By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
Christmas is over and we celebrated the birth of Jesus. Knowing that He was the reason for the season gave us much-needed joy. We understand that we are living in challenging times.
All of us have different gifts and we use them in different ways. Some are using them right now while others are still in the formative stages. We are at various chronological ages when we discover that we have them.
It brings up the question of how do we know that we have them? I believe itâs through repetition and liking something that we do. I donât think itâs necessarily something we think weâre good at as others must make that determination.
For example, if youâre a good artisan, your customers will tell you. If youâre a good landscaper, your clients will tell others about you. Finally, if youâre a good teacher, your students will let you know. Thatâs how it goes. Others will give you your flowers. You donât have to âself-flowerâ.
Everyone wants to be at the top and not the bottom. We want to gain the respect and admiration of others. Will that ever change? No, it wonât.
Depending upon what you do, the lights are brighter and the attention greater. Missteps and mistakes are magnified. Being a high-profile person in the public square isnât for everyone. You may want the fame, but can you handle the shame? Let the good times roll, but sometimes those bad times roll, too.
Being an elected public official automatically places you in the public eye. We voters give them the go-ahead when we cast our ballots for them. You see, our votes matter.
There is built-in assumption that legislators are going to act in our best interests. Exactly what does that mean? In my opinion, it means they will pass laws that will provide us with an acceptable standard of living. Further, that we will be able to afford things that we need, not necessarily things we want. Is that asking too much?
The year 2026 has ushered in difficult times on several fronts. Some would say it is difficult times 2.0.
First and foremost, in my opinion, there is the trust factor that we have with our elected officials. Reports from various polling sources say that as few as 17% of Americans trust their politicians. This number has been low for the past several years. Both major political parties are mired in a drought of trust.
The Partnership for Public Service says since the new administration took office in January 2025 that 47% of us do not trust the Federal Government. New policies equal new problems resulting in no trust. Thatâs an equation that isnât hard to follow.
This lack of trust is playing out in ways that harm and hurt us. The divide among politicians has reached a boiling point and the American people are in the pot.
How do state and federal elected officials regain the trust of the voters? First, they must become much better listeners to what voters are telling them. We are saying prices are too high and the tariffs are hurting us. Thus far, they are not listening.
The GOP and the Democrats must regain their basic identity and return to their long-held philosophies. They have gone astray and are almost unrecognizable.
The art of diplomacy hasnât been a character trait of these congressional sessions. The word compromise has been lost in their deliberations. Itâs all or nothing.
There are two variables that may tilt the political scales. First, there will be midterm elections in November. Reports say that at least 10 GOP House representatives will be running for the position of governor. We will see how these two factors affect the balance of power in the Congress.
So, for now, fasten your seatbelts and hold tight. This year 2026 will be interesting and full of surprises. We can only hope that upcoming legislation will benefit the American people.
