Since most of the time I don’t look too closely at my NRA magazine, I almost missed one of the more interesting articles in this month’s edition, titled “Ban Pelosi, Not Guns”.  That title needs a little introduction.

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives, was quite upset when President Donald Trump declared a national emergency about the southern border.  He cited illegal drugs, illegal immigrants and criminals that poured across the border from Mexico into the U. S. as justification for the move.  One of the reasons for the declaration was the need, he claimed, to build a wall between the two nations.  

Pelosi retorted that when a Democratic President was in charge, he (or she) could declare a national emergency about guns and gun violence.  That would be in line with her and other Democrats’ desire to gut the 2ndAmendment and ban the individual ownership of firearms.

This article used as its basis a December 2018 Gallup Poll which asked respondents about the top problem facing the United States. If you get the NRA magazine, it is on page 56, the facing page of the back cover.  Following is a quick recap of the results, placed in percentages of those who responded.

First, though, a word about the Gallup Poll for those who do not know its history.  Founded in 1935 by George Gallup, Sr., it first gained notoriety for correctly predicting the 1936 presidential election, contradicting a more popular Literary Digestpoll which showed Alf Landon swamping then President Franklin Roosevelt.  For many decades, it was the gold standard of polling companies, missing only the 1948 presidential election when allpolls predicted Thomas Dewey would defeat President Harry Truman.

At the present time, Gallup is not the top polling company, but also political polling is only a small part of the firm’s business.  This poll is more in line with trying to ascertain certain social trends and business practices.

            The findings are as follows:

            Government  —  19%

            Immigration  — 16%  (these two, as you can see, are the only ones in double digits)

            Unifying the nation  —  8%

            Race relations  —  7%

            Poverty/hunger/homelessness  —  6%

            Environment and pollution  —  5%

            Lack of respect for each other  —  5%

            Health care  —  5%

            Crime/violence  —  4%

            Economy in general  —  3%

            Unemployment/jobs  —  3%

            Ethical/moral/religious decline  —  3%

            Gun control/guns  —  3%

            So it seems that many of our elected leaders have their priorities upside down. Here in Illinois, J. B. Pritzker, a Chicago billionaire Democrat, won the governor’s race last November.  In addition, the Democrats won supermajorities in both the Illinois House and Illinois Senate.  Can you guess which of the above problems have been most addressed since the Legislature began its Spring session?

            Just passed was a law that focuses on the economy and “good” jobs, for we now have a $15 minimum wage, to be phased in by 2025.  Leaving aside the economic impact this will have on small businesses and entry level workers, it seems as if the emphasis in the Legislature and Governor Pritzker is somewhat misplaced.

For those who cherish their right to “keep and bear arms”, the other priority in the Illinois Legislature is evident in the fact that sevenbills that restrict, in one way or another the clear meaning of the 2ndAmendment, have been introduced already in this session.

Of course it is difficult for any leader to look in the mirror and realize that his constituents feel that he (or she) is more of a problem than these high profile lesser ones.

            Congress has been, of late, held in low regard by a large majority of Americans, according to numerous polls.  Focusing on issues that are not at the top of most citizens’ problem list contributes to this low standing, and will only get worse if the situation does not change.

Immigration is second in this poll of national problems. Yet some (let’s face it  —  Democrats) seem determined to ignore the problem by wanting an open border with Mexico, setting up sanctuary cities and states to “welcome” the illegals into America and deride any who try to limit such illegal entry into the nation.

All on this list can be considered a problem in some form or other, but when the emphasis is on the ones at the bottom of polling lists, our elected representatives seem to be not always working in our best interests.

This was graphically shown when Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who is running for President next year, appeared on “The Late, Late Show”, and gave her top list of problems to be solved:  “Climate change, gun violence, student loan debt, right off the top.”  None of those broke the 5% barrier in Gallup’s poll.

What can we do about this?  First, when elections roll around, select the men and women who are interested in getting government less intrusive in the lives of their constituents.  This may seem impossible, given that many go back on their campaign promises, but we can make this one of the tests of whether they get our votes.

Second, write and email our Congressmen and Senators. If enough of us do this, perhaps this will get their attention.  And maybe not!

Is government the top problem?  This is not a new feeling in America.  Thirty-seven years ago on January 20, Ronald Reagan, in his inaugural address, said:  “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to the problem; government is the problem.”

When we see some of the laws passed, the money wasted, the debt piled up (as of now, the national debt has passed 22 trillion dollars), and the regulations put in place, it is easy to see how this problem topped the list in Gallup’s poll.

            And also remember, some of the most frightening words that can be spoken to you are:  “I am from the government and I’m here to help you!”