We've all been there. It's the uncomfortable moment in a crowded room when a friend, or worse yet a stranger, stands there having the time of his/her life while their fly is down. It's not fun. You either find a way to subtly signal the person, or throw caution to the wind and announce it to the room. Either way, the person who was standing a heartbeat from an inadvertent full-frontal introduction will be embarrassed. The person will likely feel somewhat "called out", and may begin to internalize and subconsciously justify the mishap: "So? What's the big deal? Every boy has one."

  Ultimately though, that person will also be better for having made the necessary adjustment...as will the rest of the room who were distracted by the potentially junk-exposing catastrophe, wanted to say something, but struggled to find a way to do so tactfully. And life goes on, and everyone is better for it.

  Well America, for those of you blaming the economy for your lack of happiness and/or comfort...I'm telling you right now, your fly is down.

  And the solution isn't to justify it, reaching deep in support of religious acts of charity that you may typically denounce as being obstructive (or even destructive), when it comes to your government. The solution is to zip your fly back up, weather the embarrassment of having been responsible for the oversight, and get on with your life.

  Regardless of what I write...socialist, liberal America is getting it's wish. Every warning sign was there leading up to this particularly critical election.

  The false entitlement of home ownership that the left diseased our economy with.

  The promise of bigger government to hedge losses that were, not ironically, caused by an already bloated government.

  The contention that "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need", is a principle act of patriotism - rather than socialism.

  And of course, the recorded sentiments of your chosen leader's interest in "spreading the wealth", and his blasting the Courts and Constitution for not doing a better job of nurturing the "redistribution of wealth".

  And it all sounds pretty good, right? Afterall, who wants the person with his fly down to be embarrassed. We're all more comfortable when that's not a big deal, because we're all afraid someday it might be us. But this is a slippery slope, and to prevent tumbling uncontrollably down it - a simple word was created to keep us in check: accountability.

  I talk in business of a "culture of accountability". Hold yourself accountable. Hold your peers accountable. Hold your management accountable. Hold your clients accountable. Hold your competition accountable, when they fail to perform. America's founding fathers afforded us all that gift, but it would seem we've lost it. It would seem now, no one is accountable. Our government surely isn't, as they force a 1 trillion dollar spending bill through without so much as reading it, let alone considering the consequences of what amounts to nothing more than 1,073 pages of liberal, ulterior motive (during a recession, no less). The people aren't, as those who purchased homes they couldn't afford and defaulted on their obligations - will now be rewarded for their poor decision making. Our states aren't, nor are our businesses. None of us are capable of failing anymore, in this experiment - and if you're in danger of it, the government will simply take from those who haven't failed, and save you. In fact the only people who are being held accountable at this point, are those who exercised responsible behavior in the first place. And what will this net us? Well, like any other addiction it will spread - and finally result in a nation with it's fly down, belt off and eventually...with it's pants down. (And I mean REALLY down, for all those fear-mongers who say we're there already.)

  If you don't have a job right now, or have failed to meet your obligations as it relates to home ownership, credit card payments, student loans, etc....hold yourself accountable. Just like you can't explore a happy and healthy relationship if you are not personally happy and healthy, you also can't point the finger of responsibility or accountability at others - if you're unable to manage your personal ownership of these principles. Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi and other leaders on the left want you to do just that though, and worse still...they want you to do it angrily and with contempt.

  Embrace some shred of honor, or even pride. Think about the sacrifices that were made prior to your lifetime, so that you may live freely and explore an honest pursuit of happiness. As you comment and email me from your personal computers, via your internet connections, in your homes...stop to ask yourself how bad you really have it. Reset your expectations, if need be; if not for yourself temporarily, then for the example and opportunity you will be affording the generations that follow.

  Others laid their lives down for you.

  All you have to do is work more hours at a job (or 3) you may not like as much. You may have to live with friends, loved ones or strangers - and share the responsibility of rent and space. God forbid it, you may have to sacrifice your cell phones or internet connections, while you meet your other, more critical obligations. Perhaps the latest iPod will have to wait, as will your next planned trip to Las Vegas or that happy hour you've come to define as an inalienable right. But in these sacrifices, you will find a reward that no person or government can give you: honor. Honor and passion netted us the America we're reminded of as being "great"; entitlements, such as those being pushed like crack-cocaine by Obama and Pelosi - will destroy it.

  We've lost the virtue of "honor" almost entirely. Our forefathers and ancestors are rolling over in their graves. I'm sorry for so many of your bad luck, hard luck stories. I am a 100% commission sales professional, who does not eat if I don't sell. I've increased my metrics by 20% at this point, but have already scoped out other jobs should my well run dry. I've already conceded that I may have to share space, take the bus, and work 120 hours a week at jobs I really don't like. And if that time comes, that's what I'll do. And no "Barack Obama" is going to convince me I'm entitled to anything more. I will find happiness in my freedom, should monetary or social privilege escape me. I will find it in the places it lives most abundantly, far-reaching from what my current pursuit of happiness has afforded me. It's there. You have it. Stop letting others tell you that without welfare or other entitlements, you're incapable of knowing it.

  Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The rest is on you.

  Your fly is down America. Zip up, accept the embarrassment, move on and be better for it....and please, for the sake of all of us, be a little more careful next time you put your pants on - if you're not really sure how to operate them.

  Back to work for me now. I have 3 more appointments this Friday afternoon, and will spend the rest of the weekend helping a 30 something friend move out of his home and in to his mother's home. Embarrassing, right? God forbid we turn to loved ones, when the government can do it for us. He's eligible and could qualify for Obama's most recent, broad welfare programs - but refuses them. I'm happy to help him, and look forward to shaking his hand when we're done.