All posts tagged definition

Ordinary Conclusions

Defining the Ordinary Citizen-Part VI

(Follow the full series under the Defining the Ordinary Citizen category.)

Defining the Ordinary Citizen might be impossible.  It likely means different things to different people.  I’ve talked about the frustration, disappointment, ideas and voices of the Ordinary Citizen.  All of these aspects are important to the definition, but it is incomplete nonetheless. So far, this series contains my thoughts, my opinions.  And I admit… it’s lacking.

Defining the Ordinary Citizen is not an entry in a dictionary.  It’s a journey. It’s about taking action.  It’s about changing our communities, our states, our nation and our world for the better.  It extends beyond Tea Parties and politics.  We all are figuring out what it means to be Ordinary Citizens. Many of us will show the rest how to be extraordinary along the way.

In these uncertain times, the Ordinary Citizen is more important than ever.  Please join me on this journey of definition.  Feel free to share your opinions on this blog.

The tale of the Ordinary Citizen is not complete.  It’s being rewritten daily.  By you.

The Ordinary Citizen.

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by Wade Abbott on August 10, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by Wade Abbott on August 10, 2010

https://thisordinarycitizen.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/ordinary-conclusions/

Ordinary Voice

Defining the Ordinary Citizen-Part V

(Follow the full series under the Defining the Ordinary Citizen category.)

Can a single voice matter?  A couple?  Thousands?

I believe that I am in the process of finding my own voice.  This blog is a big part of it.  My “Ordinary Citizen” speech from last year’s Albany Tax Day Tea Party may have been a starting point for that process.  The speech continues here:

I am an Ordinary Citizen, and I have a voice! I am not represented by a union.  I am not represented by an association.  I have nobody lobbying on my behalf.  There are many groups that claim they represent me, but I do not feel that is the case.  Certainly, I am not represented by those in power.

I recall from my history lessons in high school that one of the reasons this country was founded was because the colonists were sick of “taxation without representation.”  It can be disheartening to know that I pay taxes galore, and I have yet to find my representation. I fear the day when we stop being ordinary citizens, and instead become ordinary subjects, for that is the day when tyranny comes to the United States.

But this Ordinary Citizen will not become pessimistic.  I recently read that we all need to “find our voices.”  I have found mine.  I have found it here, at home, at work, and with my friends.  If these politicians who claim to represent us, continue to ignore the Ordinary Citizen, then my voice will become louder.  I will vote my voice.  I will speak my voice.

It is time that we stand up; remind these politicians that they work for us.  It is time to tell them to get out of our daily lives, to get out of wallets, to live under a budget, to show some backbone and leadership.  If they will not listen…

I believe that I paused at this portion of the speech, then completed the sentence by leaning into the microphone and slowly emphasizing each word.

…then it is time to vote – them – out.

I was caught a little off guard by the vote-them-out chant that rose up from the crowd.  As it echoed across the rally site, I leaned back, scanned the crowd, and enjoyed the moment.  I think it was then that I realized that I was standing in the midst of hundreds of people, many of them finding their voices.

My speech continued:

We will demand that they leave their lofty positions, and we will replace them.  Replace them not with another power-hungry politician, but with an Ordinary Citizen.  It is time to vote in the reluctant politician.  It is time to vote in the farmer who would prefer to be in the fields, the teacher who would rather be in the classroom, the machinist who would be more comfortable in the shop, the programmer who enjoys being in front of a computer.  It is time for the careerist politicians to pack their bags and learn to function in the real world.

It is time for all of us as Ordinary Citizens to find our voices and say, “Enough.  Govern with restraint… or leave!”

Shortly thereafter, I reached the conclusion of my speech.  Afterward, it dawned on me that large numbers of people were discovering their voices. Not just the speakers and attendees at the Albany Tax Day Tea Party, but thousands more attending similar rallies across the country.

It is fantastic that so many Ordinary Citizens are speaking up.  Not only Tea Partiers, but people of differing beliefs.  People who have not been heard before.  You can meet them at rallies, interact with them via social networking sites, and read their thoughts on blogs far and wide.  It’s an exciting time.

What’s next for the Ordinary Citizen?  Find out in Defining the Ordinary Citizen – Part VI.

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by Wade Abbott on August 6, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by Wade Abbott on August 6, 2010

https://thisordinarycitizen.wordpress.com/2010/08/06/ordinary-voice/

Ordinary Ideas

Defining the Ordinary Citizen-Part IV

(Follow the full series under the Defining the Ordinary Citizen category.)

There’s a saying that sticks with me from my Navy days.  “A sailor’s not happy unless he has something to complain about.”  I suspect there may be a kernel of truth to that statement.  Complaining seems to be a human trait, but it’s not terribly useful.

A common perception of the Tea Party movement is that it is made up of people who are angry and just want to complain.  There is no doubt that Ordinary Citizens, both within and outside of the Tea Party movement are upset.  However, I firmly believe that the Ordinary Citizen has immense capability to provide realistic solutions to society’s problems.

Back to my “Ordinary Citizen” speech from last year’s Albany Tax Day Tea Party:

I am an Ordinary Citizen, and I have ideas! I do not like complaining and whining.  Just ask my three-year old son.  Obviously, I have complaints about our society and our government.  I also have some potential solutions, and I recognize that not everyone will agree with them.  Still, let me share them with you.

I know that we are in tough economic times.  People have lost their jobs; rumors of layoffs persist in corporations of every size.  It is not an easy time for the ordinary citizen.  It is time to cut taxes, let alone raise them.  At the same time, government must cut waste, fraud and abuse, and perhaps even cut some “better” programs.  The cuts must occur from the top down, not the bottom up.  Start by getting rid of those jobs that are simply there as a political reward.  It’s also time for the unions to stop protecting the poor performers.  We might even have to cut pay, benefits, or even the jobs of some good employees.

Yet, we ordinary citizens cannot leave it at that.  Many of us are facing or will face the same situation.  It is time for the rest of us to stand up and help out those in need.  Yes, it is tough to do in hard economic times, but we need to support those in need… help others get back on their feet.  10% of my family’s income goes to charitable organizations.  Whether that money goes to a religious organization or a charity it will do far more than if it goes to a bloated bureaucratic government…

Some would argue that the problems of society are just too big for individuals to solve, that only the government can provide the solution.  I say, “NO!”  It makes a difference to the people that we help.  It is time to push the government out of the way, and help out those in need ourselves.

The Ordinary Citizen does make a difference!

These are important ideas, and there are endless others worthy of action. Unfortunately, if the ideas of Ordinary Citizens are largely ignored, it is easy to become disheartened.

But don’t fret.  The Ordinary Citizen has a voice!  Find out more in Defining the Ordinary Citizen – Part V.

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by Wade Abbott on August 5, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by Wade Abbott on August 5, 2010

https://thisordinarycitizen.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/ordinary-ideas/

Ordinary Disappointment

Defining the Ordinary Citizen-Part III (Also check out Part I and Part II)

As a society, we expect much from our leaders.  Sometimes our expectations can be too high.  However, in recent years I feel like our societal expectations have plummeted.  And despite that we still find constant disappointment in our leaders, especially from elected leadership.

Case in point:  the New York State budget.  Actually, I should say the lack thereof.  As I write this, the budget is well over 120 days late.  According to an article by Fred Dicker in the New York Post, chances are good that a new record for a late budget will be set this year.  (August 11th is record-breaking day.)  Woo-hoo!  We might break the record! Oh wait, that’s not a cause for celebration.  What a pitiful performance from our elected leadership!

Below is the next section of my “Ordinary Citizen” speech from last year’s Albany Tax Day Tea Party.  The Ordinary Citizen’s disappointment in our so-called leaders is very evident:

I am an Ordinary Citizen, and I am appalled! As I look at society around my, I am truly disappointed in those we call leaders.  Whether they are politicians, CEO’s of large companies, school board members and superintendents, presidents of colleges, I find myself less-than impressed.  Companies are deemed “too big to fail.”  Massive bailouts, according to our esteemed government, are necessary to save these companies, or even states themselves.  When ordinary citizens express their disagreement, they are largely ignored.  It seems that not a single one of these leaders has the guts to fail.  They can rely on the safety net of the ordinary citizen.  Budget cuts, when they do happen, come to the ordinary citizen.

Don’t get me wrong; good leaders should be highly compensated.  But good leaders also need to be the first to have their salaries cut.  It’s called leadership by example.  I see very little “good leadership” in corporate society.  Even less in public society and government.

And this next line from the speech may very well be my personal favorite:

That giant sucking sound you hear coming from Albany… that’s not just the money being sucked from your wallet, that’s also the sound of the leadership vacuum in our government.

I can’t say that our elected leaders, especially in my home state of New York, have done much to shift my perceptions of disappointment or cool my anger.

But before I am accused of just being an angry Tea Partier, I must assure my readers that the Ordinary Citizen has ideas.  Find out about them in Defining the Ordinary Citizen – Part IV.

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by Wade Abbott on August 3, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by Wade Abbott on August 3, 2010

https://thisordinarycitizen.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/ordinary-disappointment/

Ordinary Frustration

Defining the Ordinary Citizen-Part II (Part I is available here.)

Do you ever yell or grumble at your TV?  I do.  For me it can be during a hockey game: “Shoot the puck, shoot the puck!”  Most often, it’s during the news, watching the latest reports about our representatives.  My wife reminds me that only she and the kids can hear me.  Still, it is cathartic, much like this blog.

Given the success of last year’s Tax Day Tea Parties, I suspect that many others share my concerns.  I think there are plenty of Ordinary Citizens who want to be heard.  They are tired of politicians speaking sweetly in their ears prior to an election, and once elected, ignoring them until the next campaign.  We are all disgusted with leaders who claim they have integrity, but their actions scream otherwise.  Do Paterson, Rangel, or Bruno ring any bells?  We are sick of corruption, high taxes, wasteful spending and over-reaching government.

Here is another portion of my “Ordinary Citizen” speech from last year’s Albany Tax Day Tea Party.  It describes the frustration of the Ordinary Citizen:

I am an Ordinary Citizen, and I am FED UP! We live in a state where the government tells us we need to pay more in taxes, smoke less, eat less trans-fats, pay more in fees, suck it up during these tough times, and live according to an ever-increasing list of rules.  But, oh by the way, the rules do not apply to the politicians.

The governor tells us in his budget that we need to drink less sugary sodas.  I ask you, Governor Paterson, “Who elected you my mother?”  Frankly, you lack the ethics, the morality, and the qualifications to even dream of being my mother… Perhaps I need a reminder from you to look both ways before I cross the street.  Maybe you can wake me up in the morning to keep me from being late to work.  After all, I am just an ordinary citizen.  I probably cannot tie my shoes without government help.

But I should not leave out the other branches of government… I await the call from the Legislature telling me to take out the trash.  The next time the phone rings, it could be the Judiciary telling me to pick up a gallon of milk (that’s 2% – not whole) at the grocery store on the way home from work.  Do you politicians think that you can tell me what to do better than my wife?  Forget it, she’s good at it, and she’s a heck of a lot better looking than any politician I’ve ever seen.

On top of this, you have the audacity to tell me that my taxes should increase.  With all of the waste, fraud, and abuse that come out of the buildings surrounding us, I am the one that needs to pay more?  You have the gall to hide many of these taxes in new or ever-increasing fees?  I play by the rules, I live according to a budget, I live modestly, and yet… I have to pay more to a bloated nanny-state?  I say to my government, “Get out of my life, get out of my wallet!”

Are Ordinary Citizens across this country fed up?  Are they angry?  You bet.

They are also disappointed.  Especially in their so-called leaders.  More about that topic in Defining the Ordinary Citizen – Part III.

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by Wade Abbott on March 5, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by Wade Abbott on March 5, 2010

https://thisordinarycitizen.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/defining-the-ordinary-citizen-part-2/

Defining the Ordinary Citizen: What is it?

Defining the Ordinary Citizen-Part I

What IS an Ordinary Citizen?  It’s a great question, and one that cannot be completely answered.  Still, I will make an attempt.

Merriam-Webster Online defines “ordinary” here.  I particularly like the first and third definitions of the adjective.  Check them out.  Basically, being ordinary boils down to being common or routine.

On April 15, 2009 I had the opportunity to speak at the Albany Tax Day Tea Party.  The theme of that event was “A Rally for the Ordinary Citizen.”  My speech was titled  “The Ordinary Citizen.” Here is an excerpt from that speech that provides insight into my beliefs about the Ordinary Citizen.  Does it describe you, too?

“My name is Wade Abbott.  I am, like all of you, just an Ordinary Citizen.  I am certainly not famous, not rich, and not well known.  I have a wonderful family:  a beautiful wife and two young sons.  I live in a modest house, pay my bills and my mortgage on time.  I file my income taxes before April 15th every year.  I have a job, one that will never make me rich, but that leaves me satisfied.  I enjoy attending hockey games and riding roller coasters.  Just like millions of New Yorkers, and tens of millions of Americans:  I am completely and utterly ordinary.”

Please note that about a month after giving this speech I lost my job.  Also, the text of my speech likely differs from the version actually given on April 15th.  Unfortunately, I do not have a video of my speech. I am searching for a copy of it, and I will post it if I ever find it. (Please let me know if you recorded my speech!)

I spoke at the end of the three-hour rally, and it was the first time all day that I understood how life-changing that day was for many people.  In attendance were thousands of people who had never attended political rallies.  They carried homemade signs, waved flags, and expressed their First Amendment rights.  They agreed and disagreed with one another, but did so in a completely respectful manner.  When the event ended and everyone left, the rally location was left in better condition than when it started.  I had been surrounded by citizens as extraordinary as they were ordinary.  What an honor!

What is an Ordinary Citizen?  In short, it’s me.  And most likely, you!

Learn more about what riles up the Ordinary Citizen in Defining the Ordinary Citizen-Part II.

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by Wade Abbott on February 21, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by Wade Abbott on February 21, 2010

https://thisordinarycitizen.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/defining-the-ordinary-citizen-part-1/

  • Welcome!

    I believe that we desperately need to hear the stories of Ordinary Citizens who make a difference in our lives, our communities and our world.

    Why not be Ordinary?

    Why not make a difference?

    Why not be Ordinary AND make a difference?

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