Taking Our Country Back

I keep hearing people of all political stripes talking about taking our country back. Back to where? Back to George W. Bush's era? A time when we were borrowing from China in order to finance two wars at a rate which increased the national debt faster and higher than any time in history? Back to the beginning of the greatest recession since the Great Depression?

Back to the era of Bill Clinton? A time when the United States was losing the respect of more nations so quickly that we fell from the number one position as the most respected and highest regarded nation on Earth?

Back to the time of George H. W. Bush when the economic downturn was so vastly ignored by our government leaders that the best statement to describe those four years was/is, "It's the economy, stupid!"

Back to the time of Ronald Reagan when 'trickle down economics' was the national policy? When the middle class decreased at the fastest rate since the middle class started being monitored? When more than 50% of our national budget was spent on military expansion?

Back to the time of Jimmy Carter when unemployment was in the double digits, inflation was in the triple digits and the lines at the gas pumps stretched for blocks?

Back to the era of Richard M. Nixon/Gerald Ford when the American people finally became aware of the deceit and illegal activities that were going on on Capitol Hill? When it was revealed that the U.S. government keeps a file on the majority of the U.S. citizenry documenting our most personal information, choices, shopping history, etc.?

How about back to the 60's when there was a massive war on the American people by our own government? When protesting the government was considering anarchy, illegal and when there was a huge war between the races?

How about back to the 50's when women had few rights, blacks were required to sit at the back of the bus, drink from separate water fountains and weren't allowed to use the public restrooms whites used?

I don't want to take our country "back", I want to see our country move FORWARD. Toward something that is good, where people are considered based on their ethics, morals, behaviors, achievements and education. Where gender and ethnicity has absolutely no consideration when determining jobs, pay, housing, etc. A country where the rights of each and every citizen is guaranteed, protected and defended, even if someone doesn't agree with their opinion, stand, speech, etc.

I know, I'm a dreamer; I'm longing for Utopia, et al. Or maybe it's just that I'm longing for Heaven. But I think the U.S. could come a lot closer to Utopia/heaven than where are currently, and much closer than we would be if we were to go "back" to any time in the past.