There's a storm, and you get some water damage in your home. Your insurance company sends representatives from two different companies to assess and bid on doing work in your home.

The first company sends over a person who is too feeble to even hold a hammer. When you show him what's wrong, he can't see it. As you explain what happened, he doesn't seem to listen. He keeps going on and on about all of the nice houses on your street. He knew people who lived there. They've since died and gone. You're like, "What's this got to do with my water damage?" But, you are polite, so you let the guy leave, but immediately call the company to share feedback.

That same company sends out another representative to look at your house. This one is younger, fresher, sharp, and well-spoken. They see your water damage and want you to know that they will take care of it. While what they say sounds good, some of the secondary comments get under your skin. You aren't sure why until after they leave your house.

As you recollect the conversation, you remember the representative had gone on and on about mansions they've worked on and rich people they knew. That's it. That's what was so unsettling. Even though they seemed to understand what was going on in your home, it felt like they weren't going to treat it as high a priority as the wealthy owners of nicer places.

When the time comes for the second company's representative to visit your home, the bad taste from the first one has mellowed but left a lasting impression. You are looking forward to hearing what this other company has to offer.

The representative of the second company shows up in a fancy car, wearing a fancy suit, and walks up to you with swagger. You're told that when this company is done with your house you're going to have a mansion. The best part is that it won't cost you a thing! "The insurance company covers everything!" When you display a skeptical look, "In fact, we're so good, we can get the insurance company to pay you to have us fix your home," is added to sweeten the deal.

While this sounds too good to be true, and the representative's "I've got concepts of plans for fixing your home" is a little unsettling, they wear you down with constant phone calls and solicitation. The first company all but ignored you after leaving your house. You heard about them palling around with rich folk on the other side of town. On the other hand, the second company's logo is seen everywhere. They must be good.

After getting worn down, you finally sign up to have the second company work on your home. The day before they get started you hear about some of their ideas. First, your pond in the backyard, the one that has been there for years; They are going to rename it with your last name. They have a beautiful sign that they made, already. They are going to stick it up next to your pond. "It's going to make the whole place seem more majestic," you are told.

Before you have time to voice any complaints, the person on the phone launches another idea. "The next thing we're going to do is move the property boundaries so that your neighbor's backyard becomes yours." Rather than taking a break to breathe and hear any of your protests, the speaker explains, "We know people at the township building. They've done stuff for us. They can do this, no problem." There may have been a couple more harebrained schemes, but your head was reeling so much after the first two that you couldn't even process the insanity.

When you call the insurance company to complain about what is about to happen to your property, you're told that you signed a contract and there's no backing out. As they hang up on you, you're shouting into the phone, "What about the water damage?!"

Today

Many Americans are hurting right now. Wages haven't risen to combat inflation. The cost of homes and rent has skyrocketed. Healthcare costs are analogous of the cancer that threatens our physical bodies.

And, rather than invest in science to cure cancer which was promised, funds are sent overseas to countries who finance healthcare for their citizens. Instead of find ways to help raise wages, we are told that prices on everything will lower. When has that ever happened? How would anyone ever get a company (especially one that has given the politician millions of dollars in campaign contributions) to stop accepting revenue? It's never going to happen!

America needs real solutions. It needs real help. Average Americans; not the rich; require assistance. Our country is burning, both literally and figuratively, and we need more than a blame game to put out the flames. We need people who will put America Actually First.

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If you've read this far, thank you, and welcome to the team. In the same way every army, team, or crew has many members who do different things, America Actually First has many places and opportunities for your expertise, whatever that may be. Please consider joining us in helping the country we love be what it is truly capable of; actual greatness, the likes of which the world has never known.