This year, 2024 is a Presidential election year. We are a few days removed from the Iowa Caucus, where former President Donald Trump won by a considerable margin. Based on this one primary, Donald Trump appears to be the Republican nominee. 

I am not anti-Trump, nor am I a die-hard Trump supporter. I have both positive and negative views of former President Trump. I am a lifelong Republican and will support the candidate of my party. Saying that, I only follow that rule on the national stage. I am not "tribal"; I am my own man, with my own views. I will vote for and support who I feel is the best candidate for state and local races. In my former life, I was an active campaign strategist and professional volunteer. I worked on campaigns of Republicans, Democrats, and non-party candidates. The Supreme Court, in my opinion, is one of the most important bodies in our governmental system. My conservative views will always require that I vote Republican for Congress, Senate, and President. 

I have always been one to provoke the thoughts of others. As a leader, I constantly challenged the thought process of others. Being in law enforcement, we needed to see many sides to different situations. I never minded being the one to get the conversation started. Healthy, respectful exchanges are how we break barriers. My blogs will always be thought-provoking and, of course, respectful.

The President of the United States is one of the most powerful positions in the world, and it's essential to our nation. But, at the same time, how important is it to you personally? In your day-to-day, everyday life, how important is the President Of The United States? How much do they control? I feel like we put too much concentration into that. I'm not saying we shouldn't educate ourselves and cast educated votes. We absolutely should. I'm saying we get consumed with it. We get consumed with the drama of politics. And there is never a shortage of political drama!

When I use the phrase "Be Your Own President," this is what I mean; I mean to be the president of you. Be the president of your family—the definition of a president: the highest position in an organization. If you think about that, it makes sense. Who's the most elevated position in your life? You are! If you are a father and have your own family, who's the president? You are? As president of you and your family, no one is more responsible for their well-being, safety, and success than you. The buck stops with you. 

I do not consider myself a doomsday prepper but believe in self-responsibility and limited government. I believe the government has a role; God knows we pay enough taxes to them. We are also responsible for our own lives and the lives of our families. We pay taxes for education, but we have to recognize the limitations of our education system. The teaching and preparation not only begin at home but end at home. The public education system is meant to be in the middle to fill the gaps. Formal education is intended to educate our children on specific skills that take specialties that most adults do not have. It isn't meant to raise our kids and prepare our kids. That is our responsibility. 

What if you are a young adult and didn't have the type of upbringing? Tough shit, you better get to reading, googling, and YouTubing! That was a disservice to you, but the world doesn't give a f..k that your parents didn't prepare you. As adults, we are responsible for our lives, not the government or anyone else. We enjoy living in a free society. That freedom comes with responsibility. If we are going to be free from government control, we must become the presidents of our own lives and families.

In my previous blog, I spoke about my daughter and her ability to protect herself. She also knows how to change her tire, jump-start her car, and handle roadside emergencies. I know this isn't earth-shattering news, and it does not qualify me for Father of the Year. But do you know how many young adults are sent away in the world without having any idea how to do any of that? It starts as a teenager with simple things like changing tires. That leads to independent adults who are presidents of their families.

I live in South Louisiana, better known as "Hurricane Alley ."We are no stranger to hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters. We are also one of the largest Petrochemical areas in the nation. It's great for our local economy, but it comes with some challenges we must prepare for. We know firsthand that when an emergency happens, for the most part, you are your own.

Healthcare has always been a big topic in our nation. This is not a government issue. Being the president of yourself and your family means your family is also prepared for day-to-day living. Ensuring you and your family are healthy is a big part of being your own president. You are responsible for maintaining a healthy diet and staying on top of the latest scientific research to prevent disease. Our country has some of the world's best doctors and medical facilities. However, the medical system is designed to treat illness and disease. Preventing disease and illness is on us. 

I could go on and on with scenarios, but the bottom line is this: the more we can do for ourselves, the more we are prepared and the less dependent we are on the government or anyone else. So, let's take the beginning of this year and assess our true independence. Then, let's take the steps necessary to become as self-sufficient as possible. After becoming our own president, we can worry about who our nation's president will be.