Bring Back Common Sense

Under the Trump administration, the Department of Agriculture has announced that November SNAP payments will not go out, citing a lack of appropriated funds during the ongoing government shutdown. In every previous shutdown under both Republican and Democrat administrations contingency funds were used to keep these essential benefits flowing. This time, the USDA has decided those funds “cannot” be used, leaving more than 40 million Americans without food assistance.

Let that sink in: through wars, recessions, and political fights, this country has always found a way to feed its people. Until now.  Read more

America’s government has found itself once again grinding to a halt, another shutdown triggered by political gridlock and finger-pointing. This tim...

We live in a world obsessed with competition. Nations compete for economic power, companies battle for market share, and politicians argue over who’s “winning.” Somewhere along the line, “being number one” became the only thing that mattered.

But maybe it’s time to ask: what if that mindset is actually holding us back?

About 7 million people participated in the No Kings Rally this past weekend.  Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the No Kings Rally as a “Hate America Rally,” claiming it was filled with “leftists, Marxists, and people who don’t love America.” That’s the kind of divisive rhetoric meant to silence dissent, not understand it.

I grew up believing in the Republican Party of old — the one that stood for fiscal responsibility, small government, strong defense, personal responsibility, and respect for the Constitution. That’s the party I used to vote for. But let’s be honest: that party doesn’t exist anymore. What we have today isn’t the Republican Party I once respected — it’s the Trump-ublican Party.

Trump’s tariffs, tax cuts for the rich, and cuts to vital services aren’t making America great — they’re making life harder for working families, the poor, and the disabled. It’s time to bring back common sense before it’s too late.

We’ve all seen what happens when a family lives beyond its means. The credit cards pile up, interest payments eat away at income, and eventually you hit a wall. Bankruptcy doesn’t happen all at once — it’s a slow slide brought on by bad habits, ignored warnings, and denial.

Now look at Washington. The same pattern, only with bigger numbers and less accountability.

I’ve voted Republican for most of my life, but this isn’t the party I once knew.
Somewhere along the way, loyalty to one man replaced loyalty to the truth.

The Bible says in Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” It’s time for Christians and all Americans to stand for leaders who act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

We don’t need blind loyalty — we need moral courage.
We don’t need chaos — we need conviction.
The midterms are coming. Pray. Speak out. Vote for those who serve the people and honor God above party.

Right now, schools across the country, including here in North Carolina are facing a crisis. The federal government has frozen $6.8 billion in funding that had already been approved by Congress to support public education. This decision was made suddenly and without warning. As a result, school leaders are scrambling to figure out how to keep programs running and how to avoid laying off teachers and staff before the school year even begins.

What has happened to common sense and fiscal responsibility?  Our elected officials are bestowing a gift of another 3 trillion dollars to the 36 trillion that will be on the shoulders of our children and grandchildren.  This is the current fight but its not just Republicans, Democrats have spent trillions that they did not have also.  A quick thank you to my senator Thom Tillis who was one of two Republicans to vote against the bill. 

We live in a time when all the knowledge of the world is at our fingertips. Ask your phone almost anything, and in seconds, it will spit back an answer. From recipes and road maps to life hacks and historical facts—everything is instantly accessible. And yet, despite this flood of information, something essential seems to be slipping away: common sense, wisdom, and a commitment to others.

Nido Qubein, president of High Point University once said the problem with common sense is it's not so common anymore.  Somewhere along the way, we lost it. Common sense has been replaced with confusion, noise, and foolishness dressed up as progress.