R E S P E C T

Hello ladies and gentlemen

"What we have here is a total lack of respect for the law"

One of the biggest problems that I see in the world of today is a total lack of respect.
In one of my earlier posts here, I wrote about how when I was growing up, our family had respect in our neighborhood. My parents may have not have had a lot of money, but they showed me that by working hard and treating others right, you could do well in life.

From an early age, I was instructed to treat everyone with respect and courtesy. It was always okay to disagree with someone but it had to be done with respect. I was taught to respect my elders and those in authority. At the top of that list were the priests in my church, my teachers, my bosses and the police officers.

Today, I see a total lack of respect. It makes me wonder if it starts with the parents of today.
Are children still being taught this simple rule of life? I see problems at all levels of society from the schools to the workplaces, to the political world. Everybody I run across today seems to operate as if they and they alone are the center of the universe. How else can you explain the problems with discipline in schools. Children who do not learn because they do not "want to".
How else can you explain the crime ridden streets of our cities? How else can you explain workers who steal brazenly from their employers or union leaders who lobby against the interests of their members? Last, but not least, how do you explain the fact that our elected representatives ignore the wishes of the voters?

It is time for a change and we alone can make that happen. It starts in our homes, in our work places and in our political system. Each and every one of us has to look deep inside ourselves.
Are we teaching respect? Are we showing respect? Are we holding others accountable for their actions?

A few months ago, I had an issue with a manger at work. As a result, I learned that I could be replaced. I keep this in mind today. Everyone no matter what you do or who you think you are can be replaced. I think that it is time to show more people how easily they cna be replaced.
I do not care if it is in the workplace or in the political system. You either do the job that is expected of you and do it well, or face the unemployment line.

Respect goes both ways. It is time for employers to show their workers respect, for parents to show their children, for teachers to respect their students and for the political leaders to respect the wishes of their voters. Today I know I have the trust and respect of my boss. Two weeks ago, I was driving to work and had an accident. My boss stepped up by buying a company car and letting me drive it. He could have left us high and dry. I would be out of work and be waiting for the mortgage company to take the house. He showed my wife and I some serious consideration. In return, I am trying to show him the proper respect. I drive his vehicle with care. I am taking care of it and letting him know about any problems. I am complying with the rules that he has given me regarding its use.

Do you get the idea now?

The TEA party movement as shown me what our politicial leaders think of us as voters. Our leaders seem to think that we are a herd of cows waiting to be milked waiting to be milked and then slaughtered. They hit us with tax and fee increases and then complain about revenue drops. On a national level, they are trying to impose the cap and tax and health care reform, both of which will hurt an economy which is already under strain.

It is time to demand respect from our elected leaders. All of our protests will fail if we do not
exercise the one right we have left. The power to fire them. Let the battle begin but do it with respect.

John Kokolski

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