It is customary to accumulate friends as you go down life’s road.  Most often we consider a friend as some one that is loyal to you and you maintain loyalty in return.  Usually a friend is trustworthy and has some mutual interests that mirror yours.  For a friendship to endure you must share common beliefs and work to build a better neighborhood, community, state or country.

It is impossible to go through life and not encounter a foe from time to time.  From a selfish aspect our foes will undermine us and work behind our backs to accomplish the opposite of what we may think is right. 

There is nothing more frustrating as trying to work with someone that presents himself or herself as a friend when actually that person is foe.  The old adage seems appropriate; a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  In political life the same situation presents itself and it is usually at a time one would least expect. 

In Congress, Mr. Trump has many foes and a few friends.  One would think that a member of the same political party would be a dependable, reliable friend.  But recent history has proved that wrong.  Mr. Trump is attempting to do what his supporters elected him and sent him to Washington to do.  Much of Congress was elected for the identical reasons but evidently have a severe hearing and learning problem. 

Obamacare will never change or be repealed as long as the Republican Party has friends like John McCain.  Mr. McCain should change his tactics now.  He got even with the President by pulling the stunt he did on the senate vote on Obamacare.  He had bad feelings for Mr. Trump and took those ill feelings out on the American people.  Has he no shame? 

The American people want the wall built and radical changes in the income tax laws that now exist.  If these changes do not occur, this administration will be a horrible failure.  We need friends in congress that are true friends, not foes in hiding. 

2018 is rapidly approaching and expectations are high for changes and the draining of the swamp.  To be successful we need to replace Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell as the two leaders of congress.  They are not friends of the president or the American people.  The only way to replace them is by voting but if that takes place, the democrats have a chance to put their people in office and kill any advantage the republicans have at this time.  If we (republicans) keep control of the house, senate and oval office while replacing John McCain with a person that cares about our country, we can still see big results. 

Foes are easy to accumulate and are waiting at every turn we may make.  What we need are friends.  Friends that will work for the betterment of our country and its people while responding to their dictates.  We need success other than the success we get with the president signing his Executive Orders.  Executive Orders are temporary fixes most of the time, just ask Mr. Obama about that. 

We need action that will be long lasting and far reaching.  We are at the tipping point of not having a country any longer.  We have no option, we must act.  Vote reasonably and informed.  Vote early and vote often, we need all the votes we can garner. 

I might be wrong, but I’m still right, and proud of it. 

The thoughts and ideas expressed above are exclusively those of Jack Straley.  We may agree, and that’s fine, or we may disagree, that’s okay too.  My sole purpose is to encourage others to think, study, and become involved. Exercise your freedom and above all, when presented the opportunity, please vote.