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Though I love and support the US and it's people, I currently think our government is setting a bad example by spending WAY too much money.

And I'm not big on conspiracy theory's, but when I jokingly asked a friend about one I'd recently heard, his response was so pointed that I had to stop and think about it:

"I don't think the current administration needs to have a conspiracy to do anything.  It is pretty up front about it's intentions, and in my humble opinion is doing all it can to destroy our country as we know it, including the economy, the traditional family, capitalism, health care, right to life, right to work, and personal accountability and responsibility to name a few."

Wow, I'm not sure I feel that strongly, but I'm starting to lean that way as time moves on under our new leader.  Though of course I pray for all in authority over me as the bible instructs us to.

Another great quote from a friend:

"There are dangers to being an open society.  I'm willing to accept the dangers in order to gain the advantages.  You "reap what you sow".  In the long run, we have spread more good will by taking people in than by keeping people out.  We need to do our best to figure out who the actual bad people are, but if we are an open society we will miss some.  I'm willing to live with the dangers of that. Xenophobia is bad as a long term policy.

In a similar mindset, I believe that our response to terrorism shouldn't be to be terrorized -- that is giving them what they want.  Responding by restricting our cherished freedoms gives them a victory -- we become more like them.  My favorite quote comes from Ben Franklin: They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."