What are we doing wrong now?
By David Wilder – November 23, 2024
Chapter 2
With Congressional approval rates sitting around 13% (or less), my guess is we all have a sense of what is wrong in Washington. Growing numbers are feeling Washington is out of touch, and no one is representing us. What is driving this sentiment?
Our nation had once been driven by the primary motivation of ‘doing right’. Sure, plenty of bumps along that road. However, the fight to free Europe (twice), Korea and to keep the world ‘safe from communism’ in the 60s and 70s was, in the balance, focused on maximizing global freedom. The American thought was individual liberty best served economic development and drove prosperity.
As always, other ideologies were at work, and the natural draw of self-interest grew. Cracks in the ‘liberty for all’ America started to become apparent. For example, a former US president actually referred to fellow citizens as “enemies”. (Ref: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-explains-his-remark-about-punishing-enemies/)
This shocking statement, was just one example of the rising conflict between ideologies. It is easily argued that the ‘traditionalists’ and the ‘modern progressives’ created the polarized political environment of today.
To win political battles and power, fear and hate are the tools of the trade. Create a story of injustice and label your opponents as mean, uncaring oppressors. Welcome to America.
We have the ATF, EPA, and other un-elected agencies illegally creating laws to achieve a political goal. Rather than maintaining the necessary vigilance of our military, we prioritize DEI goals. It seems overnight, BLM, transgender, increasing sexual nuances, migrants (a.k.a. illegal immigrants) etc. pop up and some politician proclaims their unfair treatment in society. The agencies designed to protect us from this folly, like the media and DOJ, have abandoned their mission and picked political sides.
America sat back in our recliners, content to yell at the TV news, or just ignore it all. The once wise federal system, with only 18 enumerated powers for Congress, has grown to cover over 630 Federal agencies. Freedoms for the individual have been usurped by this monstrous central government. The States too, let their rights and responsibilities pass over to Washington. Washington chronically spends more than we can afford, and more than taxes can cover. And it wants more. Always more.
From a business or economic perspective, this is untenable. The system will break. But worse still, is the tribal competition between ideologies fueling the desire to grab more dollars, more power, in our society. Our ‘representatives’ voice an imagined ‘hatred’ from their enemies, and thoughtless passions explode to fight against their fellow citizens.
Can we even relate to past voices of Americans?
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” — George Washington
“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation, evermore!” — Oliver Wendell Holmes
“The people are the rightful masters of both congresses and courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.” — Abraham Lincoln
“Experience hath shown that even under the best forms of government, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.” — Thomas Jefferson
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy
America, where are you headed?
