A question that has been on my mind for some time now is how do we unite America. This country has been divided for nearly 20 years.

The last time a President won a real landslide victory was the reelection of Ronald Reagan in 1984.  George H. W. Bush won a solid majority but he didn't have any real opposition when he ran the first time. Clinton never got over 50 % of the vote in either election and we all know the still debated results of the first George W. Bush election. Although he won a majority in his reelection bid in 2004, it was still one of the closest elections in history.

Congress has been within the grasps of either party for the last 10 years at least with the Republicans currently in control. Even if the Democrats managed to gain control of one of the houses of congress, this country would still be bitterly divided.

What I think we need is a truly unique person to build a true bond with both Conservatives and liberals. This is all well and good sounding, but let's be real, it's me talking. What I want is a real conservative, a Reagan Conservative.

Although I have spend many hours defending this President's decisions about going to war, his stance on being forceful with our military might if it means destroying our enemies before they can attack us and his use secret ease-dropping on enemy agents, I can not stand here and proclaim that I am a follower of his or any other self proclaimed conservative currently in the public spotlight. While I do agree with a lot of the administrations policies, I certainly do not agree with all of them.

So what's lacking? Many of you say this guy has no morals, he lies, cheats, deceives or at the very least, misleads. I thought that of the last President so we are even there. But what will it really take to bring America together, by at least a 2/3 vote.

First of all I believe both parties need a serious cleaning. Lifetime members of the House and Senate need to be swept out, regardless of party. I feel this will only be possible with term limits.

Second, we need a balanced budget amendment, they obviously will not control spending, again regardless of party. In the last 40 years we have seen both sides spend like drunken sailors on leave.

Third, we need to clean up all departments of the capital. I mean all of the lifetime appointment organizations, the CIA, State Department, etc. and force these people to either be elected to their posts for a predetermined period of time or, have them be forced to have their performance layed out for some scrutiny by the House or Senate.

Forth, we need to stop digging so deeply into people's lives that they are afraid to run for office. I have said it before, can any of us really say we are the same people we were 30 years ago. Along as the life you have lead since then has been devoid of serious violations of the law and has been spend with some semblance of morality, that should be enough for any of us. A lot of good people would be interested if they were not scared off by the thought of having their wife's abortion 35 years earlier brought out for review or that they have a gay son or daughter, as though that somehow negates ones ability to serve.

Fifth, we need to give back to the states those right guaranteed by the Constitution, this includes education. Many of the things the Federal Government is currently involved with are not constitutionally in their realm of influence except that the State's have given it up for some federal funding or assistance with some other matter.

Finally, and this is really more of a long term repair than a quick fix, the schools need to go back to teaching basic civics in school. Kids need to understand that if they do not get involved in government at least by voting, they are giving up something that most people will never experience on this planet, the ability to have a voice in what happens in their country. Being a citizen of the United States of America brings with it a responsibility to become involved, regardless of what side of an issue you come down on, get involved. This is something that has long been lost in the classroom. I have read my kids history and "civics" text books, and I don't think it gives a good idea of either sides feeling, and it should give both. It should also give the consequences of not getting involved in the issues of the day.

I don't know that any of these things will really do much to make Vector, rdrover, Cyrus and I all set down and have a cup of coffee and talk about a particular issue, but I can't see where any of it could possibly make things worse than the divisions this country is currently dealing with and has for nearly 20 years.

But what do I know, I'm just an Average American.