What a week. Obviously the Supreme Court knows how to give us all some talking points during the July 4th weekend. Skipping the obvious disagreements that people have regarding the 5-4 decisions, we have become a nation whose identity has become sharply divided along lines of personal choice and beliefs.

If our country reflects the Supreme Court (and it seems to), hot weather locally will be the least of our high-temperature discomfort. We did get a mild reprieve in the EPA decision, which instructs the agency to consider the cost of their decisions on the public they serve.

Counting the cost should be the theme for how we move forward as a nation because, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Yes, our Declaration goes on to explain what might be involved in counting the cost. You will never completely agree with my pursuit of happiness, nor I with yours, but I hope and pray that we can still have a discussion, even when our tempers flare and our feelings get hurt. It seems to be the best way forward because if we all just place our beliefs and personal choices at the foot of political correctness, then eventually that same foot will likely be on our throats.

As we celebrate freedom this weekend, make sure you remember that eventually we come to a fork in the road and every choice we make has consequences, but each of us has a responsibility for the path we choose. Maybe we’ve become too focused on our pursuit of happiness and think that it is a right or a privilege and forget that pursuit doesn’t guarantee results. Sometimes we choose the wrong path. …

And, sometimes it’s better to return to the fork and get on the other path.

I’m certain in a few weeks we will be talking about different things and other more pressing local issues such as our sluggish economy, leadership in our schools, the sage grouse or other news that seems to come at us 100 miles per hour. But remember, we have to listen and learn from each other or it’s going to get much hotter than it is right now.

Have a great 4th of July and God Bless America.