One of the things I miss most about writing commentary for a public newspaper is reading the letters to the editor in response to one of my political opinion pieces.  Unfortunately, this website doesn’t allow for responses, but today I’m going ask a few questions in hope of getting a response from a few democrats.

But first, in any endeavor, foundations matter.  You can’t build a house on sand and expect it to stand. You can’t master calculus without first understanding arithmetic.  You can’t speak a language fluently if you reject its basic grammar.

Clear-thinking people understand the foundation of our nation is the Constitution, and the Constitution’s Preamble lays out the purpose of our government, to wit: to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty.

Among those responsibilities, “providing for the common defense” stands as the most foundational — because without security, none of the other goals can endure.  John Locke, whose philosophy deeply influenced the Founders, framed the primary purpose of government as protecting life, liberty, and property.  And in following Locke’s influence, the Founders crafted a Constitution where safeguarding its citizens was government’s first order of business.

Which brings me to the president’s recent State of the Union Address.  If you watched it, you may have been as appalled as I was — not by the president’s remarks, but by the democrat’s ‘response’ in the chamber, and that’s what I’d like to examine in today’s post.

So, here are a few questions for Democrats.

If the first duty of government is protecting its citizens, how do you reconcile congressional democrats remaining seated when the president asked those in attendance “to stand if they agreed that the American government’s first obligation is to protect American citizens and not illegal aliens?”   And if that principle is controversial, what, then, is the first duty of government?  As an adjunct to that question I’d also ask by what logic did the democrats make the decision ‘to sit that one out ‘in full view of the nation and the world?  Were they trying to outdo Nancy Pelosi when she disgracefully ripped up the president’s State of the Union Address in February 2020?

When the president asserted that the border is more secure than it has been in decades, that fentanyl deaths have been cut in half, crime is at multi-year lows, inflation is moderating, and that energy prices — including gasoline — are declining, why not acknowledge those outcomes?  Aren’t those accomplishments beneficial to the American people regardless of which party advanced the policies that made those outcomes possible?

At the same time, polling across every demographic suggests that voter ID is roughly an 80-20 issue nationally.  Begging another question: why oppose the SAVE Act requiring American citizens to prove their citizenship before voting?  What is the rationale for resisting measures designed to restrict illegal aliens from voting in our elections?

To be clear, I’m not asking these questions rhetorically. I’m asking because I genuinely want to understand the thinking behind these positions.  What do today’s Democratic leaders believe is the first duty of government?  I would love to hear Leaders Schumer and Jeffries define it from the democrat perspective.

I doubt many liberals read my posts.  But if you are a Democrat, or a left-leaning independent reading this, I welcome your explanation.   Send an email to bmazz68@icloud.com  outlining your reasoning in your own words and I’ll post it.   And if you’re not a Democrat but know someone who is, consider passing these questions along in good faith.  You have my word: any published responses will remain anonymous.

God bless America!