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For a teenager getting your driving permit is a huge deal.

My youngest turned 15 last week and like every 15 year old in my state he, although slightly fearful was eager to get his driving permit.

Historically the DMV or the DLD (what ever you call the Drivers License Division) is the last place anyone wants to consciously go. Every time I’ve been there I’ve been greeted with long lines, unfriendly people and English was a second language but on this day things where different.  There were just a few people and English was mostly spoken. Maybe it was because we went early or maybe the sparse patrons were because of Black Friday after all, we went the day after thanksgiving; either way I’m not complaining.

We filled out the application, Mr B took a photo that slightly rivaled a GQ cover shoot and off he went to take his test.

45 min later from across the room I see him get up to turn his test in and judging from the ear to ear grin I suspected he’d passed. I got a confirmation seconds later when he threw up the white persons version of a gang sign – the thumbs up.

As we left the DMV / DLD the big question finally came ” can I drive home dad?” Sure I said.  I wasn’t afraid for my life because he’s driven around the hood and one late night while rescuing his older sister I let him drive home from across town so I knew he had ample skills to get us home.

Here’s the lesson
Kid gets in, adjust the seat, adjust the mirrors, clicks in his seat belt, looks left, then right, puts it in reverse, backs out, gets to the edge of the parking lot and stops.  Looks left, looks right, checks the rear view and eases out into the westbound lane.  I’m watching the hands like steel at 10 and 2 and I can see his eyes darting between the road in front, the traffic beyond, the left mirror, right mirror and rear view. He looked like Jake from avatar moving his eyes back and forth and  this “focus” continued the whole way home.

Where’s the focus??

Daniel son got yelled at by Mr Miyagi , Luke was told to let go and use the force.  My brother and I got yelled at by our father followed up with a “damn it son concentrate” and on this day I was reminded that I on occasion have just gone through the motions. It’s like being on automatic. I’ve done things for so long I don’t even have to think about them – like driving a car; it’s easy.

Today focus on your plan – if you don’t have one get one.  Concentrate, see your plan in action and pretty soon it will be and when it does don’t lose your focus, check left, then right and behind you.

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As you plan for the new year – don’t let the end of the world keep you from dreaming and following your heart.  -  me

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If I ran for president………
The 2012 presidential race has hit full stride and I like most Americans believe the election process is deciding the lesser of two evils so I thought it would be fun to publish some of my platform issues.  For the record I’m not a republican or a democrat a tea party member, conservative or a liberal.  I’m just a normal dude who knows he can run this country better than the current idiots seeking the office.

The GROTA party
If I was forced to create a party I would call it the GROTA party.  GROTA stands for Get Rid Of Them All.  A candidate is a steward of the people, not himself or herself, a candidate should have the stones to vote the issue that benefit the people and not the party.  When I’m elected president the first thing I would do is encourage the American people to elect new blood into the house and the senate.  It’s time to start over and rid Washington of those who only seek their own interests.

The World
The United States will no longer give her resources away.  As president I will no longer be giving aid to countries for no reason.  The excuse that the recipient is an Allie will no longer fly.  You want aid, I want a return on the American investment.  You want democracy, I want a return on the American investment.  A few weeks ago congress was attempting to raise the debt ceiling while someone was sending 400 million dollars of aid to some country; really?

The Economy
Technology and Mergers killed the American economy.  The term bigger is better is not necessarily the case.  Bank mergers, department stores, cell phone companies it doesn’t matter the company type; merge and jobs are lost.  Competition is good, it keeps businesses sharp, drives prices down and keeps people employed.  Long term stock prices don’t rise our of mergers, they do in the short term and a few people who know how to trade make money but in the long run they hurt the economy.  Merges of publicly traded companies will be under the highest scrutiny and will not be allowed if more than 200 jobs are lost.
Move your oversees manufacturing back to the US and I’ll lower your corp tax rate.  I’ll more than reclaim the tax cut from the income tax that’s paid.  Keep your manufacturing and call center’s oversees and you’ll pay more in corp taxes.  Sending jobs over seas to lower cost and increase profits is no longer acceptable, you’ll be taxed for it if you do.  Bring them back to the US and I’ll structure the tax code so that business benefits in the long run and the US people get a chance to work and I get income tax.
Government pensions will be eliminated, I have to plan for my retirement and going forward a government worker will to.
Social Security as a pool will be phase out and going forward what you pay in will be in your account and yours only not a pool.  The phasing out process will be funded from a small tax increase and from corporations that refuse to move jobs back to the US.
Medicare will be transitions just like social security.  It will be a little painful in the beginning but once we move everyone to their own Health Savings Account it will be a lot easier.  Medical cost are through the roof because of litigation.  I will cap litigation rewards for medical malpractice.  Insurance companies will pay claims on time or they’ll be fined and taxed until they do.  Legal professional corporations will be taxed at a higher rate, why,  go fix a salami sandwich at noon today and count up all of the “I can get you money” commercials .  Enticing the American people to sue instead of work will not happen anymore.  You want to the American dream?  Go earn it because you can’t sue for it anymore.

Abortion
The right to life question is the easiest for me to answer.  I’m not a woman, it’s not my life, it’s not my choice and I’m not their creator.

Military
If I decide to use military force, I will provide a written plan.  In business you create a business plan so everyone involved in the business knows the mission and vision.  Understand the objectives and has a step by step plan of action that must be followed.  The “to fight Al Qaeda” is not a reason to put the sons and daughters of the American people in harms way.  There has to be a “real” reason, a plan with objectives and who has to pay for it.

Assistance
Public assistance, public housing will still be available but when you come into the system you will leave,  public assistance will not last forever and it will not be passed down from generation to generation.  People will be trained, educated and what they’ve used will be a “loan” to them and not a grant.  There will be new jobs available because of my bring the jobs back to the US policies we’ve talked about earlier.  Public assistance money will never be used to buy drugs or booze if they do they will lose their benefits.

English
English will be spoken!  I refuse to allow the the American people to hear press 2 for Spanish going forward.  If you have clients and customers who speak a different language, set up their own number so that calls can be answered in the language they prefer.  If you live in America you will speak and transact in English.  if you don’t know English learn it.

The Pledge of Allegiance
The pledge of allegiance will be recited in every grade until the student graduates high school.  It will include “one nation under god……”

Immigration
I will create a national database and identification system and if you live inside the United States you will put into that system, you will have a national ID card that you must carry with you at all times.  It will be chip so it can’t be counterfeited and if your asked you must present your card or get deported.  If your age 10 or older you must have your card with you at all times.  You must renew your card(s) annually.  Renewal monies will be used to stabilize our borders both on the north and the south.
I believe we should use our national resources responsibly.

Oil and Gas
I also believe that if natural resources are found on federal land the government should partner and benefit for the extraction and sale of those resources.  The profits can be used to pay down our debts.  Purchasing a gas or oil lease for a small upfront one time fee will not be the norm going forward.  Drill where you want, leave the lands better than you found them.  I want you to develope alternative fuels and quit our dependance on foreign governments for our fuel needs.  Starting today if it can be found at home we should use it.

Presidential Pay
Lastly – lower the presidential pay and retirement amounts – I can live on less.
If you have an issue question, ask it in the comments below and I’ll get you an answer.  If you have a media request, leave that in the comments as well and someone from my team will get back with you.

Feel free to share your thoughts below