I Pledge Allegiance...

I Pledge Allegiance…

There seems to be question to whom we owe allegiance. The pledge to the flag seems to be very clear that we owe allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. The President, however, apparently has a different point of view.

The recent rash of firings appear to have beneath them a question “To whom are you loyal?” The President seems to think that anyone who does not subscribe to his opinion or his point of view is guilty of being disloyal and should be dismissed. His staff is in chaos as he seeks to find people who serve Him rather than the country.

His aggressive actions indicate he thinks he is still on the Apprentice rather than President of the United States. He is no longer on a reality show where uttering “you’re fired” has little consequence beyond the ratings. His actions have ramifications for all of us who are citizens of this country. His poor decisions and impetuousness can have a very high price. It is tough to live with.

The chaos that surrounds the White House is not the fault of the Congress. It is the President. It is not the Communications Office. It is the President. It is not the Department of State. It is the President. It is not the Attorney General (although I did not think Sessions was the best choice). It is the President. When all around you is going to pot, maybe what is needed is self-examination of why such bad choices are made.

The President can be successful. But he cannot on bad policy. Denying climate change is bad policy. Tax cuts for the rich at the expanse of the poor is bad policy. Repealing healthcare for millions of Americans is bad policy. Denying rights for any American citizen is bad policy. Using religion as a litmus test of who should enter the country is bad policy. If the President would embrace those things that truly “make America great” his popularity would be sky high and not in the depths as it is currently.

We owe it to each other to commit ourselves to a path that improves our country by embracing those things that make life better for everyone. We cannot do that by pledging allegiance to a person- even the President of the I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Brad Thompson

August, 2017