Five New Year's Resolutions For Americans

New Year's resolutions, like a baby's diaper, are changed often and tossed in the garbage bin at the end of the day.  Yet Americans have an obsession with making cliched declarations each January to lose weight, exercise more, drink less, declutter their homes and quit smoking.

Lack of ingenuity may be part of the reason that Americans' New Year's resolutions are broken more often than a Hollywood celebrity's marriage vows.  Another cause of shattered promises is the focus on individual priorities rather than those of society at large.

Perhaps, if Americans resolved to make changes that improved the country there would be more commitment to attaining the goal.  That novel concept is what President John F. Kennedy had in mind when he challenged Americans to ask what they can do for the good of the country.

With that in mind, here are five New Year's resolutions that would enhance American life if people adopted a few simple changes.

1.  Tone It Down

Complaints about the political discourse in Washington have fueled cries for civil rhetoric between politicians and the White House. However, more often than not leaders reflect their constituents' feelings.  And Americans' political tone has evolved into ugly rants and petulant partisanship.

Check out social media, if you have doubts.  Twitter, Facebook, Goggle+ and blogs have become a sewer of foul language, nasty verbal scuffles and personal attacks over volatile issues and political leaders. Political disagreements erupt into volcanic exchanges.

Is it any surprise that politicians of both parties have adopted meanness as their weapon of choice in the interplay with their opponents? Americans are mad about politics and their anger is spilling over into the language used by their political representatives.

Americans need to tone it down.  Political partisanship doesn't mean hating the other side. Disagreeing with someone's views should not be a license to verbally assault a complete stranger. Cooler heads in society might lead to less shrillness in Washington.

2.  Be Politically Active

America will choose a new national leader this year.  But if this presidential election holds to form, nearly half of voting age Americans will sit on the sidelines.  A democracy, particularly one like America's, depends on citizen participation to thrive.

In the last presidential election, less than 55 percent of eligible voters showed up at the polls.  That was fewer Americans than cast ballots in the 2008 election.  Voter participation has been trending down for decades.

In the period from 1840 to 1900, more than 70 percent of all registered voters journeyed to the polls in presidential elections. Since the 1968 election, turnout has not reached 60 percent in any presidential contest.  This is a national embarrassment.

Americans cannot afford to remain aloof about choosing the next president.  Too much is at stake. Every vote counts, therefore every American has a sacred duty to make the effort to get to the polls.

3.   Live Within Your Means 

Much has been made of America's mushrooming national debt, which is nearing $19 trillion.  But consumers have increased borrowing at an alarming rate as the rise in the cost of living has outpaced personal income growth over the past 12 years.

At the end of the third quarter of last year, America's total consumer debt was a staggering $11.91 trillion.  Of that amount, student loans accounted for $1.21 trillion.  Debts for mortgages and auto loans were $8.12 trillion and $1.03 trillion, respectively.

The average U.S. household carries $15,355 in credit card debt.  The total credit card debt for all households topped $700 billion in 2015. The average household pays a total of $6,658 in interest annually. No wonder an estimated 1.23 million people filed for bankruptcy last year.

Americans need to save more and avoid running up more debt.  It is hypocritical to wag your finger at the government for borrowing too much, while you spend money that you don't have.  This issue will become more acute each year as the cost of living creeps higher while wages fail to keep pace.

4.  Give up your celebrity obsession   

Americans have a well documented fascination with celebrities, especially Hollywood glitterati, rock musicians, sports figures and reality TV stars.  In recent years, celebrity status also has been accorded chefs, economists, media execs, computer geeks, bankers and Wall Street czars.

Too many Americans look to the rich and famous for cues on how to act, what to wear and how to order their life's priorities. Unfortunately, most of their "heroes" are flawed characters with inflated egos, narcissistic behavioral issues and greedy appetites.  Not the kind of people to emulate.

The cult of celebrity has become big business in America.  Stars have their own websites, rake in millions of dollars from advertising and sponsorships, enjoy constant media fawning and are celebrated on social media.  Kim Kardashian is more famous than the Vice President of the U.S.

A psychologist with Southern Illinois University's School of Medicine has studied the phenomenon and determined Americans are "overly preoccupied" with celebrities and their fantasy images. Researchers have given a name to this unhealthy behavior: "celebrity worship syndrome."

Americans need to look to their parents, teachers, friends, pastors, police officers and others for their values.  Stop wasting time chasing the latest news about some celebrity sleaze ball.

5.  Be kinder

Survey after survey finds Americans are distressed about the rising tide of rudeness in their neighborhoods, shopping malls, on the roads, at work and in schools.  Incivility has become the latest pandemic to threaten the mental health of everyone.

Just a few facts from recent research: two-thirds of Americans believe rudeness is a major problem; 98 percent of employees have experienced uncivil behavior at work; and online cyberbullying incidents have doubled.  People are angrier, raunchier, rougher and filthier.

No one uses a simple "please" or "thank you" any more.  People are shouting, yelling and verbally sparring with each other.  Time to invoke the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Try a little kindness.  Most often it will be greeted with a smile and politeness.

If everyone embraced those five New Year's resolutions, America would be a better place for all.