2019 Independence Day

July 3, 2019

Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.

And now for today’s commentary –

We have just celebrated another Independence Day – parades, fireworks, flags waving. My flag is up and waving all the time, but on the 4^th of July it is really showing off. Our leaders were giving patriotic speeches across the nation. President Trump spoke from the Lincoln Memorial here in D.C. Some critics said he would be too political. But it seems to me appropriate for our President to honor our military and the United States of America on Independence Day. Afterall let’s not forget our nation is the leader of the free world. Let’s remember what got us to where we are today – Liberty and Justice for All. Freedom from oppressive government regulations, private property rights.

Our way of life has been threatened many times, but we have always been up to the challenge. Our nation is more than 200 years old, but that is young compared to many other countries.

With instantaneous 24-hour news, we watch the death and destruction in many countries around the world. We don’t want that. We need to appreciate what we have, and never forget that hard work and individual responsibility is the foundation for our success. We keep hearing a loud call to turn to socialism. Why would we want to go down that road? Look at Venezuela and Cuba and others. The only successful communist countries are those that are moving away from heavy socialistic policies – such as Vietnam and China. We need to celebrate and preserve our old frontier spirit ringing from the rafters.

What we have today wasn’t handed to us on a silver platter. It took hard work and determination and sacrifice to develop our country. We fought the British for our independence. We fought the Civil War to save the union. Then we fought World War I and II. The fact that millions of people from other countries will do anything to get into the United Sates – legally or illegally. What does that tell you? Maybe it is telling us that we have something worth protecting and preserving. Don’t mess it up.

Next week I will be on the farm in Illinois. I’ll call in from there and let you know how the corn and beans and baby pigs are.

Until next week, this John Block reporting from Washington, D.C. If you would like to review my radio shows going back more than 20 years, just go on-line to www.johnblockreports.com.