Marxists, Socialists, Progressives . . . Oh, my!

Who are these people?

Mr. Sanders, from the state of Vermont, the nation’s sixth smallest state with 3 Electoral College votes out of a total of 538 (or 0.56%), berates Senate colleagues who disagree with his expansive socialist agenda. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez attends a toney gala, gratis, in designer clothes emblazoned with a political statement. “The Squad” spouts unfounded, uninformed anti-Semitic and racist tropes, clichés, and hackneyed phrases without censure. Progressives harass, badger, and harangue United States Senators and, according to Mr. Biden, it is nothing more than “part of the process.” We watch as “E Pluribus Unum” is trampled underfoot in the Oval Office and the floors of the United States Congress creating a nation of “us” versus “them.” Who are these people?

Consider the numbers: The Senate is split 50-50 with the Vice President casting the deciding vote always in favor of Democrats in instances of a tie vote. Whereas, the House of Representatives, with its 435 voting members, has a ten vote democratic majority. “The Squad,” comprising six junior democratic members of the House bedevils, befuddles, and perplexes their party’s leadership with their outsized influence. Meanwhile, Mr. Sanders believes Senator Manchin, D-WV, and Senator Sinema, D-AZ, with their principled stance on the $3,500,000,000,000 Reconciliation Bill, are blocking his efforts and he will derail the bi-partisan Infrastructure Deal if the Reconciliation Bill is negotiated downward. Again, who are these people?

The challenges of today.

Possibly, the more important question is one for the American people. Quite simply, when will America demand from our elected representatives civility, gravitas, and fidelity to the nation, their constituencies, and the challenges confronting us? The true challenges of our day are well known; national defense, cyber security, border security, Covid-19, inflation, public safety, education, crumbling infrastructure (the traditional form related to roads and bridges), and energy independence. The list grows longer every day.

There is one challenge that, if omitted, would be a grievous oversight. That is the challenge America faces today in the realm of foreign affairs. In the past, it would not be a question. However, today, America’s posture as the leader of the free world is viewed skeptically by our allies and with haughty disdain by our adversaries. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot lead from behind and America’s leadership in the world is replete with risks, dangers, and uncertainties. That much we know. But America is more than equal to any challenge. History, regardless of misguided revisionists, proves America delivers hope and freedom to the world.

The Oath of Office and its immutable obligations.

The President of the United States and every member of the United States Congress took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Their Oath has no loopholes, conditions, caveats, or expiration date. Have they forgotten?

In the spring of 1962, General MacArthur, in his farewell address at West Point to the United States Military Academy Corps of Cadets, spoke of the importance of the Academy’s ethical foundation found in its motto of “Duty-Honor-Country.” General MacArthur reminded the Corps of Cadets “those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn.” His words resonate across the years and speak to our nation today as we seek a path forward.

America's clarion call for leaders.

Now, more than ever, America needs serious leaders to confront and address the challenges before our nation. When America’s oil prices increased more than 125% since last October, why did the Biden Administration knee-cap America’s energy independence and then go, hat in hand, to OPEC asking for increased production? Why do we espouse our revulsion to China’s “vocational education and training centers” in which countless Uighurs are interned and then pursue expanded economic ties with China’s Communist Party? What happened to America’s and the international community’s commitment following World War II of “Never again!” upon discovering the atrocities and slaughter of innocents in Nazi concentration camps? Have they forgotten?

Have our educational institutions revised history to such a point that the truthful and accurate history of the world fails to point out the path of progress is full of fits and starts? The arc of American history incessantly bends towards our aspirations of equality, justice, and security. Progress and success is hard work. Contrary to what the Administration tells us, you cannot spend trillions of dollars and believe that there is no cost. Unless you are building castles in the air, someone, somewhere is going to pay for it. More than likely, it is you and it is me.

The impact of your written words.

Many of us are frustrated and disillusioned by what we see happening to our nation, our cities, and our neighbors. Whether it is the ever-increasing debt tied to the socialists’ and progressives’ agenda, weaponizing the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to surveil parents at local school board meetings, or something closer to home such as unsafe roads and bridges, I wish to offer a method to voice your concerns.

Write a letter to the President, your senators, or your congressional representative. Yes, send a letter via the US Postal Service. You might believe it is dated, obsolete, archaic, or quaint. Maybe so, but in today’s age of email, where a representative might receive hundreds, if not thousands, of e-mails daily, a letter arriving in the daily US mail will stand out.

Every day we confront news telling us of the growing list of problems America faces. It is time to communicate with our elected representatives to share our concerns, our hopes, and our dreams for our nation and our communities. Yes, elections have consequences. But, an election does not give carte blanche to any one party to create a socialist state from the uninformed whims of a half-dozen members of congress. Who are these people?