America: represented, led, or ruled?

Our choice, our destiny

By Madeline Crabb

In America, we've gone from being represented to led to ruled. For citizens this means we have been gradually relinquishing our individual control over government, and thus simultaneously losing our freedoms. What keeps baffling me is why? Are we just plain schizophrenic and unable to choose our personal and corporate destiny? Are we too lazy to fight for our freedoms? Have we just simply given up? Dear fellow American, whatever the reason, by our actions we are cutting our own proverbial throats.

Perhaps the following definitions will help us understand the importance of our choices:

Represent — to stand or act in place of, or as an agent or substitute

Lead — to influence or induce; to be in control or demand of; to be superior to or have the advantage over

Rule — to exercise dominating power, authority, or influence over; predominate; to be superior to

It would seem these words should not be interchanged because they don't mean the same thing. Admittedly, I have used all three of these words when speaking about our elected officials. Usually, however, when calling these officials "representatives," I am speaking tongue in cheek, because most of these folks have personal agendas excluding the little people who elected them. Yes, there are some good ones, but not enough who are unafraid of doing the right thing just because it is the right thing to do... those who don't worry about adverse personal consequences to their decisions.

America is a "representative republic." We elect people to "represent" us, people to stand or act in place of us. Like a work contract, we elect or "hire" individuals to serve our interests. If these representatives don't properly "perform their jobs," then we fire them and hire new ones. Unfortunately, individual Americans have not been very good in their supervisory duties as employers.

During "job interviews," applicants (candidates) show their resumes and tell their potential employers things that will get them hired. The employer is responsible for checking records and references, and asking necessary questions.

Once hired, many of these employees simply ignore their job descriptions and do things their own way. Instead of reprimanding their employees and issuing verbal and written "warnings," far too many employers simply let bad behavior, and lack of results slide — day after day, and year after year. It then begins to affect the work of other employees who see they can get by with such behavior and insubordination. Eventually there is chaos and anarchy when everyone does his own thing with no consequences.

This happens every day in the workplace. Rules and regulations are not followed. Management is not respected, and is sometimes downright ignored. I have recently worked in some businesses that are run this way, and the results are disastrous. Such businesses will eventually be ruined. And fellow American, this is exactly what is happening to our country.

Sometime during the past century or so, We the Employers have been weak, untrained, or absentee, which has resulted in us no longer "bossing," but being "bossed." Instead of telling our employees what jobs we expect them to do, we've begun allowing them to influence and induce us to their way of thinking.

More recently, We the Employers have all but relinquished control over our own "business." The employees are now exercising dominating power, authority, and influence over us. They now consider themselves superior to us and they predominate over us. Actually, we are almost back to where our forefathers were when they decided to declare independence from Great Britain.

It is way past time to make a decision about our future.

Do we want to be represented, led, or ruled? The only option for freedom-loving citizens is to be represented by men and women who understand their "job descriptions," and exhibit a working understanding of the "employee handbooks" and "policies and procedures" (The Constitution and Declaration of Independence). Furthermore, these employees must realize that the penalty for insubordination, and failure to abide by written policies, is to be fired. We the Employers must take our role more seriously. It appears the bosses in Massachusetts are getting serious. Are the rest of us up to the task? To anyone willing to hear....

© Madeline Crabb