“Farmer Boy”, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s account of her husband, Almanzo’s, childhood in New York State, includes an account of small town Fourth of July celebrations. There’s a marching band. Two politicians, one in favor of tariffs one opposed to them make speeches, then a Revolutionary War era cannon, loaded with powder and dry brush is fired.
A neighbor tells Almanzo’s father, “That’s the sound that made the British run.” Mr. Wilder agrees, but then says it was hard work particularly hard work done by farmers, that made this country. He explains further to Almanzo that it is the workers who build this country, and keep it going.
Mr. Trump, the draft dodger’s military display had me thinking of this. This man whose military experience began and ended at a fancy boarding school for bad boys, wanted to honor our nation’s fighting men, and just incidentally share some of their glory.
Yes, our armed forces defend our freedom, in tanks built by American workers, eating food grown by American farmers. They can do their jobs because they were taught by American teachers. They are able to serve because they had health care from American doctors and nurses.
Donald Trump’s chief gift to working Americans seems to be cutting their taxes and convincing them to cut their own throats.
We who keep this country going, including Trump supporters, deserve better.