Time for Renewal

Many people want to fix America. That’s a nice expression, it sounds easy, almost momentous; we are broken, we are fixed. There’s a lot of talk coming out of Washington: “We are going to fix the economy! We are going to fix education! We are going to fix our standing in the world! We are going to fix the environment!” What isn’t coming out of Washington? Results.

The problem lies in the concept, to fix. You can fix a washing machine, a car, or a computer; these are machines with defined parts. You can’t “fix” a country. Now we face a dilemma: America is broken, but we cannot just “fix” it. This is a chance for renewal. Renewal literally means “to make new again.” As a concept, or even a goal, it goes much deeper than a quick fix.

Renewal means learning the lessons of history. Renewal is about peeling back the mistakes we have made and returning to a system of government that empowers people to control their own destiny. When we look to the beginning of America, we see a people who were only a tiny percentage of the world population standing in the face of the near-eternal dynasties of Europe. This isn’t about military victories, it’s about economic leadership. Renewal in America means returning to the government framework that allows anyone to stand up and achieve.

This is the heart of conservatism; looking to the values and the framework that brought prosperity to the world in an unprecedented manner. There’s an important distinction, however, that must be stated. Our world has changed, people and their values have changed. Conservatives understand that values lie in the hands of the people, not the government. Our founding fathers understood this. This country was founded on a government that was limited to the protection of its people, not the dominance of its people.

America has a chance to become new again. We can’t just fix some broken component, we must renew. This is about being Twice American; we are Americans first by right, and second by choice. Renewal is about peeling back layer upon layer of a government that has far exceeded its role; about returning values to the people, not some bureaucrat. A new America taught the world what people in control of their destiny could accomplish; a renewed America has the potential to far surpass the previous lesson.

Regards, Lee Byberg