Letter: Most voters did not believe in American values
Op-Ed · April 16, 2025
To believe, or not?
These are indeed, “the times that try men’s souls” as Thomas Paine wrote in “Common Sense” 250 years ago when he questioned the commitment of his fellow citizens to throw off the shackles of a tyrannical king.
Are we to believe, as we were taught in Civics and Government class, that we are a nation of laws under the Constitution which created three equal branches of government designed to prevent the tyranny of a ‘King’, or not?
Are we to believe, as we read in the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal: that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, or not?
Are we to believe that the sacrifices made in World War II and all wars since to “make the world safe for democracy” and defend, as Lincoln proclaimed, a “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people” were worthwhile, or not?
Are we to believe, and act upon, what we were taught in Sunday School and learned from the Gospels about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the sick and visiting the prisons (Matthew 25:31-46), or not?
The choice to believe, or not, was made in 2024 and now the least fortunate among us will pay a terrible price so the “most fortunate” can have a huge tax break.
Also, from “Common Sense,” “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.”
Larry Hodgden
Tipton
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