My Bucket List for America

My Bucket List for America

1        To rediscover that it is not all about “me” and my rights.  To regain a sense of what true community is and to make the common good a priority.  To remember that life is a gift and not a commodity and that the earth is not something to be used up but prized.

2        To find a reasonable compromise on the immigration issue including some kind of logical border security with an understanding at least of why desperate people take such risks to come here. (Take a mission trip to Mexico and see why they risk so much for their families)  Offer some kind of documentation program so people can come out of the shadows, pay taxes, and be a visible part of a community.  Do not “fine” them as a penalty but perhaps require some time in community service to invest into the community that they long to be part of.  That would be a response to the need for “accountability.”

3        Come up with some reasonable gun control to at least acknowledge that we have a problem.  Reasonable background checks and a limitation of assault rifles is not doing away with the second amendment.  It is an investment into the common good and would take awhile to make a difference but it is time to take some steps toward sanity.

4        Put prayer back in public schools but not like it is requested by those who want only Christian prayer.  Have students hear the prayers of the many faiths that now make up our country.  This would teach respect and tolerance and also be a way to learn how those who are different make meaning out of life through religion.  That should be a part of a good comprehensive education and would not be religious compulsion but an investment into what true community can be.

5        Find a reasonable way to provide health care for all people that does not cost the wrong people the wrong way.  Health care should be a right not a privilege.  Are we not smart enough to figure this out?  I for one do no mind giving something to provide this as long as I know it truly is helping all of us.

6        Change the system when it comes to money and our political framework.  Limit the money paid to campaigns put a cap on money that goes into influencing our elected officials.  Have term limits so that we do not create career politicians who have to spend so much time and money just to be re-elected thus allowing them to be real public servants which is the idea.

7        Do away with the Electoral College.  It does not make any sense anymore.

8        Institute a tax system that really is fair or as fair as any tax can be.  After all the tax system is supposed to support the common good.  Come up with a system that at least reminds us that taxes are fundamentally an investment into what community should be.

9        Get rid on the “one and done” thing in college basketball…or…require those who do take the leap to donate at least 10% of their ridiculously high salary to a fund that would increase public school teacher’s salaries. (Okay, this one is more a personal gripe.)

  Have everyone in America start sharing their bucket list so that we can all see what it is that we really want and then realize that we each can’t have everything we want but must learn to listen and compromise for the sake of all.