Tag Archives: R. Alan Harrop

Choosing a Candidate 2026

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.  

When choosing a candidate to vote for, it is absolutely critical that you weigh the factors rationally and not emotionally. This is particularly true as we approach the final weeks of the election cycle when candidates resort to personal attacks rather than discussing the issues. Candidates who do not have a platform that includes the things that the majority of voters favor attempt to hide that fact by avoiding or misinforming the voters as to their true beliefs and what they are likely to vote for if elected. Many candidates on the left, who have a history of voting for and supporting issues contrary to the foundations of our country, try to present themselves as moderates when in reality they are socialists/communists. A prime example of this is governor Spanberger of Virginia, who ran as a moderate, but has implemented nothing but socialist policies since taking office.
There is an old practice in politics–if you can’t win on the issues, then attack the character of your opponent. What this does, of course, is to divert the voters from a rational assessment of the issues and puts their to focus on things that do not matter. Remember, the best candidate to vote for is the one who will support your values and beliefs because they are consistent with theirs. In the current state of things, where the Republican and Democrat parties are so dramatically different on all the major issues (such as open or closed borders, lower taxes, less regulation, and following Judeo/Christian values), we cannot allow ourselves to be diverted by personal attacks. Let’s face it, we all have things in the past that we have done that were inconsistent with our values and which we regret. None of us are perfect. To err is human. Fortunately, we are not voting to elect a Pope or pastor. All we should expect is that the person we vote for will follow the values and policies we believe in. Deciding which political party represents your values is the most important decision. The rest of it is easy. The Democrat party’s increasing support of socialist/communist and Islamist candidates should be all you need to know.

Remember, once in office, the vast majority of congressmen and senators vote with the leadership of their party. This is just a fact. For example, the Democrats voted against the Trump tax cuts, they opposed his efforts to close the border to illegal aliens, they wanted to mandate electric vehicles and require that we stop using fossil fuels and rely on wind and solar, and they opposed requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote. Another recent example was a bill written by the Republicans in the House that would have required all data centers to produce their own energy and not increase the rates in the surrounding community. The bill passed the House, but was blocked by Senate leader Chuck Schumer because he did not want to give President Trump a victory. All the Democrats in the Senate went along with their leader. The point is that the most important factor in deciding whom to vote for is the political party of the candidate. I suppose it would be nice if that were not the case, but it is the reality today.

Remember, all it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. Not voting is in reality a vote for the other side! Get out and ensure that this country continues as the greatest country the world has ever seen and that it is passed on to your children and grandchildren as it was given to you. As President Kennedy said at his inauguration, “The torch (of freedom) is being passed to a new generation; we do not shy from it we welcome it!” We must not fail to do our duty.

Making Election Choices 

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Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.  

As we approach the election, we need to focus on the realities of making sound choices, particularly in an environment of excessive media bias. One of the primary issues that the Democrats are focused on almost exclusively is “affordability.” Here is the main point I want to make. There is a world of difference and significance between Identifying a problem and proposing specific solutions for that problem. Anyone can easily identify a problem, but the real issue is what they are going to do about it. That should be what guides our decisions in the voting booth.

Let’s first address inflation as a symptom of affordability. Inflation is, to a large extent, caused by the massive national debt. During President Trump’s first term, the average yearly inflation was 2.46%, which historically speaking was at or near the 2.0% target of the Federal Reserve. In 2025, the first full year of his second term, the yearly inflation was 2.7%. Compare these figures to the average inflation during the Biden administration, which was about double at 5%, including a year when it was over 9%. President Trump inherited high inflation from the Biden administration and has cut it nearly in half in less than two years. Does that mean the price of most things have gone down? No, because once higher prices occur, they rarely go down. The most we can hope for is that the rate of increase is slowed. Now, while continuing to use inflation as a weapon against the Republicans, what strategies are the Democrats offering to reduce inflation? Actually, none. In fact, is it rational to trust the Democrats who gave us much higher inflation to actually be able to reduce it? Not really.

How about the price of gasoline and diesel? The price of gasoline was actually higher during most of the Biden administration. In order to fool people, Biden drained the Petroleum Reserve to flood the market and bring down the price of fuel artificially. The Petroleum Reserve was established for emergencies like war and natural disasters, not to manipulate the price of fuel! What did the Democrats actually do about gas and diesel during the Biden administration? They shut down numerous refineries, creating an inability to process crude oil into gasoline and diesel. They shut down oil pipelines, making access more expensive and limited. They implemented electric vehicle mandates, prohibited drilling on national lands, and enacted other measures to reduce fuel supplies. Are these the people you trust to lower fuel prices? Absolutely not. Also, remember that the higher prices of diesel fuel have nothing to do with the conflict with Iran and everything to do with Ukraine and Russia attacking each other’s refineries.

What about housing prices? During the Biden administration, the average cost of a new house increased from $400,000 to $500,000 an unheard-of increase of $100,000. During Trump’s first term the average price of a new home only went up by $29,000. Due to all the unwarranted spending by the Biden administration, the inflation rate drove the mortgage rates from 3.5% under Trump to over 6%. The unfettered illegal immigration under Biden, estimated to be 20 million people, increased the demand for housing, also resulting in higher prices. Is it rational to think that the Democrats will lower housing costs? Absurd.

What about taxes? The Trump administration and the Republican Congress passed the largest tax cut in modern history, including no taxes on tips, overtime and social security benefits. This has resulted in a large increase in take home pay. This tax cut was opposed by the Democrats. Which party is more likely to reduce the size of government and lower taxes? You know the answer!

What about job growth?  The majority of jobs added during the Biden administration were government jobs, which of course require you the taxpayer to foot the bill. During the past few months, over 1.1 million private sector jobs were added as a result of Trump’s policies–like tariffs and returning manufacturing to this country where it belongs. The Trump administration just announced plans for a private company to build the largest steel manufacturing plant in the country in Omaha. No more depending on imports of essential items. In contrast, President Biden caused the shutdown of many manufacturing plants by putting in place excessive regulations which caused the plants to more overseas. You choose what you think is best for the country. Easy call for me.

We are in the midst of an economic boon compared to any other country; the stock market is up, and 401ks are growing instead of shrinking like under sleepy Joe. Yes, gas prices are higher than we would like. Those prices should be coming down as the Strait of Hormuz is back to pre-conflict shipping levels Do not throw the baby out with the bath water! Get out and vote to keep the economy growing. Do not turn it back to the Democrats who know nothing about economics.

Trump Report Card: Iran

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Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.

How to deal with Iran’s determination to obtain nuclear weapons has been an issue facing several presidents prior to the Trump administration. Neither Obama nor Biden effectively dealt with the number one sponsor of terrorism in the world in this regard. Neither bribery or diplomacy has worked. President Trump is now addressing the issue head-on instead of kicking it down the road.

Back in January of this year, intelligence information clearly showed that in spite of oversight and inspections by the United Nations, Iran had been hiding its efforts to develop nuclear weapons. In fact, they were just weeks away from having their first nuclear weapon. The 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the Trade Center buildings in New York City should serve as a reminder that Islamist extremists are not rational, peace-seeking individuals. We should remember that the Iranian regime has been sponsoring “Death to America” protests and celebrated the death of almost 3,000 Americans on 9/11. Let’s face it, we are dealing with a death cult. The Islamist terrorists that flew four hijacked planes on 9/11 were fully prepared to die for their cause (destroying infidels in general and America in particular). Death to a true Islamic believer is not something to be avoided, but is sought after in order to obtain an afterlife that is more rewarding than what they are living today. Remember they believe they will have access to multiple virgins. The question that needs answering is, “Would the perpetrators of 9/11 have attacked with nuclear weapons if they had access to them?” Answer–Definitely.

There is an old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Ask yourself this question, “Would the world have been better off eliminating the Hitler regime before it was sufficiently armed to carry out his promises to expand Germany and eliminate Jews and start what turned out to be the most devastating war in all of history?” Clearly, the answer is yes. I remember the photos of the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin coming back from a meeting with Hitler and waving a paper document believing he had eliminated Hitler’s threat. Another false promise. Evil is not so easily stopped.

The reality is that any effort to stop evil comes with a price. The world in general, including the people of the United States, are paying a price for the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and also the conflict with Iran. That price is primarily higher fuel costs and the resulting inflation of all items transported by vehicles. Again, using WWII as an example, there were 406,000 American servicemen killed during that war. There were also dramatic economic costs to the average American to defeat Germany and Japan. Most of us are too young to remember, but here are a few examples: Food was rationed, especially meat, canned goods, sugar and produce. Ration cards were required when purchasing these items. Gasoline was also rationed and tires were simply not available. No new automobiles were built from February 1942 until October 1945. Spare parts were not readily available. Bicycles, typewriters, washing machines and other appliances were not manufactured. Clothes were in short supply and lines were long and store shelves empty. I remember having blackout window shades in our apartment in New York City. The point I am trying to make is that the increase in fuel prices pales in significance to the sacrifices of another generation when evil was allowed to flourish. Would a nuclear armed Iran lead to WWIII? It is certainly possible.

So, the bottom line is whether our generation of Americans is willing to shoulder the burden of increased fuel costs to reign in the evil regime in Iran. This election will answer that question.

Trump Report Card: Foreign Affairs

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Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.

Judging the effectiveness of a president’s administration must include an evaluation of the administration’s actions in foreign policy and global security. The current conflict with Iran to prevent them from becoming a nuclear power is center stage right now. However, President Trump has taken additional actions that effect our relations with other countries.

First, most of the European countries that make up NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) have been relying on the United States for their military defense. These countries have not been spending the agreed-upon funds to support the organization (as required following WWII). President Trump has consistently pressured the countries of England, Germany, France, Spain, and others to increase defense spending. As a result, our NATO allies have increased their defense spending by $1.21 trillion. Much of this money has been spent purchasing American-made weapons and defense systems, boosting jobs and co-production opportunities in our country. The President has also shifted the primary responsibility for Europe’s defense back to Europe. No other president, since NATO was created, has held their feet to the fire in terms of their responsibility for their own defense. President Trump has also put the responsibility of supporting Ukraine on the European countries where it belongs and not totally on the United States.

Second, China has been increasingly looking for ways to align with countries in Latin and South America. For example, a Chinese corporation has been attempting to control the two ports that are at the ends of the Panama Canal. This essential waterway, which we built and controlled since 1914, was turned over to Panama in 1999 as part of President Carter’s controversial treaty. The concern that we would lose control to a foreign nation (like China) came to fruition when Panama allowed Chinese companies to control the exit and entrance ports (Cristobal and Balboa) and China began charging excess fees on American commercial and Navy ships. In January 2026, due to the pressure exerted by the Trump administration, Panama terminated their agreements with China and now allows the United States to deploy military personnel at the Canal and free transit by U.S. Navy ships. In other words, President Trump has reasserted the principles of the Monroe Doctrine that no other nation will control countries in our hemisphere. No other administration was willing to address this issue.

Third, President Trump took decisive action to arrest Nicholas Maduro, the communist dictator and drug trafficker of Venezuela. Maduro cancelled election results and increasingly aligned his government with China and Russia. On January 3, 2026 a joint military and law-enforcement raid involving more than 150 aircraft suppressed the Venezuelan air defenses, storming the military base where Maduro and his wife were staying. As a result, Maduro is now being held in an American prison pending trial for narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons charges. In addition, the new acting leader of Venezuela has taken steps to re-align their country with the United States and away from China and Russia. A recently announced joint oil development program between the United States and Venezuela will increase our access to the largest oil reserves in the world and keep them away from Chinese control.

Fourth, President Trump has taken out the Iranian nuclear facilities and is pressuring their regime to agree not to pursue nuclear weapons in the future. It turns out that in spite of the puny efforts of Obama and Biden, Iran has been secretly expanding their nuclear programs with the help of China, Russia and North Korea. This should surprise no one who knows anything about Islam and its acceptable practices against infidels as allowed by the Koran. Let’s face it, as we found out on the attacks on the Trade Center on 9/11 when multiple terrorists committed suicide in order to inflict damage on infidels, the Islamist terrorists who run Iran are a death-cult for whom any and all actions against the hated infidels are acceptable. The idea that we would allow them to possess nuclear weapons is about as stupid as it gets. History shows us that extremists are willing to fight to the death for their evil intentions; for example, Adolf Hitler.

Now the price of defending freedom and our lives comes with a cost. We are now paying that cost in the form of increased fuel prices. Ask yourself whether protecting ourselves and the future generations of Americans is worth it. We shouldered the burden in WWI and WWII. It is our generation’s turn to step up to the plate. The results of this coming election will answer that question. God help us if we do not.

Trump Report Card: Energy

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop,Ph.D.   

We are all aware by now that no successful highly technical society can exist unless there is abundant supply of relatively cheap energy. Also, as we have seen in several European countries, modern societies cannot rely on “green energy” and maintain their standard of living. President Trump is the first president in recent years who recognizes these facts; and importantly, has taken steps to ensure that America not only has sufficient energy in the present but in the future. Continuing on the energy path that the Biden administration put us on would be catastrophically destructive. Let’s examine what the Trump administration has done to keep us on the right path as far as energy is concerned.

First, President Trump’s “Drill Baby Drill” slogan, backed up by actual policy changes, has increased the number of oil and natural gas drilling permits by 55% since he took office. In 2025, oil and natural gas production reached record levels, including 714 barrels of crude oil from offshore drilling sites. President Trump realizes that modern civilization cannot exist without relying on fossil fuels. He also recognized that our country’s technology allows us to produce fossil-fuel-based energy with the lowest environmental impact in the world. For example, our coal powered plants produce only 2% of global emissions while China and India alone produce 40%. The Biden administration was shutting down cost-effective-coal-burning plants in this country for no good reason. President Trump has stopped the green-energy-taxpayer subsidies and also the Biden administration’s push to mandate electric vehicles. The decision to purchase an electric vehicle should remain a consumer free choice–not a typical Marxist government mandate.

Second, the Trump administration recently announced a trade agreement with, of all people, Venezuela, which prior to his arrest of dictator Nicholas Maduro, was aligned with China. The agreement makes the United States (through private oil companies) a permanent member of the new North American Blue Energy Corporation with access to oil reserves of 65 billion barrels in addition to the 46 billion barrels of oil reserves in our country. The U.S. companies will have a 35% equity stake. This not only ensures sufficient oil reserves for the future, but keeps it out of the hands of our adversaries. It also will allow us to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserves that were depleted by the Biden administration in order to reduce the price of gas at the pump and help their re-election efforts.

Third, the Trump administration recently revoked the so-called Endangerment Finding policy of the Biden administration that allowed unelected bureaucrats to issue regulations that not only stymied growth but increased the cost to the American consumer of various products by over $1.2 trillion. The Endangerment Finding policy was initiated by that other Marxist president, Barack Obama, in 2009 and reinforced by the Biden’s Clean Energy Power Plan 2.0. These policies allowed officials in the government to institute such things as diesel truck emissions shutdowns, electric vehicle mandates, automatic engine shut offs when stopping, and the elimination of gas stoves, etc., none of which were authorized by Congress.

What we see in Trump’s actions is not only a return to common sense policies, but a counter revolution against the Marxist big government regulations that threaten the freedoms that have been the basis of this country. Loss of freedom is not always a one-time action, but is often the result of a series of seemingly small actions. These seemingly small actions can easily have the cumulative effect of taking away our freedom. Look what is happening in New York City, which now has an avowed Marxist as mayor. President Trump has taken very effective actions to increase the supply of energy in our country. The temporary increase in gas prices must not be allowed to hide that fact. Stopping the world’s greatest sponsor of terrorism ruled by a group of fanatics is worth the sacrifice. We willingly made those sacrifices during World War II. All true patriots need to get out and vote in the coming election if we are to maintain our freedom and stop the openly advocated slide toward Marxism by most of the Democrat party candidates.

Trump Report Card:  Health

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.   

Obviously, our health is one of our prime considerations and concerns. It has been amazing to observe the wide range of topics that the Trump administration has addressed since Donald Trump has been back in office. No other president in my lifetime has addressed so many diverse topics. Health is a prime example.

First, his administration initiated the DOGE project with the assistance of Elon Musk, which among many things revealed the waste and abuse in government sponsored health programs including Medicaid. Many of these abuses have been occurring for decades without ever being addressed by a President As we have seen in Michigan, California, Illinois, and many other states, the government bureaucrats who are supposed to oversee these programs were not doing their jobs. In some cases, such as with Governor Walz of Minnesota, it is apparent that the people in charge knew of these abuses but failed to address them. The abuses were particularly rampant among the Muslim communities where millions of hardworking taxpayer’s dollars went to schemers who did not provide the services for which they billed the government. Where was the Biden administration during all this fraud? At the very least, asleep at the wheel, and just as likely maintaining and supporting a system that helped keep them in power. This is typical of big government Marxist regimes which rely on taking from the so-called rich and giving to their constituents. It also reflects the belief of many on the Left that people have a right to things they have not earned because they have been taken advantage of by the white privileged class.

Second, President Trump has taken action to reduce the prices on many prescription drugs that Americans rely on to maintain their health. For many years, Americans have been paying drug prices that are far beyond what those same drugs cost in other countries, even though the drugs were created, tested and produced in this country. Instead of ignoring the problem, he has pursued a “Most Favored Nation” drug pricing strategy to ensure that prices in this country are aligned with the lowest prices paid in other developed countries. He also established a TrumpRx platform which provides a mechanism for consumers to purchase high-cost name brand drugs and generic medications at discounted, international parity prices. These steps have resulted in the steepest decline in prescription drug prices since 1963.

Third, in terms of freedom to choose, he is the only President to implement a “right to try” policy that allows the patient to try drugs, especially for terminal illnesses, that may not have completed or passed the stringent requirements for drug approvals. Recently, the Trump administration has given parents greater freedom in deciding which vaccines are administered to their children. This action reduced the number of federally recommended routine vaccines for children from 18 to 11 and separated some previously combined vaccines. This gives parents more freedom to consult with their doctors in deciding what is best for their children. Contrast these actions with the mandated requirements imposed by the Biden administration–not only mandatory unproven vaccines, but requirements to wear face masks, stay 6 feet apart, etc., none of which were YOUR choice. Marxist big government thinking at its worst.

Fourth, a recent action by the Trump administration that potentially impacts your health and wellbeing is their crackdown on non-English speaking, non-citizen truck drivers. There have been multiple injuries and deaths caused by semi-truck drivers who cannot speak or read English and do not understand road signs or verbal directions given by policemen. The Trump administration has closed 110 truck driver schools that have allowed non-English speaking commercial truck drivers to be licensed.

This does not represent all that the Trump administration has done to fulfill President Trump’s campaign pledges to the American people, but it clearly shows his commitment to do so. Why would anyone in their right mind want to reverse these actions by voting for anyone who opposes the president and his policies? Very good question. If you support President Trump’s actions, make sure you get out and vote for people who will support his policies!

Trump Report Card: Economy

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 Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D 

 In a previous article, I stressed the fact that the essence of a true representative republic is elected officials doing what they promised to do while campaigning. That article listed numerous effective actions President Trump has taken to prevent illegal immigration.  This article will examine the actions the Trump administration has taken to strengthen the economy.

President Trump’s pledge to “Make America Great Again” is clearly seen in many actions he has taken in his second term. First, he removed the barriers against oil and natural gas exploration and production enacted by the Biden administration. There has been a 55% increase in oil and natural gas drilling permits on public land since Trump’s inauguration. In 2025, U.S. energy production reached record levels, including a record 714 million barrels of crude oil from offshore sites. As a result, the United States is the largest producer of energy in the world. At the same time, the Trump administration has canceled billions of dollars in grants for so-called green energy projects and requirements. The result is a fulfilled campaign promise to ensure abundant energy availability for our nation and eliminate dependence on any other country.

Second, the Trump administration has effectively reduced excessive government regulations that have been stifling economic growth in this country. For every new regulation, Trump requires each federal agency to eliminate ten existing regulations. In addition, his administration has, unlike the Biden administration that significantly increased the federal workforce, reduced the federal workforce by over 60,000 jobs, saving the taxpayers over $2 billion every year. As a result of these and other efforts, the stock market is at an all-time high and inflation is down considerably compared to the Biden administration.

Third, President Trump has taken significant steps to fulfill his promise to return manufacturing to the U.S. No country can be safe, secure, and prosperous when dependent on other countries for essential manufactured products. He has used tariffs and the threat of tariffs as well as other incentives to increase domestic production. Countries like China have been taking advantage of unfair trade policies for decades. We saw a prime example of the problem this can cause during the Covid crisis when essential medical supplies had to be purchased from abroad. As a result of his strong stance on trade negotiations, billions of dollars are being re-directed to manufacturing (with a resulting increase in jobs) in this country.  Remember, most leftist Democrats support the concept of a global economy not the American economy. Many states have experienced a significant increase in manufacturing investment as a result of Trump’s actions including North Carolina, which has a projected increase of approximately $140 billion in manufacturing.

Fourth, the Trump administration has been focused on directly helping the American worker and taxpayers. The administration recently announced a program to expand commercial truck driver training for American citizens and curtail the use of many non-English speaking immigrants operating commercial vehicles. Also, importantly, President Trump pushed Congress to pass federal tax reductions such as no tax on tips, overtime, and social security benefits. It is estimated that these changes will save the average taxpayer up to $10,000 per year.

As a result of these and other policy actions, the U.S. economy is strong. While the conflict with Iran is preventing the cost of fuel from dropping as much as the Trump administration had planned, the objective of eliminating the nuclear threat from the world’s greatest sponsor of terrorism is a price the world must pay to ensure safety and security for this and future generations. President Trump has not only kept his campaign promises concerning the economy, he has demonstrated the effectiveness of a free market economy rather than the big government centralized control advocated by the Marxist left.

It is up to patriotic Americans to recognize these achievements and get out and vote to continue them.

Trump Report Card

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.  

All politicians make promises while on the campaign trail. Some of them reflect their true beliefs, while some are made to increase voter support. Various presidents have been guilty of the same hypocrisy. Because of the campaign promises candidates make that they have no intention or ability to fulfil, the power of the people to control the government and ultimately their freedom is undermined. This coming election in November is crucial to the continuation of the policies enacted by President Trump. The Democrats have already promised to undo many, if not all, of the positive actions of the Trump administration through overrides of his executive orders and by curtailing his power by bringing spurious impeachment charges as they did in his first term.

 It is time that we examine the actions the Trump administration has taken to “make America great again.” The people who voted for Trump in 2024 must understand what he has done to fulfill his promises and return America to the principles and policies that not only reflect our founding principles but made this country successful. Conservative voters need this information so that they are motivated to get out and vote in numbers that ensure the effectiveness of the Trump administration for the next two years. This, and subsequent articles, are intended to summarize the important positive actions that President Trump has taken to implement the policies he promised to the American people.

In politics, there are people we can classify as revolutionists because their goal is to change the way America is governed. For example, President Barack Obama stated on many occasions that his goal was to fundamentally transform America. Communist New York City Mayor Mamdani has set about accomplishing the same thing. President Donald Trump is actually a counter-revolutionary since his objective is to return this country to its founding principles and policies and then maintain those policies. It is important to remember the distinction between revolutionary and counter-revolutionary since we are clearly facing the greatest internal threat of communism in our history.

 Let us start off with border security and see how President Trump is doing. No country can long survive with large numbers of immigrants, both legal and illegal, who do not share the essential principles and beliefs of the host country. History has repeatedly shown this to be true. What is happening currently in many European countries is further proof. Marxists do not believe in the idea of independent countries/nations and are seeking global governance with no effective borders. This has always been the goal of communism. President Trump has a different view and has taken steps to implement his policies. First, he put a stop to the Biden administration’s restrictions on ICE agents to perform their duties. They are now once again not only able to stop illegal immigrants from entering this country, but are arresting and deporting them at high rates. As a result, there have been over 700,000 deportations and over 1,300,000 self-deportations. Instead of seeing caravans of illegals swamping our southern border, the tide has turned and many are choosing to leave on their own. The word is out to the world that we no longer have open borders. The Biden administration lied about their ability to close the border and said they could do nothing without changes in the laws.

 Second, the Trump administration has taken action to terminate the temporary protected status granted to over 300,000 Haitians allowed into this country by the Biden administration. This action by the Trump administration was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court by a 6-3 majority opinion.

Third, President Biden not only stopped the construction of the southern border wall, he sold off the material already purchased for its completion for pennies on the dollar. President Trump re-started the construction of the border wall which when completed will extend across the entire 1,954 miles between our country and Mexico.

Fourth, President Trump has taken action to stop “tourists” and other temporary visitors from having babies who, as a result of being born on U.S. soil, are granted immediate citizenship. His effort has been made more difficult by the ridiculous Supreme Court ruling allowing this practice to continue. Congress needs to step up to the plate and support President Trump’s efforts to curtail this so-called birthright citizenship which is being exploited by China. This amendment to the Constitution was intended to ensure that children of slaves after the Civil War were granted citizenship. The Amendment was never intended to allow anyone visiting in this country to have children granted citizenship if they are born here.

 There are many other actions that the Trump administration has taken to secure our borders as he promised. He has fulfilled his campaign pledge. The election in November will determine whether these actions favored by the voters who elected President Trump will be retained permanently. We must get out the vote!  

Saving America: Voting

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Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.

The essence of a constitutional republic is the right of the people to select their representatives through voting. The process of voting has changed rather significantly since the founding of this great republic. Originally only property owners were permitted to vote since it was assumed that they would have the greatest interest and investment in doing what was best for the nation. All citizens are now allowed to vote, including women and ages 18 and above. What has changed even more, especially in the recent past, is the process by which votes are cast and counted. Some of these changes have been problematic and have created doubt about the integrity of the voting. A recent example of this problem is the California primary that took almost thirty days to certify the outcome the election. This is unacceptable.

President Trump has been adamant about the potential fraud. Not only are illegals being allowed to vote (as recently reported in New Jersey), but there are ongoing problems with mail-in ballots that are particularly vulnerable to fraud. In other countries such as France, there were so many problems with mail-in ballots that they have returned to voting only on election day and in person. Unfortunately, President Trump’s efforts to return confidence to the voting process through the so-called “Save Act” have been blocked in the Senate by contrarians like Senator Tom Tillis, (and essentially the entire Democrat Party). President Trump is being forced to use his administrative authority over the U.S. Postal Service in an effort to control mail-in ballots, but even this effort has been resisted by the Democrat controlled states who filed a lawsuit to block this effort. That lawsuit has yet to play out in the federal courts. This raises the question of why the Democrat Party is doing all they can to block efforts to ensure the integrity of elections. Perhaps they want to cheat. Could be.

In every election in the recent past we are told that the fate of the nation is at stake. The coming election in November is no exception. President Abraham Lincoln once famously said that if America was to be destroyed it would not be by a foreign enemy, but rather from within; with the citizens being the cause of that destruction. The issue we are increasingly facing is the threat from anti-American Marxists who are determined to fundamentally change this country to a communist country. There was a time in this country where no politician would dare to propose such an ideology, especially since we fought several wars to resist communism around the world, including the Korean War and Vietnam. The brave men and women who fought and died resisting communism will have died in vain if we now allow America to become a Marxist/communist country.

Alarmingly, we see this happening in many places (including New York City) where communist immigrants from other countries are increasingly receiving voter support and winning elections. This is no longer a fringe group that we can afford to dismiss or ignore. It will be at our own peril if we do. We have to face the fact that many of our younger citizens have been brainwashed by leftist professors into believing that socialism/communism is acceptable. This in spite of the historical fact that no communist country has ever been economically successful or has provided the freedoms that we take for granted in America.

The problem is the failure of true patriots to vote. In the 2024 election, only approximately 65% of eligible voters bothered to vote. In non-presidential elections the totals are even more dismal. For example, in 2022 in Craven County only 50.4% of eligible voters actually voted. Not acceptable! It is particularly important that conservative leaning counties get out the vote to offset the voting in leftist urban areas like Raleigh, Durham, Asheville and Charlotte.

So how do we motivate conservative voters? First, everyone who voted for President Trump in 2024 (which in Craven County was 59.6%, must be made to realize that if the Democrats control the House and/or Senate it will be nothing but impeachment hearings and blocking everything President Trump tries to accomplish. A Democrat Congress will also make every effort to eliminate all President Trump has accomplished and return to the disastrous policies of the Biden presidency. Second, the voters must realize that the Democrat Party is being taken over by the Marxist extremists who will do everything to destroy this country. As President Reagan frequently said, “ Freedom is always one generation from extinction.” WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN!

Each of us must fight to preserve our country. It is our turn. Join the efforts of your precinct and county GOP to get out the vote. Make phone calls. Knock on doors. If we fail, the brave men and women who died for our country will have died in vain. We will have betrayed them.

Saving America:  Wisdom

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop,Ph.D.

As we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America, the future and preservation of this great country depends on the wisdom of the people. As President Washington correctly stated in his inaugural address, the country’s survival depends on having wise, patriotic, and principled citizens who are able to recognize threats to freedom. Sadly, we are at a time when for several reasons many of our citizens have become victims of scams and misinformation that threaten us from within. Let’s examine one of those scams to see how it was brought about and how we can prevent a recurrence.

The most recent and impactful scam has been that climate change is caused by mankind. This scam perpetrated by the Left has been devastating in many ways. Much of this scam can be traced to the writings and preaching of Vice President,
Al Gore. His book, “An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming,” was published in 2006. This was followed by a documentary that was shown to millions of school children, provoking fear. As a result of this indoctrination, most of the younger generations are confirmed climate alarmists. The message was so carefully and fully implemented, that the Obama and Biden administrations instituted policies and regulations that have been destructive to this country.

There never was a rational public debate on the facts and merit of the man-made climate change hoax. It was presented as “settled science.” There was instead a rush to implement programs based on the fear of devastating climate warming that would destroy our world. Some even preached that the world as we have known it would cease to exist in 12 years if fossil fuels and other toxins were not eliminated! The fact that the earth’s climate has gone through several extreme cooling and warming cycles that were not influenced by man’s activities was completely ignored, and anyone questioning the activists was labeled as a “climate change denier.” This is typical Marxist strategy to silence opposition.

The outcome of this scam was an enormous expenditure of taxpayer money over the past twenty years. It is estimated that over $700 billion federal, state, local, and private funds have been spent on solar and wind energy, research into climate change, tax incentives, electric vehicle rebates, and energy efficiency regulations on homes and industries in the past ten years alone. In addition, as a result of Obama and Biden having the United States join the Paris Climate Accords, the United States has spent over $130 billion funding climate change projects in foreign countries. Meanwhile, who benefited from this spending? You got it–Communist China since they were the major exporter of solar panels and wind turbines as well as lithium batteries.

What was the outcome of all this spending and burden on the U.S. taxpayer? There has been no positive outcome since the climate has essentially remained the same. Older citizens, who were wiser and not duped by this Leftist propaganda, finally fought back and elected President Donald Trump. He has reversed most of the climate change agenda, allowing our country to expand energy production and grow our economy.

The lesson here is very clear. Social media, the fake news outlets, and indoctrination of our youth by gullible left leaning teachers, gave the climate extremists the tools to delude some of our citizens. Instead of teaching students how to think; they were taught what to think. Wisdom is the ability to rationally examine the facts and draw conclusions consistent with the truth–something the climate extremists are unable to do. Learning to be skeptical of propaganda is critical to preserving this country. Preserving the country also requires the intelligence to recognize misinformation and the courage to resist. As far as the indoctrination of our children is concerned, I have little trust in the majority of teachers since most are left-leaning. This is why I strongly advocate the use of video cameras in all public-school classrooms so that parents can monitor and be aware of what their children are being taught. If there is nothing to hide, why would a teacher object? Accountability is necessary.

Saving America:  Private Property

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.   

This is another article on issues essential to the preservation of this nation as we have known it for 250 years. Ownership of one’s property is a key factor in the creation and prosperity of this nation. Private property ownership is currently under threat by those who either, intentionally or unintentionally, are attempting to destroy it. The Founding Fathers were well aware of the fact that private ownership of property was essential to liberty and freedom. Let’s examine why this was so important.

Looking back in history, it is very clear that ownership of property was for centuries the privilege of a chosen few. Vast estates, on which most people labored for food and shelter, were the norm in not only western countries but throughout all the continents. Philosopher John Locke, who had a strong influence on the Founding Fathers, believed that freedom cannot exist when people do not own or control their own property. To quote him, “The great and chief end therefore, of men’s uniting into Commonwealths…is the preservation of their property…and the legislature may not take from any man, any part of his property without his consent.” This includes taxation which is the mechanism by which most people lose their property. Property in this context does not mean just land, but more generally any possessions or wealth.

One of the most interesting factors in history is the contrast between the way North America and South America have developed over the centuries. Clearly, South America had access to more precious metal wealth in gold and silver during the early years of colonization than did North America. However, that advantage did not lead to the economic prosperity that has occurred in North America. What was the critical factor that permitted North America to advance far beyond South America? It was private property ownership. When South America was being colonized, large parcels of land were owned by Spanish aristocrats or by the Spanish government. Colonists were brought over from Spain and other countries to work the owner’s land and mines. Most of the colonists were men. Contrast this with the early settlers in North America who were given their own parcels of land to work and develop. This was similar to what happened in the western United States in the mid-1800s with the Homestead Act, where each settler was given 160 acres of land to farm. The great advantage of private land ownership is that the owners have a vested interest in hard work and initiative to develop that land since they reap the profits and are able to support their families and pass their wealth on to future generations. This notion of private ownership was also seen in small businesses. The importance of property ownership was manifested in the early years of this country where only land owners were permitted to vote, since it was assumed they had the greatest interest in the policies and laws of the country.

Over the years, especially in the twentieth century, it was increasingly the goal of most families to own their own homes. Home ownership did accelerate from the 1930’s onward. The ability of a middle class person to afford a home is the backbone of economic prosperity. Recently, this trend has diminished for several reasons, including the influx of immigrants and excessive government regulation. One factor of increasing concern is the slide towards Marxism, especially by some of the younger generations. Marxism is based on the idea of government ownership–not private ownership. Look at what the communist mayor of New York proposed in creating government owned food stores and expanding government owned housing projects. Rent control is an effective way of forcing private owners of rental property to flee the city. High taxation, generous social benefits, and aggressive government intervention deprive people of their ability to own private property and therefore become increasingly dependent of the government. This gradually deprives them of their freedom and increases the power of the government. Take a look at California as an example– the average home costs over $900,000 compared to the national average of $350.000. The middle class as we have known it cannot survive in California. That is the reason so many people are moving to other states.

So, the bottom line is this. We have to recognize where expanding social welfare programs leads and somehow get this message to younger people. Dependence on government handouts takes money from those who earned it and deprives all of us of our freedoms. Sending children to college in this day and age is getting to be anti-patriotic, given the indoctrination by leftist professors. Learning a useful trade and work skills is an increasingly viable option. Government college loans should be stopped. They only encourage indebtedness and useless majors that do not lead to careers and independence.

Saving America:  Islamist Threat 

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.   

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of this great nation, we should all be reminded of the warning of President Abraham Lincoln: “that if America is to be destroyed, the source of that destruction will come from within our borders.” Many countries in Europe, especially the United Kingdom and France, are experiencing an existential threat from Islamist immigrants. These immigrants, instead of practicing the values of their host countries, are setting up enclaves which follow Islamist Sharia Law. Let’s examine the nature of this threat since it is coming to our country.

In order to fully understand the nature of this threat, we must go back to the founding of the Muslim religion in the 7th century AD by their prophet Muhammad. Muhammad, who primarily authored the Koran, which like the Bible to Christians, contains rules by which faithful Muslims are required to live. First, anyone who is not a Muslim is considered an Infidel (non-believer), and the Koran specifies that they are the enemy and should be treated as such. Infidels can be executed, enslaved, or subject to paying a fee to be allowed to live in an area controlled by Muslims. The goal is to make the world Islamist, with no exemptions. Since the founding of the Muslim religion, there have been centuries of their attacks against Christian nations and cities. These attacks by Muslims against Christians has been some of the most brutal and savage in world history. The book “Sword and Scimitar” by Raymond Ibrahim documents the horrendous savageness of these attacks which have continued up to the present time. The cruelty and savagery are difficult to read about, but we must understand the reality that we are facing.

Some people may doubt whether this threat still exists in the world today. Well, it does. For example, Christians in Muslim majority countries like Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, and Iran are currently subject to persecution, sexual violence, and discrimination. The willingness of Muslims to use violence was clearly evident this past January when up to 30,000 Iranians were killed by the government of Iran when they protested against the Islamist regime. It is crucial that we realize that the use of violence against Infidels is encouraged by the Koran. Also encouraged is the sexual abuse of non-Muslim women, which not only is a consistent theme over the centuries, but is happening now. For instance, the UK has experienced a 300% increase in rapes since the dramatic influx of Muslim immigrants. Similarly, in Sweden, 80% of rapes are by immigrants. Essentially, the Muslim faith not only allows, but in many ways encourages, the sexual violence against non-Muslim women who are seen as deserving it.

Another issue is general conduct towards infidels. Muslims are allowed to lie, cheat, break promises, and violate terms of agreements with infidels as they deem necessary to advance Muslim dominance. That is why we should never expect the current Islamist regime in Iran to live up to any agreement they might sign such as nuclear weapon restrictions or stopping support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah. When they chant “Death  to America,” we must take them at their word. Thirteen centuries of Muslim attacks on Christians show they mean exactly what they say.

So, what should we do? First, we must take the threat seriously. Most Muslim immigrants have no intention of assimilating to American values and principles. Second, we must seriously restrict immigration from Muslim majority countries. Third, we must stop allowing Muslims to settle in enclaves where only mosques are allowed and public call to prayer is broadcast publically. Fourth, we must require all Muslims applying for entry into the U.S. or citizenship to renounce Sharia Law.

Freedom of religion in our Constitution was never intended by our Founding Fathers to include religious groups whose objectives are to destroy Christianity and consequently many of the principles that are the basis of our freedoms. We should never compromise with evil.

Saving America: Meritocracy

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Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.  

This is another article in the series on issues critical to perpetuating America as we have known it for the past 250 years. America was founded on the principle of freedom and the opportunity for all citizens to achieve success in life based on their own hard work, perseverance, and responsible behavior regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or religion. This has earned America the title of the “Land of Opportunity” and is the reason so many people want to immigrate to our country. Sadly, over the past few decades we have been moving away from being a meritocracy (where work and effort determine success) to a system where merit is not rewarded. 

Here are some examples: Promotions in one’s career should be based on a person’s skills and achievements. In many corporations and businesses, promotions are now determined by quotas. A corporation must have the correct percentage of people in various positions based on race and gender. Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI), propagated by the Marxist left, has become a controlling principle that many corporations are following.

 Schools and universities follow similar practices not only in hiring but in grading the achievement of their students. The traditional grading system of A, B, C, D, and F has been either replaced by Pass/Fail or so distorted that very few if any students ever are graded below B. For example, a survey of colleges and universities showed that the Grade Point Average (GPA) was 2.83 in 1983; it is now 3.3. In 1965, 18% of students received an A grade average; it is now up to 62%!

 Another example of not rewarding those who achieve is participation trophies. Instead of giving trophies to the best and most accomplished, everyone gets a trophy. This just reinforces the Marxist principle of equal outcomes regardless of effort and demonstrated ability/achievement. It does not encourage students to do their best and work harder.  It is not the American way!

Marxism started in the mid-1800s, attempting to divide societies by economic class: worker vs owners/managers. That strategy worked in some countries like Russia, but failed in America because we had a middle class with an acceptable standard of living, and, most importantly, opportunities to advance based on a person’s own effort and achievement. The American Dream was a real possibility for most Americans. What are the Marxist leftists attempting now? They are attempting, and in some places succeeding, to divide the country by race and ethnicity. They use the notion of victimization to allow people to blame others for their own failure to achieve. If you are a minority race and not successful, it is because America is inherently racist; and therefore, it is not your fault that you are failing to achieve your dreams. The only solution, according to the Left, is to “fundamentally change America” as Barack Obama stated on many occasions. Transform to what you might wonder? Communism of course. The recent election of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a proud communist, has shown how the Left’s strategy is working with a large number of people. This must be stopped if America is to be saved.

 Most, if not all, of the significant technical advances in civilization are made by high achievers who are free to apply their skill and intelligence to creating. America needs to return to recognizing and rewarding achievement at all levels of society. Striving to achieve the best one can is what built this country to the most successful in the history of mankind.  High standards of living are not created by low achievers. It is essential that we instill this principle in the youth of our country if America is to continue the success we have had over the past 250 years.

College? Yes or No

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.  

Graduation from an accredited four year college has been the aspiration of many high school students; although when I attended high school in the 1960s, it was rarely achieved. About 15% of my high school senior class went on to attend college. Over the years, the percentage of high school students attending college has gone up dramatically. In fact, it has become an expectation for the majority. Recently however, many people have begun to question not only the importance of college but whether the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Let’s take a look. 

Historically, college was a place where students would achieve what was called a classical education. That included studying history, cultural heritage and languages, science and mathematics. Many of the early colleges were affiliated with specific religions and included religious instruction as part of the curriculum. Training for specific career skills was infrequent. Gradually the focus of colleges shifted more towards career-path learning such as medicine, engineering, and teaching. A review of common college majors today shows an overwhelming number of college majors, many of which have no specific connection to a particular career. Consequently, many college graduates do not find that they qualify for a specific career or profession when they graduate. Given the increasing cost of college, are these students getting a fair return for their investment?

Nationally, the average cost of private, four-year college tuition is now over $35,000 per year. Public colleges average about $12,000 per year. Cost of room and board, fees and books can add considerably to this cost. Also, since the average student now takes six years to graduate, the actual expense can be much greater. The debt of the average graduate in 2024 was $37,000, with of course many owing much more. The total student debt in this country is now about $1.7 trillion dollars, which is more than the total credit card debt of all Americans. Much of this debt is due to tuition increases that have risen at a rate greatly above inflation and the ease at which government student loans are made available to students encouraging borrowing.

A major concern for many parents is whether attending college is resulting in the indoctrination of their children with leftist/woke ideology. A Gallop poll showed that 48% of college professors were registered Democrats and 6% were registered Republicans. Given these percentages, it is highly likely that the overwhelming number of non-party registered professors also learn sharply to the Left.

Recently, it was revealed that 31% of the students at Harvard were from foreign countries whose values vary dramatically from traditional Americans. Other colleges may not have quite so high percentages of foreign students; however, the 1.1 million foreign students in this country are going somewhere. By the way, of the 1.1 million, Chinese students account for 400.000. The point is that our students are being exposed to influences that may not be consistent with our values and beliefs. The recent rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses shows the result.

The bottom line is that the decision to send a child to college is no longer as simple and straight forward as it once was. Unless a student is seeking a specific career path, parents and students alike should consider alternatives such as community colleges and specific skill training, which for many will produce a better outcome at less cost.

Save America: Public Safety

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.  

This is the latest article of a series on issues critical to the survival of our nation as we have known it  as we celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary. The topic of public safety is of concern to all Americans and especially to me, since I spent my career as a psychologist in the North Carolina Department of Correction. One of the requirements of correctional psychologists is to assist in determining which inmates are reasonable risks for release back into society and which should stay in prison. This article summarizes some of the essential facts that effect crime and that decision process.

Like many essential things in our country’s history, it is important to look back and see what has worked and what hasn’t. As most people realize, the crime in Democrat run cities and states exceeds that in most more conservatively run places. Let’s examine why. First, it is important to realize that a very high percentage of crimes are committed by a very small percentage of the population.  For example, about 1% of the population commits about 65% of all crimes. Violent crimes are committed by 3% to 5% of the population. Second, 3% to 5% of specific neighborhoods account for over 50% of all crimes of violence. Clearly places you want to avoid if you can. Third, offenders commit many more crimes than those for which they are arrested. Active criminals commit an average of 9 to 17 offenses per year when free in society. Very rarely is a criminal arrested the first time he commits a crime. Think of it as a profession or career, because that’s what it is to the typical criminal. Going to prison is seen by most criminals as a price they have to pay occasionally so they can return to their profession. Fourth, criminal continuity is very common, with most delinquent criminals going on to become adult criminals, while non-delinquent juveniles remain noncriminal all of their lives. Fifth, most criminals when released from prison go on to commit more crimes. For example, 68% of released prisoners are rearrested within 3 years of release, and 82% within 5 years of release. Not very encouraging. You may recall that Governor Cooper released 3500 prisoners before their sentences were completed ostensibly due to the COVID virus. Based on the data above showing an average of 9 to 17 offenses committed each year, the Governor’s ill- advised release accounted for approximately 31,000 to 60,000 crimes. So much for concern about public safety Governor! Sixth, criminals are most likely to commit crimes at the highest rate in early adulthood; and Seventh, the individuals committing the most crimes are those who are members of criminal gangs.

OK, so what do we do about it? It would be great if we could ensure that all children are raised by two parents who instill a conscience that respects right from wrong, and good from evil. Obviously, this is not happening to those who become criminals. Since we cannot control conscience development, the best option is swift arrest, conviction and incarceration. Incarceration not to rehabilitate, which is rare, but rather to remove from society as long as the law allows. The idea of not prosecuting (like in California), suspended sentences and early parole are all threats to public safety. Sentences should increase as the criminal shows a pattern of continued criminal activity. Remember, for every arrest that results in a sentence, the criminal is committing many more that go undetected. It should also be remembered that the dichotomy of property versus violent offenders is not supported by the facts. Many property offenders also commit many acts of personal violence since both types of crime reflect the lack of a moral conscience and no sense of empathy for others.

Instead of reducing sentences, we should go back to the 1980s where sentences were longer and more certain. Incarceration during the young adult ages of criminals has the greatest impact on improving public safety. So, the next time you hear a district attorney, judge or politician talk about reducing what they consider the high incarceration rate in this country, you will know what to do and how to vote. The safety of the citizens should take precedence over sympathy for the criminal.

Saving America: China’s Plan

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop,Ph.D.   

President Trump’s recent trip to Communist China reminds me of how far China has advanced in its effort to undermine and replace America as the dominant nation on the globe. While it is clearly in our interest to engage with China and not allow them to form a stronger coalition with Russia, we must never lose site of the extent they will go to achieve their ultimate goal of domination. President Trump’s use of tariffs, encouraging returning manufacturing to our country, and re-building our military has shown Communist China that he is aware of the threat they pose and is willing to do something about it.

One of the main problems in dealing with China is not only their complex strategy with many tentacles, but historically, our ignoring and doing nothing about their threats. They take advantage of everything they can, while we allow them to get away with it. A couple of examples:  1.)  Birthright citizenship. This ridiculous notion that anyone who happens to be born in our country or one of our territories is automatically a citizen is going to continue to erode our country if not stopped. The Supreme Court has this case before it and is likely to announce its decision in the next few weeks. Let’s hope they do the right thing. China has been sending thousands of pregnant women to not only the continental U.S. but to territories like Guam, where they are merely tourists but give birth and are therefore parents of citizens who can immigrate to America at any time. 2.)  College Students. Although the number of Chinese students in the U.S. has gone down in the last couple of years, the total is still over 260,000. Compare this to only 700 to 800 American students studying in China. As many cases have shown, the students from China are controlled by the Chinese government through their funding, and importantly, threatening their families to ensure that they gather the information on research and other areas while they are here. Many are essentially spies. 3.)  Land and Business Purchases. We have all heard about Communist China purchasing land near our military bases. While some states have attempted to stop this, China continues to buy farmland and food production companies such as Smithfield Foods. Compare this to the impossibility of non-Chinese purchasing land or businesses in China. They do not allow it. 4.)  Purchasing Houses. More recently, it has been revealed that China is behind the purchasing of thousands of single-family homes in many states including California, Texas, Florida and South Carolina. These purchases are done in cash and by companies owned by Chinese nationals. They are targeting houses that young Americans need most to build their lives. In 2025, 36% of single-family homes sold in California were purchased by Chinese companies. Since they offer quick purchases that avoid the uncertain mortgage process, many sellers agree quickly. Why are the Chinese doing this? One reason is that having an American address opens the door to many things that this country has to offer such as a pathway to permanent residence, entry to schools and colleges, etc.

One of the troubling aspects of this situation, as described above, is the clear lack of reciprocity. While we allow foreigners easy access to our real estate and business ownership, China has numerous barriers that make it next to impossible for Americans to do the same. Given all the agreements Communist China has failed to uphold–their theft of intellectual property, hacking into our electronic systems, and of course, their stated goal to replace America as the pre-eminent world power, we must see this for what it is–a planned and concerted effort to infiltrate our country; nothing else explains all of this.

So, what should we do about it? First, stop selling farm acreage to any foreign country. Second, do not allow more Chinese students into the U.S. than American students in China. Third, only citizens should be allowed to purchase residential property, and follow President Trump’s effort to stop large corporations from buying individual homes. All of these items currently owned by Chinese nationals and their corporations must be sold back to Americans. This is the 250th anniversary year; we must get serious about defending our country or we will lose it. We must face the threat that China presents and have the courage to do something about it. Notice that a week after President Trump visits China, Vladimir Putin is invited to do the same. Not a coincidence. China and Russia remain close allies.

Saving America:  Big Brother 

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop,Ph.D.

Beware of good intentions! This is a warning that should be heeded by our elected officials as well as we the citizens of this great country. Many new programs and government directives may intend to solve a problem or even protect the people. However, in the case of the subject of this article the government takes onto itself a potential power over the people which we, the people, would never have agreed to if given the choice.

In 2021, the Democrat controlled Senate added an amendment to an massive Infrastructure bill that funded highway and bridge construction. The amendment, Section 24220, required all automobiles manufactured in the United States beginning in 2026/2027 to contain a monitoring system that was designed to test the functioning of a driver before or even after the person’s vehicle was started and driven. The system is to consist of cameras, sensors, and electronics designed to observe the driver’s eye motions, braking and steering functioning. An algorithm in the vehicle computer will then determine whether the person is fit to drive. I will bet that none of you knew that such a requirement is now required. I sure did not. Apparently, it was put in the large infrastructure bill at the last moment, generally unknown to the public, and not covered by the media that I know of.

Now, if you believe and trust that the federal government and their bureaucrats can be relied upon to never exceed the original intention of such a regulation, then you are living in a dream world. There are numerous instances of regulations being expanded and misused as I am sure you are aware. This reminds me, like many other things done by the Marxist Democrats, of the warnings of George Orwell in his book 1984, where the government increasingly monitors citizens and arrests them when they try to avoid government scrutiny systems. By the way, the estimated additional cost to a new vehicle is over $2,000. Not only is this a clear violation to our right to privacy and personal freedom, but it provides a mechanism by which the government could implement a system in the future where they can control you use of your vehicle whenever they choose. They can already track your location, speed, etc. using GPS technology. Another example, perhaps not quite so draconian, is already in place on diesel vehicles. I own a 2016 Ram 2500 diesel truck that I primarily use for towing an RV. It has a built in Diesel Exhaust System that if not functioning properly will slow the truck down to a maximum of 5MPH if the error in the system is not corrected within 150 miles of the warning light appearing. This happened to me recently, and cost me $3300 for repairs. Interestingly, my local mechanic was not able to repair the system because the required parts were only available through a dealership. No one told me about this infringement on my rights when I purchased the truck.

A couple of efforts have been initiated by few Republican congressman to repeal this regulation. One is HR1137-No Kill Switches in Cars Act that was originally filed by Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania. Representative Chip Roy of Texas has also been active in trying to have the kill switches removed. Sadly, not all Republicans have supported their efforts. I strongly suggest that you contact your congressional representative and let him know what your position is on kill switches. Remember, the road to totalitarian control is a gradual erosion of your rights and freedoms, often masked by some seemingly positive goal. Trusting government to do what they say is always a bad idea as we saw with the Covid lockdowns and mandatory vaccines.

Saving America:  Indebtedness

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D. 

This is another article in the series on issues vital to our country as we prepare for the 250th anniversary of its founding. There is obviously a growing problem with the soaring national debt, but I also want to address the indebtedness of individuals, which is also a problem, especially for the younger generations. As usual, at the end I will outline some actions that could be taken to deal with these problems.

First, the national debt. If you have never logged into the National Debt Clock, this would be a good time to do so. It provides a running tally of various measures of the country’s financial situation. As of this instant, the U.S. national debt is $ 39.16 trillion and growing by leaps and bounds. This amounts to a $ 357,000 debt for each taxpayer. The interest on the debt has now reached $1.02 trillion per year! This is more than the Dept. of War budget of $935 billion. The highest budget item is Medicare/Medicaid at $1.95 trillion, followed by Social Security at $1.63 trillion. It should be noted that Medicare/Medicaid did not even exist in1960.

The financial health of a country is frequently measured by the ratio of a country’s Gross National Product (GNP; which is the worth of all production) to its total debt. The ratio in 1980 for the U.S. was 34%; now it is 125%, which most economists consider to be unsustainable. For comparison purposes, it would be like owing 125% more than your total income per year. The combined total of expenditures for social programs (including Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security) has now reached $3.58 trillion, which is about 60% of the total budget. If you had any doubts that we are sliding towards Marxism, the figure should resolve those doubts. We are printing money we do not have, or are ever likely to have, like a bunch of drunken sailors, greatly contributing to inflation. Margaret Thatcher, a previous Chancellor of the United Kingdom, once stated correctly that” Marxism continues until they run out of other people’s money,” then it collapses.

Alright, we understand the problem, so what do we do about it? First, we need to stop electing politicians that promise all kinds of free stuff just to get elected. We may need to consider term limits to get them to do the right thing when they are in their last term. A constitutional amendment that requires a balanced budget like those that exist in some states (like North Carolina) would help. Weaning people off free stuff is very difficult if not impossible, but putting limits on how long a person is eligible for each welfare program would help as would enforceable work requirements. Reducing the federal government workforce as President Trump is doing would also help since there are currently 2,568,000 government employees. What is the likelihood any of these actions will be taken? Slim to none. The result if nothing is done is a collapse of the value of the dollar. Not a pleasant prospect to say the least. This is another reason to invest some of one’s savings in precious metals.

Now let’s turn to personal debt. As of April 27, 2026, the total personal debt in the U.S. is $18.8 trillion. The largest portion of the debt is for mortgages, $12.8 trillion; followed by auto loans, $1.64 trillion; student loans, $1.63 trillion, and credit cards, $1.28 trillion. Although the amount of debt is higher for middle aged people, the highest loan defaults are with those from 20 to 29 years old. College tuition is the category of expenses that has gone up the most–at 900%, since 1983. This compares to medical care at 248%, housing at 486%, and gasoline at 192%. I believe that part of the ridiculous increase in tuition was due to the ease at which students could obtain federal student loans as compared to more restrictive private loans that allowed colleges to increase tuition and not lose students. Also, the tremendous increase in foreign students, now at 1.2 million, most of whom pay the highest tuition, has allowed colleges to increase spending. The average college loan balance in the U.S. is $40,000 at 6.5% for 10 years. The average credit card balance is now at $7,220. Approximately, 50% of credit card holders carry a month-to-month balance with interest rates ranging from 20 – 25%. Clearly, indebtedness is increasing especially among the younger age groups.

How can this problem be solved?  Listening to Dave Ramsey and reading his books would help. He stresses the importance of living debt free, which of course requires living within ones means. Making and living by a budget and cutting up credit cards are two of his main messages to the younger generation. There was a time when people used cash or even wrote checks that had to be within the limit of the money you had in your account. This made people face the reality of their fiscal limits. People have to take responsibility for their indebtedness and realize that a satisfying and happy life is not dependent on spending money. Quite the opposite in many ways, since conflict over money has been a major factor in marital stress and divorce.

Saving America:  Do the Opposite of California!

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.  

The founding fathers were wise in many ways. One of the best things they did was to allow states to operate pretty much independently of each other. As we approach the 250th anniversary of our independence, it is increasingly obvious that some states have gone in dramatically different directions. The result is being reflected in the mass migration from states like California and New York, to states like Florida and Texas. Let’s take a look at what California has done wrong.

Ever since we annexed California, it has been considered the finest state in the country. Starting with the gold rush of 1848, the climate, natural resources, fertile soil, and natural beauty attracted millions of people. These were people who were looking for a place that would allow them to profit from their hard work and provide a future for their families. California was called the “Golden State” for many reasons–not just the gold mines. During the Great Depression in the 1930’s, many people moved to California. Those people became the bedrock of an economy that grew to provide the highest standard of living in the country. By 1950, the population of California was 10 million. They were a reliable conservative Republican state that elected Ronald Reagan to two terms as governor. The public school system was rated the highest in the country, and the standard of living and affordability were unmatched. The hard-working middle class was thriving; it was close to paradise.

Okay, so where are they now and how did they get there? First, they became controlled by Marxist ideologues who fooled the people into accepting destructive ideas like open borders. The elite-like current governor, Gavin Newsom, began a policy of sanctuary cities that morphed into a sanctuary state. Always remember, Marxists do not believe in the sanctity of nation states, rather they believe in global governance where people should be free to relocate to any part of the world that they wish. The result was that the population of California is now over 40 million, many of which are illegal aliens from all over the globe. As expected, this has destroyed the public school system, which has to deal with students who not only do not speak English but have values inconsistent with traditional America. The flood of immigrants has ruined the middle class by working for lower wages and not paying taxes. One of the bedrocks of America is that every person should support themselves.  President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “The first requisite of a good citizen in this Republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight–and that he shall not be a mere passenger.” California’s leaders have not only ignored this principle, but have overtly made California into a refuge for the irresponsible, the drug addicts, the mentally ill, and other people unwilling or unable to pull their own weight. They are allowed to live in the streets, get free food, and prey on the public. What happened to vagrancy laws?

Another thing that has led to the demise of California is crime. Marxist DA’s refuse to prosecute law breakers and do not even arrest people who steal less than $1,000. California cities have some of the highest crime rates in the country. The cost of living has also risen to the highest in the country. The average price of a home is over twice as much as it is in other states. In addition to this is corruption, Dr. Oz recently reported that Medicaid fraud in Los Angeles is so rampant that one-third of all the funds spent in the entire country on Hospice Care by Medicaid are fraudulently expended in that one city! The total indebtedness of state and local governments in California is over $1.6 trillion. Given all this, is it any wonder that people are fleeing California at monumental rates? In 2025, 225,000 more people left California than arrived. Just hope that they have learned their lesson and do not vote for Marxist Democrats in the states they now reside.

So, the lesson is clear. We must uphold the values and beliefs that made this country successful for 250 years. As Lincoln once said; ”This country will never be defeated by another country, if we are to fall it will be from within.” We owe our children and grandchildren a country that can survive for at least another 250 years. Get out and vote! Support true-conservative, country-loving candidates. The Trump agenda will not survive if we do not get out and support him and his administration. It is very simple, if you voted for Trump in 2024, get out and vote again. You know what to do. Let us all pledge to do what is needed to save this country from Marxist communists.

Saving America:  Artificial Intelligence

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Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D 

Since this year is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, it is an appropriate time to consider some of the major issues facing our country. This article is one of a series that attempts to do just that. The last hundred years or so have seen a dramatic advancement of technology that has had a significant impact on our lives–some good some not so good. In fact, the changes are so fast that many people have difficulty keeping up. From a human intelligence and emotional perspective, there is a limit to how much change we can absorb and adapt to. The age of computers, the internet, and digital processes have improved our lives, yet have presented challenges.

With the advent and use of artificial intelligence (AI), we may be facing the biggest challenge so far. According to the dictionary, artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that develops systems capable of performing tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, problem-solving, and perception. In other words, we are creating humans! Now, like all advances in human capacity, for example the automobile, there are going to be disruptions to the existing order of things. We cannot avoid these disruptions if we are to advance as a civilization. However, none of the prior advances had the potential to replace humans that AI has shown. We cannot avoid developing AI for several reasons, not the least of which is national security. China, our most potent adversary, is pursuing the development of AI at a pace that threatens to leave us behind. We cannot let that happen.  For example, the other day there was a news item showing a Chinese made robot winning an extended long-distance race against humans. We are now living in the futuristic world that just a few years ago was science fiction in novels and movies. The question then becomes not whether we should pursue AI, but rather how do we make sure that humans do not become unnecessary and superfluous. As AI advances and is able to create and develop itself, human programmers are of less importance. As a result of that, there isa a reduction of computer programming jobs across many industries. The speed of AI in data searching is astonishing. The potential use in military equipment must be utilized if we are to remain competitive with our adversaries.

There was a recent article outlining an unexpected use of AI that shows how AI has already infiltrated much of our lives. The topic was screening job applicants. Ninety-eight percent of Fortune 500 companies use some form of AI when screening job applicants. The report showed that 43% of the applicants were rejected not because they did not have the required job skills, but rather their submitted resumes did not meet the AI generated format. These applicant’s resumes were never seen by a human. It may be that applicants must rely on AI generated resumes if they are to pass muster with the AI reviewers.

The use of AI in communicating with the public is increasing to the point that one never knows whether you are talking to a person or a robot. I have noticed that in some messages to other persons you may be required to check a box stating you are not a robot! The use of robotic driven automobiles has not only been developed, but these automobiles are now being implemented as taxis in several cities such as San Francisco, Dallas, and San Antonio. Soon we may have robots available to do house work, prepare meals, and do other household chores. What is the impact on the activity of humans as we become more dependent on robots? Perhaps in the near future we will be able to court and select a robot spouse. If you consider this a fantasy, some state legislatures are considering laws that would not allow robots to own property, enter into legal contracts, etc. The goal is to make sure humans are not supplanted by robots and that robots do not have the same rights as humans. This may be necessary.

One of the scariest things is a recent report that developers of an AI system were unable to shut down the system because the AI system refused to comply with the order from the human creator. While we are obviously able to benefit from AI in many ways, we need to be cautious, as AI becomes more capable and intelligent, that we do not create something that will be our undoing in the long run. Humans require the ability to accomplish things in order to maintain self-respect and positive self-esteem. Where will we get this if we are dependent on robots?

Saving America:  Restoring Education

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D. 

Having educated, patriotic citizens is essential to the survival of America as we have known it in our lifetimes. When speaking about the most crucial things needed to save our Republic, George Washington stated, “A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government.  In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?” Let’s take a look and see how we are doing.

In spite of the so-called “No Child Left Behind Act” passed by Congress during the first years of this century, educational achievement has been declining–not improving. In fact, this is the first time in our country’s history where children’s academic achievement is lower than their parents! This is in spite of billions of taxpayer dollars spent on laptops, smart phones and screen learning. Today, 55% of school children spend at least four hours of classroom time on screens and 27% spend at least five hours of classroom time. I can remember about ten years ago that one of the Craven County Commissioners expressed how proud he was that every student received a laptop funded by the county taxpayers. Of course, good intentions do not guarantee good results.

Some might argue, of course, that computer generated learning is preparing children for the modern world. Test scores in reading, math, science and spelling refute that argument. What is critical is how much of the information in the mode of instruction actually is absorbed and expands a child’s thinking and reasoning ability. Why learn arithmetic and multiplication tables when calculators are readily available? Why have human teachers when AI instruction is rapid and readily available? By the way, the decrease in academic achievement is occurring not just in our country but in most other Western countries, some of whom are taking steps to return to more traditional teaching using paper, pencils and teacher instruction. AI gets smarter; we get dumber. I noticed recently that when I initiate an email, I am asked if I want an AI program to assist! Teachers now do not know if a written assignment submitted by a student was written by that student or is an AI derivative. Teachers should go back to requiring the student to hand write the assignment while they are in the classroom. One problem is that very few public schools still teach cursive writing. The professional teacher’s associations will object, but we need to return to instructional techniques that worked for centuries and get the computers and smart phones out of the classroom.

The point that George Washington was making in the quote above needs to be taken seriously. Our schools do not offer sufficient instruction in the value and success of the free enterprise system and the necessity of retaining a representative republic to safeguard our liberties. The last hundred years have clearly proven the unworkability of Marxist inspired socialism and communism. They always produce lowered standards of living, and authoritarian governments that deprive people of their freedom. Yet we have millions of people who have been through our public school systems that don’t realize that Marxist principles are anti-American and vote for people like Mamdani in New York City which will be their undoing and the destruction of our country. A recent survey showed that the majority of high school students could not differentiate a representative republic from a democracy, and that an alarming 62% Americans aged 18 to 29 had a favorable view of socialism! Not good.

I have been and remain an advocate for school choice, including private and homeschools. Anyone who resists supporting school choice in favor of the public school system as it is currently functioning is contributing to the demise of our country. Parents should be able to select the education that agrees with their principles and values. Homeschooling should be encouraged and funded just like public or private schools. We need to get patriotism and traditional learning back in our educational system.

Saving America: Birthrate

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop,Ph.D. 

This is the fourth article I have written on things that need to be done if we are to ensure that America survives for our children and grandchildren as it has for us. It is a debt we must be willing to pay. This topic deals with the absolute requirement that our native population (those born legally to citizens) must reproduce itself to maintain our cultural and political traditions and values. Historically many if not most republics and democracies have failed because they did not pass on to the next generation their essential values and traditions. We must assume that children born to our patriotic citizens are essential to our country and that children born to illegals or visitors are much less likely to practice or value our essential beliefs and traditions. There are exceptions of course.

Let’s look at some facts. The birthrate for American women citizens has been dropping over the past several decades. The birthrate defined as the average number of children born per woman is now at 1.6. In 1960 the birthrate was 3.5. Just to maintain the same population of our country, the birthrate needs to be at least 2.3. A shrinking population will negatively impact the economy by not having enough workers and being unable to support an aging population. Another thing that affects the Americanization of children is whether they are born and raised in two parent families. It is a well-known fact that children raised without two parents are more likely to wind up in prison and less likely to lead a successful life. Again, we are moving in the wrong direction. In 1960 only 5% of all children born in the United States were born to unmarried mothers. Now it is 40%! The data shows that the number of children born to unmarried mothers is a function of race. In 2023, the percentage of children born to unmarried mothers was 12% for Asians, 27% for whites, 54% for Hispanics, and 70% for blacks. In addition, 70% of unmarried mothers were on Medicaid and 60% were on food stamps (SNAP program). It is clear that government programs are supporting and perhaps encouraging the birthing of children out of wedlock. Not good.

OK, now let’s look at the controversial so called “birthright citizenship.” No other country currently grants citizenship to every person born in their country regardless of parents’ citizenship status. None, zero, nada! President Trump has attempted to stop this absurdity by executive order, but like most sensible things he has done, his action has been immediately challenged by the left wing Democrats and has wound up in the Supreme Court. Sadly, with judges like John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett, we cannot be sure how they will decide. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution states “All persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the U.S. and the state wherein they reside.” This amendment was passed in 1868 when the issue of illegal immigrants did not even exist since we were allowing unrestricted immigration. The amendment was meant to address the efforts of several Southern states to prevent recently freed blacks from obtaining all the privileges of citizenship–including voting. Did the drafters of the 14th amendment intend to allow birthright citizenship to all illegal immigrants and visitors? Not only no, but “Hell no!”

So, what should we do? First, encourage women citizens to have more children. Use tax incentives and programs to assist with childcare costs, or preferably, stay home and raise their own children at least until they are school age. Encourage businesses to offer more part time jobs. Average childcare costs in the U.S. are now at $13,000. per year. If Congress would do their job and terminate all welfare programs to illegals, we would save an estimated $150 billion per year and divert this to supporting our own children. Second, encourage people to marry younger and have more years of birthing children. In the 1960s the average man got married at age 23, now it is over 30. Living together and not being married has become the norm where it used to be strongly discouraged and morally unacceptable. Perhaps increased tax incentives to married couples could be considered. Third, since we apparently need workers for relatively menial jobs that are currently being filled by illegals, we could establish a well-controlled system of allowing temporary work visas for specific numbers of foreign workers that would not allow permanent residence in our country or birthright citizenship for their children or access to welfare programs.

If we do not solve this birthrate problem we will wind up like most European countries which are losing their cultural identity due to insufficient replacement of their populations with their own native-born children.

Saving America: Dependence on Government

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, PH.D.

This is the second article on issues critical to ensuring the continuation of America as we have known it as we celebrate the 250″ year since its founding. As one looks back on the history of this great and unique country, it is evident that a strong tradition of personal independence and self-reliance was critical to America’s success. The Founding Fathers gave us the framework for freedom from government control, which allowed hard working individuals to prosper and improve their standard of living. This became the basis for the so-called “American Dream”, where an individual through perseverance and self-improvement could lift themselves up by their own boot straps and achieve economic success. This is the essence of the free market system. The question is, “Where does America stand in the year 2026 on this critical value and tradition?”

Since the mid-1800s, the ideas of Karl Marx (the basis of communism/socialism) have been the antithesis of personal freedom and self-reliance. Since that time we have witnessed sufficient evidence to judge whether Marx or the Founding Fathers were correct. Communist China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela all serve as examples of the failure of communism and its essential element, which is reliance on government rather than on oneself. The Marxist theme “From each according to his ability; to each according to his needs.” sums up how communism takes from hard working successful individuals and gives to everyone else regardless of their effort. To accomplish this requires a strong central, controlling government, which of course is the opposite of the limited government written into our Constitution.

Unfortunately, America over the past hundred years or so has been steadily drifting towards socialism. A few examples standout: First, the implementation of personal income tax in 1913 allowed the government to directly tax the individual. Originally, only the top 1%-3% of workers were subject to paying any tax on their income which could amount to 1% -7% of earnings. The highest percentage of workers paying income tax occurred in 1945 at 60% with a top marginal tax rate of up to 95% of income! The expansion of government taxing of citizens has allowed a tremendous growth of government spending and control over consumption. The size of the federal government has grown far beyond that envisioned by the Founding Fathers and has resulted in government control over much of our lives. The establishment of the so-called “Great Society” in the 1960s by Democrat President Lyndon Johnson opened the door to all kinds of controls from the type of vehicle we drive to the food that we eat. Most of these social programs originally aimed at helping a small number of people who for one reason or another could not help themselves. For example, the food stamp program, now known as SNAP, began in 1964 and served a half a million people. Participants had to purchase the food stamps which allowed them to buy food items at a discount. The federal government in 1974 expanded the program and removed the requirement to purchase the food stamps and received them based on their income. As a result the number of people on food stamps reached 22 million by 1981. As of today, there are over 42 million people receiving food assistance through the SNAP program. This substantial expansion of this program is typical of social programs that may start off small but soon grow making more people dependent on the government. In addition, most of the welfare programs have income limits which discourage an individual from increasing their income since they will no longer be eligible for free stuff.

The impact on the federal deficit has been profound. In the mid- 1950s, federal budget spending on welfare programs was about 5%; now it is 65%! Defense spending has gone down while all other government spending has gone up which accounts for the unsustainable deficit of $39 trillion. No country has ever lasted when their budget deficit reaches such high numbers. America at some point will to face the inevitable. We need politicians that are strong enough to address this budget crisis and stop kicking the can down the road. As British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once said,

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” President Trump has reduced the size of the federal government workforce by about 300,000. More needs to be done. People have to be encouraged to rely on themselves instead of the government. If not, we will find ourselves increasing controlled by the government as we experienced during the Covid epidemic where businesses were closed, people could not gather in groups, and had to wear ineffective face masks. Big government results in loss of freedom, period. Always has and always will.

Saving America: Citizenship

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D. 

This year, the 250th anniversary of the founding of this great country, is not only an opportunity to celebrate what we have achieved, but a reminder of our obligation to future generations of Americans to examine where we are headed in this complex and changing world and what we must do to ensure America’s survival as conceived by the Founding Fathers. We owe this to all those who have sacrificed and worked to build, protect, and defend our country since its founding and especially to all those who fought and died on the battlefield. If history shows us anything, it demonstrates that successful countries cease to exist when they fail to maintain the principles and values that allowed them to succeed in the first place. We cannot allow Complacency and failure to recognize and resist the threats the world presents to destroy America as we have known it.

As I have noted in previous articles and which should be patently clear by now, uncontrolled immigration both legal and illegal presents the greatest threat. As President Lincoln correctly stated; “If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide”; and “ America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” I believe that the issue of who is granted citizenship and the privileges given exclusively to citizens are of the utmost importance to the survival of our country as we have known it for 250 years.

When this country was being founded, we were in need of immigrants to expand and develop the massive land that we had acquired. That is no longer the case. The most important thing now is to maintain the culture and traditions that allowed our country to excel and to provide the greatest standard of living ever known. This was not accomplished by accident, but rather by following principles and values reflective of the Judeo/Christian culture of western civilization. The vast majority of immigrants believed in these values–such as compliance with the law, hard work and independence, reliance on family not government handouts, and most of all freedom of action as long as the rights of others was not trampled upon.

As we have seen in the United Kingdom, the massive immigration from countries all over the world has led to the demise of their culture. The most common name of newborn male children in the UK is Muhammad. We are experiencing a similar and accelerating tribalization in our country by Muslims. This can be seen in various places like Minneapolis and now New York City, where over 38% of residents are foreign born and the announcement of the Muslim call to prayer is broadcast over loud speakers several times a day. This not the American I grew up in. This is not assimilation into our culture; quite the opposite, it is colonization.

Alright, so what do we do about it? First, end birthright citizenship, which should be restricted only to the children of citizens. Second, make the rules for becoming a naturalized citizen stricter. There are now over 26 million naturalized citizens in the U.S., and that number is increasing by over 800,000 per year. We must ensure that naturalized citizens are truly aligned with traditional American values. For example, they should be required to foreswear allegiance to things such as Sharia Law whose principles conflict with ours. Third, only citizens should be counted when forming congressional districts–not the overall census that now includes noncitizens. Fourth, only citizens should be allowed to vote in any election, federal or local. Fifth, only citizens should be eligible for any welfare program. Sixth, only native born citizens shall be eligible to hold public office. Seventh, service in the U.S. military should not automatically qualify a person for naturalized  citizenship.

Now, to some people these measures may seem extreme; however, the crisis facing America requires strong measures if we are to preserve our country.

Remove the Filibuster?

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Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D. 

There is a legitimate controversy brewing about the U.S. Senate so-called filibuster rule that requires legislation by the Senate to be approved by 60 out of the 100 senators. This is not the rule in the House of Representatives, where a majority of at least one vote is necessary. Some people argue that requiring 60 votes makes it very difficult to pass legislation since in most cases one political party does not have enough senators to meet the filibuster threshold of 60, and therefore the minority is able to block the majority.  Let’s take a look at the issues involved.

First of all, it should be noted that the U.S. Constitution does not require 60 votes out of 100 to pass legislation; it requires only a simple majority of one. The term filibuster refers to the process of a senator taking the floor to speak and continuing in order to block a vote on pending legislation by “talking the bill to death.” In 1841, then senator Henry Clay threatened to introduce a process by which debate could be ended and thereby, forcing a vote. He was not successful. It was not until 1917, that the Senate passed a “cloture “ rule that allowed the Senate to terminate debate with a three-fifths majority of 67. That rule was modified in 1975 to require only 60 votes for cloture. Filibusters over the years have been used to block legislation that most of the people in the country supported, for example, civil rights legislation in the 1950s and1960s. Now they do not even have to stand up and speak for hours; all they have to do is threaten to do it!

As noted above, the filibuster rule allows the minority to block action by the majority. A glaring example today is the “SAVE” Act that is being blocked in the Senate by Democrats. That bill would require all voters in federal elections to show a photo ID and verification of citizenship, which polls show is supported by over 80% of Americans regardless of party affiliation. Herein lies the essential problem where the will of the majority of people is being blocked by the minority political party thereby denying the right of the people to control their government. The recent extended shutdown of the entire federal government for over 40 days by the Democrats is another example. I believe it is fair to argue that a political party winning the Presidency, the majority in the House, and the Senate has demonstrated that the majority of citizens support their platform and should be able to implement the changes voted for by the people. This is what government of the people, for the people and by the people, looks like.

The Democrats have stated that if they win all the branches of government they would add the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as States giving them four more senators; expand the Supreme Court to twelve allowing them to appoint three more socialists to the court; and grant citizenship to all illegal aliens. If this occurs, it will be next to impossible for the conservative majority of people in this country to reassert control over the federal government. Given this stated goal and the country’s fight against a Marxist takeover, it seems clear that we must ensure that the issues of the Republican Party to support this country, especially on its 250th anniversary, are implemented through legislation not just executive orders by President Trump. For example, removing the filibuster would allow the Congress to give President Trump the authority to implement tariffs that are essential to fair trade with other countries. The entire Trump agenda is in jeopardy if it is not confirmed by Congress. Otherwise, the next Democrat President can open the borders, reinstate climate change policies that are neither necessary or helpful, weaken the military, and increase taxes.

I do not believe that the majority of people in this country want this to happen. The filibuster rule must be eliminated; the sooner the better.