Hans Christian Andersen’s story of a little Dutch boy who places his finger in a crack in the dike to save his town from flooding, still resonates today because it captures what the United States urgently needs: ordinary citizens willing to act when institutions falter. America needs people ideal istic enough to believe the country can be guided back toward decency, courage, justice and the common welfare for all people. Over the past two years, many Americans have watched a style of politics emerge that blurs the line between public service and personal financial enrichment. Branded products, self-promotional ventures, and constant monetization of political identity have created an impression that the presidency can be used not only to lead the country, but also to elevate a personal business empire. At the same time, many households are facing rising costs for groceries, energy, college education, healthcare, and housing, leaving families with less financial security and less confidence in the future. When economic strain grows and congressional oversight appears weak, public frustration deepens and trust in government leadership erodes. What then should we conclude from the Trump presidency? For many citizens, the nation feels less confident, less admired by the rest of the world, and less grounded in the humanitarian ideals it has long claimed as a part of its identity. The president’s quest to make “Make America Great Again” read less like a plan and more like a slogan. As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its democratic experiment, it should be noted what is at stake. We are on the brink of trading self-government for an authoritarian style — conceding freedom in exchange for false promises. What we need is a Don Quixote, a knight in shining armor willing to serve his country in quest for justice for all. But he does not have to be in the form of a single savior, but in the form of ordinary Americans who are willing to step up, speak out, and save America from tyranny. We can no longer afford to assume that those in governmental power positions will protect democracy and promote the general welfare because too many times they have failed us. What the country really needs is a leader who will fight for the well-being of ordinary citizens and treat public service as a duty, not a vehicle for financial gain! If you want America to remain a beacon of hope and prosperity, it requires your civic participation, your wiliness to stay informed of political happenings, and most importantly, to exercise your privilege and duty to vote. John White Midway The post Saving America appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less