Don't know what you might be paying for gas in your little spot around this great country, but I'm sure that you will agree with me that it is too high! Here in our little corner of Plant City it's at $3.93/gallon at Walmart (and that's about as cheap as you can find it), and $3.99/gallon for designer gas (you know at Exon-Mobil).

Have you ever thought about why it's so high? Yeah there's the problem that we rely entirely too much on foreign oil, and they can dictate whatever they want, because they know we can't (or rather won't, but I'll get back to this) go elsewhere for it. So about half of what we pay goes back to those guys, but we have federal (and in the case of Florida, state) tax on gasoline, raising the price at least another dollar or so.

So you ask me, what in the world do I mean that we won't go elsewhere for our gas? Well, incase you are somehow not aware, we have vast natural reserves in this country. We have coal, natural gas, and yes you guessed it oil. We could reduce our dependence on foreign oil if we would just drill and use what we have. Why don't we then you ask? Simply put Congress has banned it. (For more details of what we have where, take a look at this, from our modern day superhero type. haha)

Have you ever received an email, trying to make our voices heard through boycott? Boycotting for a particular day won't work, and obvious enough people aren't boycotting Exon-Mobil to make a difference there. But here's a way you can make a difference...

You see this country is a republic, built upon the great idea that we choose wise men to go to Congress to represent us and they act in our best interest. However, this country has a tendancy toward democracy as well, which means if they don't listen to our views then we have certain powers. First of all, if you haven't already, I would strongly suggest that you go and sign this petition. Yes, I love nature as well as anyone. I grew up out in the middle of nowhere, in the real country. I played in the woods and the creek, I love to watch birds fly and all of that. However, I personally don't think that the spotted-wood owl is more important than my budget. Sorry, cute little fella.

This issue maybe the one that most tugs at our pocketbook, and unfortunitly that seems to be the only time that we respond as a nation to issues. However, this issue isn't the only issue at stake in this country. Are we going to continue to allow the rich to be robbed to give to the poor at the expense of making them dependent instead of indepent? Are we for lower quality health care, just so long as we don't have to pay for anything? Are we willing to allow big brother goverment to steal our ability and satisfaction out of making something of ourselves, and rising to the challenge from however, humble backgrounds. These things, these socialist programs do not work, FDR proved it, LBJ's War on Poverty proved it, and Communism in Russia proved it. Do we really need to continue down the path of apathy and ignorance?

Second of all, remember me pointing out tha we do live in a republic with democratic tendancies. If you don't like the politics, and I'm sure most of us don't, then do a little research, and VOTE THEM OUT, in favor of someone else. James Madison once wrote in the Federalist Paper (#51):

"But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."

We often quote the part about if men were angels, but we forget that the government is a reflection on human nature, and even more so, upon ourselves. If we fail to put good men in government, or be willing to run for a position ourselves to improve our lives and the lives of our children some day, then it is no one's fault but our own. Just think about that.

Yes, there may only be two poor choices when you go to the polls, but where were you when primaries were going on, when good men were out seeking signatures to get on the ballot, when you should have been doing your homework, your patriotic, civic duty to find out what the issues are and where you stand? Were you too busy on Facebook, at the mall, watching tv, letting daily life stand in your way of making a difference? Yes, spending time with our Churches, families, and friends (even online when we are spread far apart) is important, but can you not as a citizen of this great country spare a few minutes each day to become educated on the issues and get involved? I think this is a reasonable sacrifice when so many sacrifice their lives to keep us free from those abroad, can we not honor that sacrifice by insuring our freedoms by going with some knowledge to the ballot box?