To the editor:

Recent conversations with friends have shown how discouraged people are about all the division and chaos that is going on in our country, and how hopeless people feel. I understand. It can be overwhelming. While over 75% of U.S. citizens do not want open borders, the current executive branch policy is to maintain open borders and let millions of unvetted people into the country. This comes with a tremendous cost to the country as we struggle with a recession. It also enables a fentanyl underground market that killed over 73,000 Americans in 2022.

Most Americans (55%) do not want more money sent to Ukraine for its war against Russia, especially as we continue to hear of the ongoing corruption and unaccountability in that country. Yet the current administration requested $40 billion more be sent of money we do not have; more money printed and added to our $34 trillion debt that will be passed on to our children.

Seventy percent of Americans believe it is inappropriate to discuss transgender topics and issues with elementary age children, and 66% believe that biological males should not participate in girls’ athletics, yet the executive branch of our government continues to advocate for both. It is unreal what we are learning about Epstein’s Island, and all the high-level business and government people who were involved and how the intelligence and justice system covered up for them. The misrepresentations and outright lying by government officials that occurred during the Covid pandemic in and of itself is enough to induce depression. Believe me, I understand.

However, we cannot give up hope. We must not give up. Thomas Paine told our nation’s early patriots that their situation was one that, “try men’s soul.” He also said, “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” This also pertains to us.

Benjamin Franklin, when asked about the form of government the founding fathers created said, “It is a republic, if you can keep it.” He knew that a constitutional republic is relatively fragile, and like our republic today, it can lapse into tyranny. Our republic was established so that the power rests in the people. President Andrew Jackson said, “The people are the government, administering it by their agents; they are the government, the sovereign power.” Our Declaration of Independence says we are created with certain inalienable rights. The Constitution establishes how we elect representatives to make laws to protect our rights. Yet our government has collapsed into an entrenched conglomeration of bureaucrats who believe they are smarter and elite, and it is their job to rule over us fly-over-country deplorables by developing rules and laws to advocate for their woke ideologies and keep us lined up within them.

Thomas Jefferson said, “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.” John Adams said, “Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.”

These may be times that try men’s souls, but we must fight back. It is not hopeless. If only for our children, grandchildren, family and friends, we have got to engage and fight back.

You know that this coming Monday night, January 15, are the Iowa Caucuses. Not only are presidential candidates being straw voted on, but more importantly, issues of concern of the people are beginning to be put together to develop platforms for the parties. These platforms, which need to come from you, lay out the issues that people are concerned about that we need to hold our state and federally elected officials accountable. They will get plenty of input from lobbyists, but it is essential that they have a documented list of the people’s concerns that we can hold them to.

It is your opportunity to fight back. I know you are frustrated. Don’t give up. The Democrats are doing something different this year. Check https://iowademocratesorg/caucus/ to find out more. The Republican caucuses in Hamilton County will be at South Hamilton Elementary for the Jewell/Ellsworth people, the Stanhope Community Center for the Stratford/Stanhope people, N.E. Hamilton High School for the Blairsburg people, and Webster City Jr. High for the Webster City area. You can also check https://www.iowagop.org/2024caucus for more information.

Hope to see you there.

Rick Stotts

Webster City