National Debt

July 4th is the perfect time for friends, family, and food.  Appreciating all the sacrifices that have been made and are being made in the name of our country is essential to the spirit of Independence Day.  The importance of which cannot be reiterated enough.  It isn't all we have to remember though.

Celebrating independence is a celebration of getting to play our own hands at the global poker table.  As a nation we are able to act of our own accord.  That being said, an independent nation with a largely dependent population shouldn't be called independent in the first place.  In the spirit of independence, we all should be concerned with, or at least aware of the current landscape of our country.  I like to look at economic indicators and pretty charts for this, but patriotism is a far more flexible calling

However you choose to leave your impression on this world or let it leave its impression on you, thinking about what you do to sustain and extend independence is a tradition that would surly be in the holiday spirit.  Troops do it by advancing our nations military endeavors.  Their hands on relationship with freedom is what we remember and honor them for.  Teachers do it by educating the population so it can enjoy the most fulfilling freedoms there are while being critical enough to be able to protect them.  Lawyers train to understand all the laws, while cops train to enforce them and politicians run to change them.  Builders give us a place to sleep while were independent, and firemen make sure its safe.  Entrepreneurs give us freedoms we never knew we could have and baby sitters watch their kids while they do it.

Independence day is a group project where some people seem, and sometimes are, much more important to it than others.  Just like in life, the role you take on is largely a reflection of the role you think you can have.  What advances independence is as up to interpretation as what should be done with it.  We all have a stake in independence and July 4th is a great time to reflect on how we can all protect it.  Happy Independence Day everyone.