Because things are not going well for liberals who have driven the Democrat Party out of the American mainstream, I thought it would be helpful to come up with a list of suggestions for them to consider in 2014. So here goes:

Touch a gun. Guns do not bite, nor do they kill. Instead, guns protect potential victims. There is a reason gun free zones are considered magnets for mass killers. Gun-free zones are helpless victim zones. Here in the Arctic, guns protect residents from dangerous animals (and people) and also help put food on the table. A big moose can provide 700 pounds of lean and healthy meat all winter.

Share in a meaningful debate. Be warned: It is not for the weak-minded, spineless, or those with an undisciplined tongue. It takes a lot of practice. Using inane adjectives to discredit your opponent is juvenile and ignorant, but thoughtful rebuttal is enlightening and refreshing.

Seek truth. The truth will set you free, right after it exasperates you, which is why it is wise to form a few relationships with those with whom you do not necessarily agree. Truth is not contingent upon your personal interpretation; truth is simply truth. Expand your knowledge by staying informed. Your news diet should include alternate points of view beyond Comedy Central or MSNBC, if for no other purpose than to understand the other side of the argument.

Value life. According to Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, in the United States one baby is aborted every 26 seconds, 137 per hour, 3304 per day, 23,196 per week, 100,516 every month and 1,206,192 babies are aborted per year. And those are just the ones reported. Why not add babies to your “endangered lists” and begin saving them?

Make money. If you have a job, be grateful, if not, go get one or create your own. Hop off that never-ending hamster wheel of “I can’t get a job because I have no experience,” stop blaming the economy and become part of the solution. Remember: If you have minimum skills and minimum motivation, you have no right to complain about working for minimum wage. And when you get that job, please work hard because millions on welfare depend on you.

Put your money where your mouth is. Either embrace capitalism or stop buying your coveted Apple products. Steve Jobs was a capitalist.

Do charitable work. Letting government programs do for you what you should be doing yourself is lame. There is nothing more rewarding than giving back time, energy and resources to those less fortunate. Most people could do without much of what they have. Instead of selling it on the internet, give it away.

Buy an SUV. The additional money you will pay for in gas is well worth the safety you will gain. Newer SUVs are outfitted with back up cameras roll bars and side airbags, they are engineered to balance weight and adjust to sudden changes. They also handle well in austere conditions where horse power and four wheel drive come in handy.

Become a student of history. Try reading Corrie Ten Boom’s biography, The Hiding Place, which tells how her family risked their lives to help Jews escape the Nazis during World War II. Corrie was the only one in her family to survive the death camps. If you are really brave, and have the funds, take a trip to the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany.

Read the U.S. Constitution. When Republicans took over the House of Representatives in 2011 the first order of business was to read the Constitution. Some Congressional liberals like Jerrold Nadler (D-New York) complained that reading aloud the document Americans have revered as the law of the land for more than 200 years was “propaganda” and “total nonsense.” You might as well read it to find out what all the fuss is about.

Sure hope this helps.

 

Susan Stamper Brown is an opinion page columnist who writes about politics, the economy and culture. Email Susan at writestamper@gmail.com.