Of all the lessons that we can learn from Ronald Reagan, one of the most powerful is the lesson of optimism.

His optimism was one of his most appealing qualities. I think it played a huge role in his ability to connect with the American people.

After all, we are the most optimistic people in the history of the world.

Every day, we can make a choice to be optimistic or give in to Doom and Gloom thinking.

For Example:

1) a) Doom and Gloom – The MSM has won. The American people have been indoctrinated as socialists and that’s why they voted for Obama. We can write off huge parts of the country and the large numbers of American people. We are surrounded by the enemy.

b) Optimism – This crisis has really hit people hard. It caught them off guard and caused temporarily confusion. That’s why voted for Obama. The American people, to their core, still believe in freedom, opportunity and prosperity. Once they catch their breath, they will remember that. Remember, we are all in this together – these guys don’t ask about party affiliation.

2) a) Doom and Gloom – I want Obama to Fail. Now I will run off and parse what “Failure” is (and maybe what “is” is) and write 3 diaries explaining why Fail doesn’t mean what it sounds like it means.

b) This crisis will pass. They always do. America has faced tough times and bad presidents and always prevails. My concern is that, Obama’s policies are going to limit our potential and our prosperity. Elsewhere in the world, we have a 100 years of history that shows that his policies don’t work and here at home, we have 200+ year of proof that Freedom creates unlimited prosperity.  We want equality of opportunity not equality of outcomes.

3) Doom and Gloom – The Republican party is full of RINO’s and squishys. Anyone who doesn’t agree with MY personal views should be kicked out of the party. It’s better to be pure and lose than have people in power who we can’t count on 100%

b) Optimism – “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.” It’s a rule I followed during that campaign and have ever since. – Ronald Reagan. After spending years in the wilderness and seeing the effects of the Democrats running unchecked, Reagan understood the importance of winning elections. He knew that even if someone didn’t agree with him 100%, there would be times they did agree. And for the other times, he was a strong enough leader that he could to use logic and humor to persuade them to come around.

Let’s look for strong, optimistic leaders and not ideological purity.

I read an article in the San Diego paper about the DoD denying a Congressional Medal of Honor for Sgt. Rafael Peralta because they question the accounts or Marines who were there.

Story

“I feel like the Navy Cross is a cop-out,” said Reynolds, 31, of Ritzville, Wash. “I was 5 meters away. I saw what happened. I feel like they’re calling me a liar.”

No one is doubting the Sgt. Paeralta shielded his fellow Marines from an exploding grenade.

What is being questioned is whether or not he did it intentionally.

A general told his mother that her son’s nomination was tainted because he had been first shot in the face and torso.

“There is conflicting evidence whether he performed the acts deliberately,” said Navy Capt. Beci Brenton, a spokeswoman for Navy Secretary Donald Winter.

Don’t you think this Marine deserves the benefit of the doubt?

Ever wonder who pays the bills in the US?

How much MORE some states paid to the federal government in 2005 than they received back in expenditures.

California -$47.6 billion ($1,319 per person)

New Jersey -$27.5 billion ($3,162 per person)

New York -$23.8 billion ($1,234 per person)

Illinois -$19.0 billion ($1,490 per person)

Connecticut -$9.5 billion ($2,727 per person)

Minnesota -$9.5 billion ($1,513 per person)

Massachusetts -$7.2 billion ($1,115 per person)

Nevada -$6.0 billion ($2,528 per person)

New Hampshire -$2.3 billion ($1,776 per person) ironic number

of states that get back LESS than they give to the federal government: 16

California ($47.6 billion)
Colorado ($4.7 billion)
Connecticut ($9.5 billion)
Delaware ($1.1 billion)
Florida ($602 million)
Illinois ($19 billion)
Massachusetts ($7.2 billion)
Michigan ($1.5 billion)
Minnesota ($9.5 billion)
Nevada ($6.0 billion)
New Hampshire ($2.3 billion)
New Jersey ($27.5 billion)
New York ($23.8 billion)
Oregon ($791 million)
Washington ($3.3 billion)
Wisconsin ($3.2 billion)

of states that get back MORE than they give to the federal government: 34

(Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, Washington DC)

Thus, in 2005, $167.6 billion was transferred OUT of 16 states for the benefit of 34 states and Washington, DC, with the bulk of the money ($98.9 billion) being taken from California, New Jersey and New York. And people wonder why those state have high taxes, or are growing more slowly than many other states.

By way of comparison, in 2005 $167.6 billion was more than the size of the economy of the state of Kentucky, state budgets of Texas and Florida combined, and the economy of the nations of Ireland and Israel.