Who knew? Border security and crime reduction are popular
Summer is usually a tough time for incumbent political parties. Of course, politicians and spokespersons are forced to react rather than move the needle. They are the people who have to tell the public how they will clean up the mess after the garbage is dumped on their desks, and reporters bang down their doors.
Public response is easier to chart than emotion unleashed at a press conference, and the surveys are coming in loud and clear. Americans want as much border security as possible, hope for less crime, and, fueled by the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, want domestic terrorists to plan for their next conquest behind bars. Sometimes it takes years, if not generations, to get fed up, and the current American citizenry has had enough. Years of whining and public outcry urging “acceptance” and “understanding” has resulted in schoolteachers cheering on school shooters, supporting evil in the very space young people should be protected. It is hard to imagine how deranged someone must be to support the killing of anybody, whether they agree with their views and politics or not. Perhaps that is the point. Maybe some of these people feel so marginalized that they are crying out for attention.
The old proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” has been the rallying cry for empathy among supposedly warmhearted politicians for 30 years. Conversely, it takes a nation to keep from going broke and promoting persistent destruction. We simply cannot afford to subsidize illegal immigrants and pay for their education, healthcare, and food subsidies. Angry fringe groups freaking out online are tired and uninteresting, and leaders pretending preventing crime is a bad thing have lost their charm.
Donald Trump’s approval is increasing this week according to Rasmussen Reports (September 19, 2025). The vast American middle is favorable to societal stability rather than complaints about our nation. Pretending the most dangerous places are the most normal is not working. Cultural hacks who promote moving to other continents while they cash their paychecks in North America are persuading nobody.
The Dutch parliament just designated ANTIFA a terrorist organization and leaders in Belgium are contemplating placing members of the military on city streets. Journalist Joana Campos is reporting that the methodology of El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele imprisoned bad guys and placed military personnel on the ground, is being touted as an example of how crime can be reduced. Just two years ago, Bukele was accused of being a rights-eating maniac.
As the world changes, First Amendment absolutists have been left in the dust. The right of free speech does not mandate no consequences will occur. This is another case where pragmatism trumps (no pun intended) personal causes and calls to action. When comics like Jimmy Kimmel lose their show, a decision is being made by their employer: Is this person making or costing me money? Should I protect them if they offend more people than they entertain? Sowing chaos and rejecting common sense ultimately will not work. It has become the norm for complainers to issue proclamations about every negative element that surrounds us. Unfortunately, tearing everything down is not an option. Individuals are generally less important than their corporations if they receive a paycheck. Bad manners and offensive behavior will not be rewarded over time unless advertisers are paying for that.
The leaves are beginning to fall, summer is slipping away, and warmth and friendliness are moving out. The mood of the nation is changing in more ways than one. As fall brings shifts in temperature, daylight, and energy, the shift among the public is becoming clear. Survival and stability are more important than fringe complaints. Even people promoting unpopular lifestyles or viewpoints usually prefer to be protected by their government. When they walk safer streets while the cost of living stabilizes, I suspect they will be walking around with a smile on their face. They can still privately mutter under their breath when a MAGA hat passes by. Hoping for change and complaining about your life is a time-honored tradition. Killing your neighbors and bullying the majority is a path born of failure.
Anne Rivers is the president of the Women’s Republican Club of Lancaster.
