American citizens need and deserve three things from government: Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability. Without these three key elements as a foundation, all policies, services, and supports inevitably become inefficient and ineffective.
I know this because I’ve spent much of the last 20 years working in the accounting field with individuals, small businesses, multi-million-dollar non-profits, and government agencies. Innovation and adaptability are essential to any organization if it is to remain efficient and able to serve the needs of its customers. Otherwise, their customers go somewhere else.
Not so with the government. Government has no reason to innovate. It is not incentivized to run a lean budget or maximize efficiency. It doesn’t have to. Why? Because in the name of kindness and generosity, government can demand more and more of its citizen’s hard-earned income. However, history shows that money alone cannot correct social woes.
The fact is, we don’t have a money problem as much as we have a culture problem. We no longer instill the values of selflessness and community in our young people. For generations we have been told that each of us is the center of the universe and everything we do should be toward the goal of “feeling good.” We prioritize personal pleasure over duty and responsibility.
Too often, after creating another new government program intended to “help” people, we pat ourselves on the back and turn away. Yet those in need aren’t served by new or bloated bureaucracy, they need community and human compassion.
As Americans we’re happy to contribute to the welfare of those in need. We know good schools, sound bridges, and the protection of fire and police departments cost money. But let’s face it – We would have more resources available for all those needs if Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability are restored to our government.
We believe in Rigorous Honesty. It's more than a slogan. We are committed to telling you the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. After over a decade of sobriety I can attest to the fact that honesty is indeed the best policy. The TRUTH is what you deserve from your media and reporters and we work hard to give that to you.
It is our job as good citizens to be mindful of our government. To watch over those that are tasked with watching over us. They are like a security system. It's our system that we installed to do a job but sometimes those batteries need to be replaced. The connection to the phone lines needs to be tested. Passwords and pin codes need to be updated. We don't let the system run without making sure it's maintained. That isn't wise. That isn't American.
The government is just a bunch of humans. Just like us. They are no better, they are no smarter. They make mistakes. It may not be because of ill intent, but those mistakes will always impact us far more than them. That's why it's so important to stay connected and stay involved in our own self governance.