The Golden Age of America: Balancing Hope and Responsibility

Today, Donald Trump took an oath to be the 47th president of the United States. In his inauguration speech, he said, “The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish.”

What a New President Means

What does that mean for us? History has shown that who is president doesn’t really change certain things. Our government grows. Our government spends—and wastes—a ton. Our government goes more and more into debt. We’re more than $36T in debt, and no one really talks about it.

What does change with a new president is what is talked about. The news media acts differently, depending on who is president. It’s hard to find media sources that are unbiased. They go in with a narrative and cherry pick data and quotes to make their narrative true—no matter what all the facts say.

It changes what people talk about—and get angry about. Biden implemented new tariffs on China in 2024, and there wasn’t much fuss about it, especially not from Democrats and the media. But then Trump mentioned tariffs, and the sky was falling, according to the same people who ignored Biden’s actual tariffs.

Biden Tariffs vs. Trump Tariffs

Tariffs are a discussion we should have. But the conversation is skewed depending on who is president and “whose side” people are on. Tariffs have the same pros and cons, regardless of who is president.

It goes beyond the stated goal of having other countries pay the US government. Foreign businesses raise prices to cover the tariffs, which raise prices for American consumers and American businesses that use imported materials and parts. So prices go up for Americans purchasing foreign and domestic products. 

Are increased tariffs worth it? Many people seem to be fine with Trump using tariffs as a negotiation tactic with Mexico, Canada, and China. Only time will tell if it will work.

Hope for the Future

It’s understandable that so many people are hopeful as Donald Trump steps back into the presidency. After several years of skyrocketing inflation and economic struggles, many are eager to see the promises he’s made come to fruition. The excitement makes sense—we all want solutions, and it’s natural to look to leadership for answers during challenging times.

While it’s okay to feel optimistic, we need to be careful not to put all our hope in the government. Remember, government is not the solution to all our problems—and it never has been. So many problems have been created by the government or exacerbated when they jump in to “help.” 

The truth is, no president, no matter how well-intentioned, can fix everything. We need to be cautious about falling into the trap of expecting a single leader to act as a savior. We can’t say we want a limited government that stays out of our lives while also expecting a president to step in and fix every issue.

DOGE and Limited Government

The way for the government to truly help is to give power back to the people. The government has taken over controlling or regulating pretty much every aspect of our life. And every time it takes over something, spend goes up and quality goes down. And worse, we lose more of our freedom.

Trump’s push for measures like DOGE, aimed at drastically cutting government waste and corruption, is promising. Elon Musk has announced the goal to cut $1-2 trillion dollars from the budget. But even initiatives like this have their limits. 

The layers of bureaucracy that have built up over decades cannot be dismantled overnight. And DOGE can’t even cut anything as part of the Executive Branch. It is up to the Congress. It all depends on how DOGE and Congress work together.

Some obvious things can be cut quickly by looking at Senator Rand Paul’s 2024 Festivus Report. 

• The Department of Health and Human Services spent over $400,000 on a study to see if lonely rats seek out cocaine more than happy rats.
• The Department of State spent almost $5 million on influencers.
• The Department of Interior spent over $700,000 to conserve wetlands for ducks in Mexico. (This is even more odd if you consider the role of this department being to protect our nation’s resources.)
• The Department of Defense spent over $10 million on Orwellian cat experiments.
• The Department of State spent $2.1 million on border security… for Paraguay.

While those items should be easy to slash, and will technically decrease the federal budget, they don’t even make a dent in the trillions of dollars our federal government spends annually.

The big cuts, that would make a significant difference, will take more time. While many people may agree that the government should not be involved in managing many of these programs, the reality is that these programs provide needs to many people. They just need to be managed privately—not by our corrupt, wasteful government.

They should be slashed as quickly as possible, but nonprofits and businesses need to be ready to take on managing these programs on the other side of the cuts. This is why it’s essential to temper our expectations. 

Strong Communities

While it’s exciting to see leadership committed to change, we need to remember that the real power for transformation lies much closer to home. True change doesn’t come from Washington, DC. It comes from us. It comes from individuals, families, and communities who are willing to take responsibility for their own lives and the well-being of those around them.

Throughout history, some of the most impactful advancements and solutions have come from ordinary people with determination. Entrepreneurs, inventors, and grassroots movements have all shaped the world in ways that no government program could. This is why it’s so important to teach our children about critical thinking, personal responsibility and innovation.

Consider the economic challenges we’ve faced in recent years: inflation, rising costs, and job uncertainty. These issues have affected countless families, and the ripple effects have been felt by every American. 

While government policies are portrayed as providing relief, the relief is temporary—and it often makes things way worse in the long run. But when communities come together to support local businesses and help their neighbors, they are building a strong community—a true long-term solution.

We have so much strength, power, and ability—far more than we sometimes realize. It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of large-scale problems, but the truth is, we are never powerless. Each of us has the ability to make a difference, whether it’s by mentoring a young entrepreneur, volunteering in our community, or simply setting a positive example for others to follow. These small acts, multiplied across millions of people, are what will make big changes in our world.

So, let’s keep our hope grounded in what really matters. Working toward limited government would certainly be a step in the right direction, but at the end of the day, the responsibility for creating a better future lies with us. 

By working together, supporting one another, and staying committed to our values, we can build a society that flourishes not because of government intervention, but because of the hard work and determination of its people.

The future is bright when we remember where true hope lies. It’s in our hands, in our hearts, and in the way we choose to live each day. Together, we can create a legacy of freedom, prosperity, and opportunity for generations to come.