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Democrats Are Clear and Present Danger to the Nation
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- By Star Parker
The United States must be growing and prosperous at home and strong and secure in the face of the many security threats facing us abroad.
The former can only be achieved with free markets and limited government domestically and the latter through a robust defense budget.
On both fronts, Democrats would take the country in the exact opposite direction needed.
Fix What's Broken at Home so We Can Defend Ourselves Abroad
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- By Star Parker
In 2024, for the first time in almost a century, the United States spent more financing its national debt than it did, as a percentage of GDP, on national defense. In 2024, interest on our national debt expenditures came in at 3.1% of GDP and defense spending at 2.9%.
This has been the case through this year, although it's too soon to say what the picture will finally be for 2026. But it's very close.
Hoover Institution scholar Niall Ferguson notes that this is an ominous sign. He quotes what he calls Ferguson's Law, after 18th century Scottish political theorist Adam Ferguson.
No Compromise on the Hyde Amendment
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- By Star Parker
Last year we went through the longest government shutdown in history.
The point of contention was the extension of what were supposed to be temporary additional Obamacare subsidies enacted during COVID-19.
"Temporary" in Washington means forever. This is what must change.
The "temporary" subsidies were supposed to expire last year. But Democrats could not resist the opportunity to push Republicans up against the wall and associate them with Obamacare premium increases.
Republicans Will Win in 2026
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- By Star Parker
In a Wall Street Journal interview a few days ago, President Donald Trump was circumspect regarding his party's prospects in the 2026 congressional elections.
Although no one doubts the president's supreme confidence that he is doing the right things for the country ("I've created the greatest economy in history"), he acknowledged, "that he couldn't predict if that would translate into political gains for Republicans next fall."
The party of the sitting president has picked up congressional seats in midterm elections only twice since World War II: Bill Clinton in 1998 and George W. Bush in 2002. And the case of Bush was far from business as usual. The election followed the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Patriotism was surging, with Bush's approval peaking at 90%, and by the 2002 elections it still was above 60%.
Last Thing on Democrats' Agenda -- Telling the Truth to Americans
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- By Star Parker
Recently in The Wall Street Journal, Neera Tanden, CEO of the Center for American Progress, a major foghorn in our nation's capital for America's left, explained "Why Democrats Won the Shutdown."
The most accurate declaration in the article is "fights tell the country a lot about what -- and who -- the fighters care about."
And, indeed, there should be no question what the Democratic Party is about.
That is -- to miss no opportunity to accumulate political power by fostering, as widely and as deeply as possible, a culture of government dependence in America. And to pay the bill for this by bankrupting our country.
As Religion Weakens, Socialism Strengthens
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- By Star Parker
Per new polling reported by Gallup, religion is no longer important to most Americans.
In response to the question "Is religion an important part of your daily life," 49% said yes.
Ten years ago, in 2015, 66% responded affirmatively.
Gallup notes that this 17-point drop "ranks among the largest Gallup has recorded in any country over any 10-year period since 2007."
How Should Republicans Move Forward?
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- By Star Parker
Reading commentary about the recent elections, I thought of an observation of Nobel prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman.
Feynman said, "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool."
That is, we must always be disciplined in looking at things as they are and not bend to the temptation to see them as we wish them to be.
After the recent Democratic election sweep, we are hearing that there is unhappiness out there.
Democratic Socialist Party Debuts in New York City
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- By Star Parker
Big news from Argentina is the electoral victory of the Advancing Liberty party of President Javier Milei.
Milei initially won the presidency in 2023 brandishing a chainsaw as a message of how he was going to cut the runaway government that has been destroying the lives of Argentinians.
Big government power has been a tradition in Argentina. Now Milei is turning things around.
Economic growth is picking up from stagnation, and inflation is down from over 200% to a little over 30%.
Democrats Prioritize Welfare Over National Security
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- By Star Parker
Few speak the truth as clearly and succinctly as House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Appearing on ABC's "This Week" last Sunday, co-host Jonathan Karl challenged the speaker's calling the recent No King rallies "Hate America Rallies," calling them "the modern Democratic Party."
Johnson responded that "there is a rise of Marxism in the Democratic Party ... just look what is happening in New York."
"They are about to elect an open socialist Marxist as mayor of America's largest city."
Increasing Opportunity and Hope for Our Children
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- By Star Parker
An age-old conundrum regarding raising children is the issue of nature versus nurture.
That is, do genes determine a child's success in life, or is it the environment in which that child is raised?
Or, even more fundamentally, is intelligence genetic, or can education increase IQ?
James J. Heckman, a Nobel Prize-winning economist from the University of Chicago, poses his own variant of this question.
Bed, Bath and Beyond California
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- By Star Parker
The much-publicized exchange between Bed Bath & Beyond chairman Marcus Lemonis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom is a lesson for the whole country.
We shoppers look back fondly on the marketing acumen that, starting with one store in 1971, built Bed Bath & Beyond into a retail giant that once had 365 stores nationwide.
The shopping experience there was always great fun -- the basics of homemaking at great prices plus innovative trinkets that were always attention-getters at prices attractive enough to get you to buy what you weren't even thinking about when you walked into the store.
An Allegedly Civilized World Genuflects to Hamas
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- By Star Parker
As the governments of the U.K., Canada and France announce their intent to recognize a Palestinian state, I recall the words of C.S. Lewis, so aptly quoted by President Ronald Reagan in his famous "evil empire" speech:
"The greatest evil is not done now ... in those sordid 'dens of crime' that Dickens loved to paint. It is ... not even done in concentration camps and labor camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered, moved, seconded, carried and minuted in clear, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice."
Gavin Newsom's Misguided Redistricting Initiative
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- By Star Parker
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is upset with Texas.
There's a reason he should be upset. California companies are pulling up in droves and moving to the Lone Star State and elsewhere.
But that isn't what's bothering him. Newsom cares about politics and power, not markets and business.
He's upset that the Texas state legislature is moving to redistricting that could add up to five Republican seats in 2026. So, Newsom wants to redistrict, which could add another five Democrat seats in California.
Breaking the Public School Monopoly on Education Overdue
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- By Star Parker
The Trump administration has been pursuing, on two fronts, the critical objective of fixing America's broken education system.
One, an executive order by President Donald Trump, issued shortly after he assumed office, is to dismantle the Department of Education. Outright closing of the department is only possible by an act of Congress. However, the president is moving to accomplish the same objective administratively by closing down offices and major staff elimination. The Supreme Court recently upheld the president's authority to do this.
The second front is advancement of parental choice in education. Give parents the power and authority to educate their children as they choose and send their children to a school that reflects their values.
Time For New Immigration Law
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- By Star Parker
Last month, the Trump administration Labor Department slapped a hold on Biden administration rules on H-2A visas, which allow U.S. farmers to hire foreign workers when they are unable to fill their jobs with Americans.
The H-2A rules were already stringent regarding requirements about pay and providing room and board and transportation to workers.
But the Biden administration, under the thumb of union pressure, added additional stringencies, allowing guest workers "collective action," giving unions access to pitch their line onsite and making it more difficult to fire workers.
Dear Senators, Pass One Big Beautiful Bill
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- By Star Parker
The House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill by a margin of one vote.
Well-deserved kudos have been conveyed to the masterful leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson, who navigated through a minefield to get done what needed to get done.
Now it's up to the Senate.
It's impossible not to think now of the admonition to not let the "perfect be the enemy of the good."
In this massive 1,000-plus-page piece of legislation, there is something to bother everybody.
Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show "Cure America with Star Parker." To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com
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