It is no coincidence that borders and bombers are occupying the news cycle. Let’s look at these issues with Common Sense Civics and Citizenship in mind.
Borders- Do you let your teenager’s friends define the rules in your home when they are there? No. Your roof, your rules, right? Every person, family, city, state, and nation has borders/boundaries. This is the hallmark of sane and moral living. It’s no different for the United States of America. Freedom requires a level of morality. Yes, morality. All laws are based on a moral code, otherwise, lawlessness occurs. Therefore, any candidate or political party who seeks your vote solely based on the migrant caravan/invasion is appealing to your emotions and sense of guilt.
We can save some, but not all. We are a nation of laws, not of men. Our country prefers the law to chaos, order instead of confusion, and civility over hostility. When someone appeals for your vote based on how you feel about immigration, ask that candidate what they believe about the U. S. Constitution. In my most recent video (posted on the Common Sense Civics and Citizenship page), I suggest that you find out if a candidate believes the Constitution to be a “living breathing document” or if it is the supreme law of the land. If a candidate believes that the U.S. Constitution can or should change as often as need be according to who is in power at the time, this is a key to how that person will govern if elected. On the other hand, if a person believes that the Constitution is foundational to our system of governance and pledges to uphold it by the intent of the Framers, that candidate won’t read rights into the Constitution that are not there and will guard the rights that are there.
Bombers- Emotional disturbance is not unique to any political party or any particular class of people. That is why we each have a responsibility to guard our emotions and to take care of our emotional well-being. It is not the hallmark of a common sense citizen to put their emotions under the power of a political party or of powerful people.
Therefore, if anyone makes a pitch for your vote based on the acts of crazed individuals, they are using emotional hype to secure your vote. Carefully screen your candidates with our organic founding documents (The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution) in mind.
Be aware that news cycles are meant to appeal to your emotions. Keep this in mind as November 6 approaches. Match your vote to the founding documents on which our country is based. That’s Common Sense Civics and Citizenship at work.