It was in November of 1863 at a small Pennsylvania town called Gettysburg that President Lincoln delivered a short speech, only 271 words. (This column is three times longer!)
The great Republican president’s speech came to be called The Gettysburg Address.
After the tragic battle four months before, Lincoln exhorted his audience to resolve “that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Powerful words, from an iconic president.
Fast forward to the year 2022. Is our current government “for the people?” Many Americans think not.
Last week, I saw a T-shirt that said “Texas Neanderthal.” The same day I saw another that said “Deplorable.” These citizens are mocking top government leaders who called us, we the people, those nasty names. In fact, more than half of the American public were called out. Does a government of the people have leaders who do that?
A government of the people should enable economic growth for all Americans. Instead, we see inflation at a 40-year high.
What is the current administration’s solution? Predictably, more taxes and more government spending.
But most Americans understand that the massive government spending in recent years is the primary cause of inflation. Meanwhile, inflation eats into the budgets of the least fortunate Americans, acting as the cruelest tax of all.
A government of the people would fulfill its basic responsibility to protect the borders. Instead, the government has opened the borders to the highest illegal immigration in American history.
Right here in Kendall County and Texas at large, we witness the toll of human trafficking and drug smuggling. The government is not performing its most basic responsibility.
A government for the people would not be spending money we don’t have. Sure, we all would like to eat ice cream every night without gaining weight.
But the real world doesn’t work that way, whether it’s our waistlines or our household budgets or the government budget. Yet a reckless Congress continues to wildly spend other people’s money.
A government for the people would not allow a situation where baby formula is unavailable. But through excessive regulations, tariffs and market interference, the government has done exactly that.
In a desperate government operation to salvage the disaster they created, the government is flying aircraft overseas to haul baby formula back to America.
I never thought I would witness such a humiliation to America, the greatest nation in the history of the world, frantically seeking help with baby formula supply.
A government of the people would not be taking farm acres out of production this year. But that is exactly the current goal of the Agriculture Department.
Why, you wonder? Well, to protect the environment, of course, and to solve global warming (my sarcasm noted). A patently ridiculous government policy.
Meanwhile, Americans are left with escalating prices at the grocery store as corn and soybean crop prices are at historic highs.
At the same time, politicians in Washington say that Americans are not paying our “fair share” of taxes. We notice that they do not define exactly what is our “fair share.” For example, is it fair that 57 percent of American households pay zero income tax? Or that last month the IRS collected the most taxes in American history? These are not the actions of a government for the people.
Americans are truly blessed that we the people can remove people from office and bring in new leaders to serve us. Judging from the energy among our Kendall County Republican voters, and the tremendous turnout in our runoff election this week, they are itching for the chance.
And Republicans will get our chance in November this year, less than 6 months from now. We have the opportunity to flip the House and Senate both into GOP hands.
Then in 2024, we can do the same with the White House.
But let’s remind ourselves, talk is cheap. It won’t happen unless we vote.
Just two years ago, the American economy was at historic strength, with benefits to all Americans. Republicans know how to lead through our basic traditional beliefs of individual freedom, economic growth and opportunity for every American.
Government of the people. Let’s bring America back in 2022. President Lincoln would be proud.
Scott S. Kramer is chairman of the Republican Party of Kendall County.
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