3 Simple Things to Fix the United States

1. Know Who We Are
You don’t have to be a history expert to know enough to make a difference. What made the United States the exception to the rule in human history? What’s so revolutionary about us?

Of course a detailed knowledge of history helps, like what life was like elsewhere for different people compared to in the United States over two centuries, knowledge of specific data such as infant mortality or literacy statistics, punishable crimes, average income, class mobility, etc. but knowing even the basics is enough to make a big difference.

The first things that come to mind that differentiate us from the rest of the world are the people we are composed of: the wide range of individuals and groups of individuals with vastly different goals and values, all sharing a desire to think and live their own way, whether for religious reasons, cultural reasons, or to conduct business. In short, the simple desire to live the way you want to, not the way you're made to. Mix in vast resources, both natural and human, and add the fact that the controlling Old World was far away. The result? A lot of different people sharing the passion for personal liberty.

2. Know Our Founding Principles
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and The Bill of Rights come to mind immediately, but what do they say? Could you explain them to someone from another nation? (Click here for an extremely short synopsis of our Founding Principles)

The basics that our founding principles are based on are twofold: A) Peace comes through trade. History makes it clear that the exchange of goods and services is the only reason opposed nations aren’t at war. B) Most people ultimately want the same thing: individual liberty. We only differ in how we think we can achieve it. Allowing other people to live the way they see best, so long as their actions don’t infringe on your rights is the golden rule: If you want to live your own way, you have to grant the same to others. Only fanatics disagree.

3. Spread the Word
Everyday, there are many opportunities to spread your passion for liberty and to remind people of these simple facts. By taking a non-partisan, constructive approach, you can plant the seed that inspires them to want to learn, and do more. My goal happens to be inspiring people with my original music… to celebrate the things we take for granted and to get people thinking about liberty. But everyone has some way of spreading the word, it's a just a matter of making the time. Whatever political party you belong to (if any), you're probably not thrilled about the direction we're heading in. But anyone can find ways to apply these 3 simple things to fix the United States.

I'll leave you with two quotes:

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Thomas Jefferson

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke