at some point in time to get away from all the stress that life brings us. But when we let the quest for enjoyment come at the cost of neglecting our responsibilities as citizens, that is when I begin to lose my patience and understanding.

I was asked what I would do if I were president. If I were president I wouldn’t live long enough to do anything to make a difference. I would end up just like JFK, an assassins bullet through the head.

I often read the suggestions others offer for what we can do to fix America. I hear things running from something as simple as voting the bums out, all the way to open revolution.

Throwing the bums out and replacing them is futile. Those who replace them will soon become as corrupt as the ones given the boot. You see, not only do the people expect these things of their government, we also have to realize that those who control the government will not allow things to go back to the way they were.

As to the talk of open rebellion, even if a revolt was successful they would still have the problem of millions of Americans who would quickly demand all their government entitlements. If they don’t get them, I foresee endless waves of riots and chaos in the cities.

Probably the best way I have heard is by getting the states to nullify government programs by asserting their 10th Amendment right. If enough of the states had the courage to stand up to the federal government, we could stop them in their tracks. That is a big if, especially for me.

I don’t see that happening in California, land of Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, and Barbara Boxer, the trifecta of socialism. To be truthful, California is a lost cause. We may as well just build a fence along California’s border with the rest of the U.S. and give it back to Mexico.

They can have the Terminator, Hollywood, and the cesspool of sin, San Francisco. Just give me time to make it to the Nevada border first. However, all border crossers would be required to provide proof of citizenship, and sign an oath of loyalty to the constitution first. Let them see how well they handle things when everyone who remains demands that someone else provide for their sustenance, when there is no one left working to pay for it.

I don’t know. I don’t really see things getting any better, hence the title for this article, Why So Serious. All I know is that things are going to get ugly in this country. Eventually the government will push people into a corner. Those who value their liberty will fight back. Who will win, that is up for grabs. All I can do is keep my faith in my Savior Jesus Christ, to give me the strength and courage for the tough times ahead.