The American Way

By John Lizzi

America is a country that means well. Americans do not fully trust government but tolerate it in an attempt to keep order. The intent of our American rights and laws are clear but sometimes their interpretation, by a few, may be convoluted in order to achieve ulterior motives. How our rights and laws have stood the test of time may help to better understand The American Way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Lizzi
• Release date: Jan 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311107398

John Lizzi

John Lizzi is an American freelance actor in film, television, stage and commercials.BACKGROUNDLizzi grew up in New York. In his high school senior year, while sitting in the library, wondering what the hell he was going to do with his life, a couple of theatre students asked him if he would like to be in the senior play. He said sure, why not. The play was Lil Abner and he had 4 lines. Opening night, when it was his cue, he said his 4 lines and the audience broke out in laughter which, mercifully, they were supposed to. At that moment, Lizzi knew that this is what he wanted to do with his life. He then attended Onondaga Community College where he received his Associates Degree in Drama. He began acting in local theaters before receiving a letter from Uncle Sam requesting his presence in the United States Army. After completing his military service, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. Lizzi went back to school and earned his bachelor's degree in Theatre from California State University at Northridge. He had three goals as a professional actor. They were to earn a living as an actor (which was a successful endeavor), to appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (he had 14 appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno) and to win an Academy Award (he co-starred in a film short that won an Oscar).CAREER HIGHLIGHTSIn the film Trevor, directed by Peggy Rajski, Lizzi co-starred as Trevor’s Dad. This was the first film to address the issues and concerns of LGBTQ youth. Trevor won an Academy Award® for Best Short film. On Seinfeld (NBC) Lizzi guest starred as the Other Guy in the episode The Doll. He played the famous third tenor whose name Jerry and Elaine could never remember, yet Elaine wanted an autograph poster from him for her boyfriend, the “Maestro”. On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC) he guest starred as the Robert Shapiro character in all the O.J. Simpson trial comedy skits. Early in his career, Lizzi worked as a stand-in/photo double for Robert Blake in the NBC TV series Joe Dancer and for Charles Bronson in Death Wish II and was a leg double for Robert DeNiro in The Fan. His many stage credits include "Steambath" with Jamie Lee Curtis, "Rumors" and "South Pacific". Some of Lizzi's commercials include I Love NY, The Big East, Time Warner, Heluva Good Cheese and Kinney Drugs.SERVICE, ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDSLizzi's achievements and awards include a Certificate of Appreciation (Good News, Good Kids) from the New York State Senate for writing and directing a Respect and Responsibility skit for a school district. He received a Certificate of Appreciation for the Summer Youth Opportunity Program from the United States Army for representing the Army as a youth counselor and producing and directing variety and talent shows for young people from the local communities. He is also a St. Baldrick's participant and fundraiser, was awarded the Joseph A. Witowski Outstanding Teacher Award in 2019 and is a Vietnam Era Veteran.

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THE AMERICAN WAY

By John Lizzi

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Copyright © 2013 by John Lizzi

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Table of Contents

Cow Economics

The 14th Amendment and We The Corporation$?

The National Debt

Profits Before People

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Loving v. Virginia

Political Socialization

To Serve, or Not To Serve

To Further Illustrate

And While We Are On The Subject

The Fairness Doctrine

Texas Redistricting

Beware Hidden Agendas

Unitary Executive

Activism or Restraint

First to Worst (California Education Funding)

Why (and How) Did We Fight

First Amendment

Freedom From Fear

US

For All

As Americans

Politics for Dummies

Truth is Light

Other Works by the Author

A collection of political essays about a country that means well.

Who are we? What does it mean to be an American? As someone once said, our ancestors came to America because they were forced out of every other respectable country in the world. Who were these rebellious upstarts that started the American Revolution of 1776 that resulted in the most powerful modern day country? Well, just walk into any present day American bar, pub or tavern and, yup, there they are doing exactly what our ancestors were doing at Buckman Tavern in 1775 at Lexington and Concord when they fired the shot heard round the world.

Americans are either native born or immigrants or descended from immigrants and slaves. We are a nation of many cultures gathered together under the flag of freedom. Eventually, through trials and tribulations, our cultures assimilate and combine to form what we refer to as Americans. We are a land of opportunity and adversity but our strength comes from rising above the adversity to achieve the opportunity. Some may think we are a nation of mutts and junkyard dogs but one does not want to rattle the cage of a junkyard dog.

In spite of this, more people come to America than leave it.

Government is a beast that most Americans do not fully trust but are forced to live with in an attempt to keep order. The intent of our American rights and laws are clear but sometimes the interpretation of those rights and laws, by a few, may be convoluted in order to achieve ulterior motives.

The following are examples of how our rights and laws have stood the test of time and may help us to better understand The America Way.

COW ECONOMICS

photo by Chris Womby

First, let’s familiarize ourselves with basic economics. This is a parody that we may have been taught in school economics or social studies classes to understand political systems. Let’s say we have two cows and now we want to create a new country based on that commodity. We must establish a political system that reflects our economics and style of government.

SOCIALISM

You have 2 cows.

You give one to your neighbor.

COMMUNISM

You have 2 cows.

The State takes both and gives you some milk.

FASCISM

You have 2 cows.

The