GREAT BEND, Kan.- The Fourth of July represents our country's independence and is a great reason to celebrate with friends and family. It is also a great time to think about positive ways to make our country better.

We have the freedom to make our country better in non-political ways. Volunteerism! Big Brother/Big Sister gives people a connection with youth in the community that need a positive mentor in their life, someone they can count on; Meals on Wheels give back to seniors that have given so much to our community already; homeless shelters (40 percent of homeless have veteran status), serving meals once a month, volunteering within the shelter, supplying the shelter with needed items; cleaning up garbage around a river; helping out a neighbor that needs help. The possibilities are endless, all that matters is putting in work to make our country a better place.

GREAT BEND, Kan.- We are all 98 percent (these percentages are not based on any kind of scientific study) the same, we really are not all that different, and no one is really all that special. You are not unique.

There are so many advertisements and books telling us how unique, and different we are that sometimes it is easy to forget how minute our differences really are. As a general rule all of human kind must eat, drink, breath oxygen, blink, pump blood through our veins, and stay active to stay alive. As a general rule we all want the same things, shelter, a decent job, someone who understands us, a purpose for our life. We have the same basic physical structure.

The 2 percent difference is what riles up most of us. We focus on this small difference between us. We allow it to put up road blocks so we become angry with each other. As a rule we all want the basics in life, we just choose to go about them in different ways, ie. types of jobs, types of homes.

GREAT BEND, Kan. - Arizona has recently come under fire for its immigration bill. I have heard loud arguments from both sides regarding the legal implications of this law. Those arguments aside, we need to look at the big picture. Is this bill by itself going to be effective, or is it just a political ploy to satisfy those upset with illegal immigration? A lot of wording, but nothing more than the government creating more laws and creating a civil rights debate? I am not going to touch that aspect in this article; whether or not the bill is infringing on the rights of American Citizens.

According to Numbers USA and the PEW research center, both of which are bi-partisan studies, 7.7 million American jobs are held by illegal immigrants. The majority of immigrants come into America seeking jobs. Big business lures illegal immigrants in with the promise of a better life; a life where a man and woman can take care of their families, and live a relatively safe existence. The majority of illegal immigrants come to America for employment.

Is it cost effective for American's to go after illegal immigrants one at a time?

GREAT BEND, Kan. - Society's obsession with perfectly plastic people has gotten out of hand. Every day I see hundreds of half naked men and women flashed before me on the television screen, selling me everything from lingerie to toothbrushes. I am not sure what sexuality has to do with brushing my teeth, but advertisers must believe there is a correlation. At the very least they believe I am so dumb I do not realize I am being sold sex.

I have become completely bored with pre-packaged beauty. I have never found great interest in it anyway. A compliment of physical beauty does not hold much merit. Beauty is something we are in little control of. Intelligence and motivation, that is something we do have control of, something that I do put stock into, and consider a great compliment if I should receive either of those.

GREAT BEND, Kan. - Growing up my parents always told me, I could be anything I wanted. I suppose that is why it was so heartbreaking when I found out the rest of the world does not agree. I cannot begin to list the amount of times it has been insinuated I cannot do something because I am of the female origin, but I can count how many times it has been directly stated to me.

Running for election this fall I have come across many different people. Most everyone I met has been respectful, and I have enjoyed positive discourse with them. This week I caught a snag.

GREAT BEND, Kan. - The great bend in the Arkansas river is where I have decided to homestead. I live several blocks from the river itself, and enjoy taking long walks by the river. Unfortunately, these long walks do not always allow me to view the river as the awe-inspiring body of water it is. Empty beer bottles, old shoes, and plastic bags litter the viewing area. At times, the smell from the sewage plant by the river forces me to walk on the other side of town.

I am not a clean freak, but I do have respect for things that are not mine. The river does not belong to me. I share it with those in my community. As a child most of us are taught to respect the items we do not own, and to clean up after ourselves. Many of us adults forget these simple, core values as we get older. It is time we begin to remind ourselves.

GREAT BEND, Kan. - Every child in America deserves an equal chance in life. The best way for every child to receive an equal chance in life is an adequate education. For our children to be equal, they must be given the same skills and resources to prosper in life. Not just for themselves, for the state and community they live in. My Father would always tell me, "An education is something no one can take away from you, no matter what happens. Everything you own may be taken, but you have knowledge and thought on your side."

GREAT BEND, Kan. - I remember the first time I seen a homeless person. My family took summer vacations each year to fantastic American destinations, the Grand Canyon, Lake Tahoe, Maine, Florida, we made it to each state by the time my sister graduated high school. The Griswold vacation movies hold a bit of nostalgia for me. A family that piles into a car with a pop up camper and an atlas share an experience never forgotten. For better or for worse. Most can write a book about their childhood. I'm pretty certain I could write a sitcom.

GREAT BEND, Kan. - The results are in, unemployment in Kansas jumped during the month of January from 6.2% to 7.1%. Kansas needs jobs; no one will argue with that. Kansas needs good paying jobs, jobs where a person can work hard, receive a paycheck and not have to worry about food at the end of the month. That should not be a debate.

It is no secret legislature in Kansas has continued to hand out tax exemptions and
give sweetheart deals to major corporations for years, while at the same time enacting tax cuts. Now the state is in trouble and according to The Pew Center On The States, a nonpartisan organization, it may be several years before our states realize just how dire our budget situation is. This is because of two reasons - people in the state of Kansas will need monetary support from the state while they are unemployed, and people are spending less. Both issues have only just begun. When people spend less money that means less revenue, or taxes for the state, this will begin to really hit the budget in the next fiscal year.

GREAT BEND, Kan. - I love having the blues, blues records that is. Growing up, especially in my high school years I knew I was uncool. My CD case never had Brittany Spears or N*SYNC in it. I tried to like that music, I just never "got it."

I always felt the lyrics were missing something, they were devoid of feeling. The kids singing were too young to understand pain and failure.