For Once, I Am Almost at a Loss for Words
There have been very few times in my life when I have been at a loss for words. This is one of them.
Tuesday did not go the way many of us expected. Not in Arizona, and certainly not across the country.
As most of you know, I voted for President Donald Trump three times. I have voted Republican my entire adult life. I believe in limited government, personal responsibility, individual freedom, and the Constitution.
Since Election Night, I have watched hours of political analysis. Some commentators have reminded us that midterm elections traditionally favor the party not occupying the White House.
That is true. But I believe using that explanation alone is putting a pretty bow on a much deeper problem.
Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress. Republican-held governorships flipped in states including Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, and Nevada. Democrats also made significant gains in state legislatures.
This was not simply a few competitive districts changing hands. It was a significant political shift, and Republicans need to understand why.
Is It Really Just About President Trump?
There are plenty of explanations being offered.
Was it the war? President Trump campaigned on keeping America out of new wars.
Was it the cost of living? Families continue struggling with groceries, gasoline, housing, and everyday expenses.
Was it the tariffs and uncertainty about their impact on the economy?
I believe all these issues deserve serious consideration. And yes, I believe President Trump bears responsibility for some of the dissatisfaction voters expressed.
Recent voter surveys suggest that economic concerns, the war in Iran, and dissatisfaction with the administration influenced the election results. But I believe there may be another issue worth examining, one that goes back decades.
Are We Overlooking the Influence of Education?
Let me share a personal story.
I was 31 years old, divorced, and raising four children, two of whom were still in diapers, when I decided to go to college. I was paying my own way, working hard, and trying to build a better future for my children.
When I was told I had to take a multiculturalism course to earn my degree, I pushed back. I questioned why it was required and whether it was relevant to my education. I was told very clearly that without completing the course, I would not graduate. I took the course.
Today, I wonder whether we have paid enough attention to what happens in our classrooms, from kindergarten through college. Teachers and professors have enormous influence on young people. Many are dedicated professionals who encourage students to think independently. Others bring strong political perspectives into their teaching.
My concern is not that students are exposed to different ideas. They should be. My concern is whether they are being taught how to think critically or simply what to think. And this is not a question only conservatives should be asking.
What Happened to the Values We Grew Up With?
Forty years ago, family life looked different for many Americans.
Today, many parents are working two jobs just to keep a roof over their children's heads. They are exhausted. Between work, school activities, homework, and the daily demands of raising a family, there is often little time left for meaningful conversations about history, government, faith, personal responsibility, and family values.
I am not blaming parents. I know firsthand how difficult it is to raise children while trying to make ends meet. But when families have less time to discuss their values, other influences naturally become more important.
Schools, universities, social media, entertainment, and political organizations all help shape how young people see the world.
And I believe conservatives need to ask themselves whether we have done enough to participate in those conversations.
Have Conservatives Taken Themselves Out of the Classroom?
I am a strong supporter of school choice and Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts.
I have five grandchildren, and all five are homeschooled. I believe parents should have the freedom to choose the educational environment that best meets their children's needs. But I have also wondered about an unintended consequence.
When large numbers of engaged conservative families leave traditional public schools, who remains to attend school board meetings, review curriculum, ask questions, volunteer, and participate in decisions about education? I am not suggesting families should sacrfice their children's education to make a political statement. Quite the opposite.
But school choice and involvement in public education should not be mutually exclusive.
Public schools educate an enormous number of American children. We cannot afford to stop paying attention to what happens inside them simply because our own children or grandchildren attend school elsewhere.
This is one reason I felt so strongly about running for the Dysart Governing Board.
The Long Game
I remember when Bill Clinton was reelected in 1996. I cried.
I used to tell people that I did not like Bill Clinton, but I was afraid of Hillary Clinton because she wated to control our children.
Looking back, I believe progressives have spent decades building influence in education, cultural institutions, and political organizations.
Conservatives have certainly built their own institutions and networks, but I question whether we have devoted enough attention to the long-term development of ideas and the next generation.
Tuesday's results make that question feel especially important.
I am also concerned about the growing appeal of democratic socialism among some younger voters. I believe free enterprise, individual liberty, and personal responsibility are worth defending. Bit it is hard to overcome the programing studeents are receiving in school.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Throughout American history, political power has shifted between parties, and public opinion has moved in different directions.
But I would be lying if I said I was not concerned about what the next two years may bring. I worry about border security, the future of school choice and ESAs, the direction of healthcare policy, our military readiness, and the long-term health of our economy.
Democratic leaders have different priorities on many of these issues, although their positions are not all the same. We will have to watch what legislation is actually proposed rather than assume every feared policy change is inevitable.
I also believe Republicans must resist the temptation to blame everyone else for Tuesday's results.
If voters rejected our message, we need to understand why. If families are struggling financially, we need to listen. If young people see government differently than we do, we need to understand their concerns and explain our principles in ways that address the world they live in today.
We cannot change the outcome of Tuesday's election. But we can decide what we learn from it.
A Prayer for Our Country
I love this country.
I love the freedoms we enjoy, the opportunities America has given my family, and the principles upon which this nation was founded.
I have lived long enough to know that elections come and go, political movements rise and fall, and our country has faced difficult times before.
But I am genuinely concerned about our future, especially the world we are leaving our children and grandchildren.
So today, rather than offering another political prediction, I am asking something much simpler.
Pray for our country. Pray for our leaders, whether you voted for them or not. Pray for our future. And most importantly, pray for our children and grandchildren.
And when we are finished praying, let's get back to the work of strengthening our families, supporting our schools, listening to one another, and building the kind of country we want the next generation to inherit.
America's future is too important to give up on.
| 
