By the time most of you read this, the midterm election will be over. Some will be pleased, some not so much.
Moreover, every so-called news network will already be whipping up hysteria over the next election in 2028. We never get a break!
One unpleasant takeaway from all the recent election chaos: a growing number of people who dare utter the words “I hate this country.”
I simply cannot countenance that level of ignorance. Nor can I comprehend it.
Every American should be grateful to live in the United States because it remains one of the freest, most opportunity-rich, and most dynamic societies in human history.
The United States was founded on the radical idea that individual liberty is the default and government power must be limited and accountable. That principle still shapes daily life. Americans enjoy robust protections for speech, religion, assembly, and the press that are stronger and more consistently enforced than in most other countries. You can criticize the government, practice any faith or none, start a controversial business, or publish unpopular opinions without fearing state retaliation. These freedoms are not abstract; they enable people to challenge authority, correct course through elections, and pursue lives according to their own values. In a world where authoritarian regimes silence dissent, restrict movement, and punish independent thought, this inheritance is extraordinary.
Those freedoms were bought and insured with the blood of countless patriots who believed the USA was an idea worth dying for.
It was and is.
The U.S. economy is the world’s largest by a significant margin and has long served as a magnet for talent and capital. Property rights are relatively secure, markets are comparatively open, and entrepreneurship faces fewer barriers than in many peer nations. Ordinary people can start companies in their garages, scale ideas rapidly, and, if successful, create wealth that lifts not only themselves but employees and communities. Generations of immigrants, playing by the rules, have arrived with little and built better lives precisely because the system rewards initiative more reliably than rigid class structures or heavy state direction elsewhere. Median living standards, access to consumer goods, housing quality, and mobility options remain high by global historical measures. Even accounting for inequality and regional variation, the baseline of material comfort—reliable electricity, clean water, abundant food, personal transportation, and digital connectivity—is something most of humanity has never known.
I recently enjoyed a dinner with my daughter in New Orleans. As the bread and beverages hit the table, I casually said, “We are so lucky. Look at the choices we have. Farmers, ranchers, and fishermen rounded up all these options and delivered them fresh to this restaurant. Someone trained to be a chef and is preparing our order to perfection. Someone who enjoys providing excellent customer service brings it to the table with a smile. We go to the store, and everything we need is there, produced in factories and delivered by dedicated truck drivers. We both have careers we enjoy that give us the means to have what we want when we need it. It’s amazing when you think about it.”
Janelle paused and looked back at me and said: “It sure is, Dad. It sure is!”
We’re so used to the abundance we often take it for granted.
I recently watched a Space-X launch at 530AM that left a spectacular, amazing aura in the pre-dawn sky. It’s all the more amazing when you consider that the electric light bulb is less than 150 years old!
Greg Budell has lived in Montgomery for 20 years. A 50+ year veteran of radio, TV and writing, Greg hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas and Jay Scott, 6-9 AM Monday – Friday. He returns Monday – Thursday afternoons from 3-6 PM for Happy Hour with Pamela Dubuque and a variety of sidekicks. His favorite topic is life!
Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com.