Happy New Year 2010

Last year I asked people to admit that we hadn't lived up to expectations. In any 12 step program, the first step toward solving a problem is admitting that we have one. Well, I believe that we have come to an understanding that we have a problem. The new paradigm from 2009 is that it was a disappointing year, but we are going to work hard to turn things around in 2010 and hope that things will get better. Just smile and hope everything will get better. A good attitude will make everything better.

Like I said last year. Let's not talk about 2010 being our year. Let's make it our year. You want leadership? You want someone to come save the day? I have the answer. I have the solution. Get up from where you are now and go into the bathroom, turn on the cold water, cup your hands underneath the faucet and fill you hands, then bring it up to your face and douse your face with it. Then if you need to slap yourself a couple of times go ahead, because it is time that you wake up and understand that you are who you are looking for.

Don't be afraid to speak your mind and don't be afraid to take sides. We are in a time of change whether we like it or not. No comfort or security is on the way and that is the reality of this era. There is no reason to look for the easy way out, because you are only stalling your destiny. During times of great change it is best to take bold steps and make decisive decisions. During these times, the timid will be squashed.

I hope that you will read the article from last year based on what John Kennedy quoted from Dante's Inferno. It is entitled The Hottest Places in Hell.

I have learned a lot in the past year. Most of the people in this community don't realize the power that they grasp in their own hands. We are taught in school that we are supposed to look to others for leadership. This makes people uncomfortable about taking the lead role in projects or tasks. We are taught that our destiny is in others hands.

It is truly sad to see many of our leaders looking for leaders. If our leaders do not understand their roles and/or the context of leadership, then what does that say for our community's destiny. Government as an entity is supposed to our partner. They are not supposed to hold power over us. The only purpose of government is to help hold our society together as a cohesive unit. Washington is not supposed to be more powerful than Raleigh who in turn is supposed to be more powerful than Catawba County or Hickory. They are supposed to work together in unison to help people in their pursuit of Liberty.

You may not agree with the context that I have laid out above, but I hope that you might come to an understanding of my point of view. In my opinion, the opposite point of view is what has gotten us where we are today as a community. We have rendered ourselves powerless by abrogating our authority to a few people -- an oligarchy. The further we go up the chain, the fewer people who have to answer to us. And we have made them unaccountable for the decisions they make.

In my opinion, the more people work together to make decisions, the better the decisions will be, and the more accountable we will all be for our actions. We should not concentrate power in the hands of a few people, who have a vested interest in maintaining the power that they hold over us. That is what has kept us in this Status Quo mentality. These people we have vested power in have their egos at stake and they are more worried about their personal self-esteem than what is best for the people they serve.

I am scared to think of what this is all leading to. As long as people perceive they are in a comfort zone, then they will strive towards the status quo as long as possible; but if a sudden jolt causes discomfort then they will go berserk. Think of 9/11/2001, it brought us all together after the fact, but think of the hours of that day when everything was unfolding. Think of the chaos in New York City. Think about everyone on that bright blue skied morning and how quickly it was brought asunder. What if we had events that led to a protracted period like that. Are you going to look for a leader or are you going to be a leader?

Nothing has ever been the same since those events took place. Our economy has never been the same, our liberties are slowly being extracted, and trust is looked at as the naivete of the innocent. The road back to where we were will not come through the government. It must come through the people. The people must stand up and take charge and empower themselves.

We are now coming back to an election period that will be vitriolic. We must demand that the politicians give us a reason to support them. We should all be tired of voting against the other guy. We need people and causes that we can support. There are certain things that the vast majority of us can support through consensus. It is time that we start working on those issues and leave the divisiveness for another day. If we don't start building toward the future, then we will be sure to be sitting in rubble soon.

I know that this may not have been the positive message that some are seeking heading into the new year. I am sorry. I don't believe in hope. Hope is when you are looking for someone or something else to solve your problems. That is for children.

What I do have is faith. A belief that eventually the good in this world will win out over the bad. That those with good in their heart will take the challenges that lie before us and use them as the building blocks towards a brighter future. But, if we are unwilling to understand the meaning and context of these challenges, then we are not going to build the firm foundation that we desire to build tomorrow upon.

I would like to thank the 18,000 people who have read this blog so far. Whether you agree with me or not, it makes me feel good to know that people have spent time reading and interpreting my thoughts.

Thank You and God Bless You this Year,
James Thomas Shell