I've been pondering through the entire holiday season what to post for the New Year... so many things to choose from. I spent most of the weekend reading blogging sites, left, right and in between. And particularly reading the comments to posts.

And what struck me is how divided we have become as a country... and to me, that is the biggest thing we have to worry about this coming year.

I have never seen such virulent rhetoric being spouted from both sides of the aisle... though I do have to admit I see a lot more from the right than the left these days. But it does definitely go both ways. There has always been political give and take between parties in this country, but it has sunk to a new low in the last year. I've seen more flat out lies, half truths and spin being reported as serious news than I ever have seen in my life.

By the way, whatever happened to objective news reporting?  Main stream media in this country has become far too opinionated for the health of this country.  For truly objective reporting these days, I use the net for world wide news.
  
I really do have a problem when whole network "news" channels get opinionated, 24/7. Editorials are great and good, but for my news... I just want the news, not the reporters personal or corporate slant on it.   I'm not pointing any fingers because all the major networks are guilty of it to some extent.  Some more than others...

All in all, I see a very divisive country this year, at a time when we seriously need to come together to get our country back on it's feet. We damn near went into a depression and we are fighting  two wars. Usually when we are that far up the creek, we come together. Not this time...This time it's all about "What's in it for me?". 

And Cheney...I have never seen or even read about such attacks on the new administration from someone of the outgoing...shows such a lack of class.  Especially considering the mess we're in is mostly his fault. Personally, I think he should be tried for war crimes but that would probably cause more problems than it would be worth for the justice gained. But I digress...

What worries me is too many people consider themselves Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, etc before they consider themselves Americans.We used to all be Americans first, despite our differences politically.

Me?

You could call me Libertarian, but then I'm pretty conservative on fiscal policy and down right hawkish on defence :) On personal and social issues and rights, the government has no place to get in the way of anything I want to do that is not hurting another person.  On the other hand, I want a lean, mean fighting machine to defend my country and way of life :)

But first and foremost I've always thought of myself as a citizen of the United States of America, We have a great set of ideals set forth in the Constitution that I truly believe in...

I think too many in this country have forgotten those ideals and have forgotten that we are one people... come together from many different places and beliefs but all believing in those ideals.

I hope this year will see a lessening of the hatred I see flying daily across the blogosphere and main stream media . I would like to see us be one people again, rather than a bunch of self interest groups.
  
Our country is in a bad way right now, geo-politically, economically, and militarily. We are pretty much over extended everywhere at the moment. We need to pull together as we have always done before historically in times of crisis. We should be trying to work together in a crisis, not fight amongst ourselves over insignificant bullshit.

So instead of a resolution, I have a hope that someday, we will truly be a country and a people again.

My 2cp