Within the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke,” the “Captain” says to Luke (Paul Newman) “What we’ve bought here’s a failure to speak.”
The identical might be mentioned of the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress. Whereas they’ve a lot to brag about – from a closed border, the deportation of undocumented immigrants and decrease taxes– it’s not getting by way of to particularly a youthful technology that appears enamored with socialism as we’ve just lately seen with the election of democratic socialist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in New York Metropolis and the disastrous results of that financial philosophy in Oregon.
The generational divide implies that youthful folks haven’t skilled what older generations have skilled. An instance: My spouse and I are the identical age. Now we have relations who have been within the army. We like the identical music and recall the specter of nuclear struggle with the Soviet Union which was a part of the Chilly Warfare. Once we converse of such issues we perceive one another.
Youthful folks, particularly these born after 9/11, know nothing of our experiences, nor have they comparable experiences of their very own. They’ve led what we used to name “sheltered lives,” which has created in them an entitlement mentality. Once we attempt to inform them why socialism doesn’t work, they appear to care solely about “affordability.” Gasoline costs are down for the reason that Biden administration (now averaging $3 per gallon, however $4.73 on common in California as of April 2025). I went grocery procuring final week and located costs have dropped on such fundamentals as eggs, milk and bread.
Since January 2021, total costs rose $22.7 p.c, however wages rose solely $21.8 p.c. Inflation hit a document excessive of 9.1 p.c in June, 2022. Inflation was 3 p.c for the 12 months ending in September 2025, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Why is that this not getting by way of? A part of it has to do with the failure to acknowledge these info by the media, which by no means hesitate guilty Republicans when costs go up and the federal government closes. However a whole lot of the failure by Republicans to get by way of to youthful voters is as a result of they’re talking a unique language.
Had been I a guide for the GOP I’d develop a number of advertisements. One would present two girls grocery procuring with an inventory that has in a single column the costs of meals through the Biden administration and the costs now. One girl says to the opposite “Look how the worth of eggs has dropped. That’s not what we’re listening to on the information.” One other advert would function a girl filling up her automotive and telling her liberal, college-age son, “$3 a gallon is cheaper than it was 5 years in the past beneath Biden.”
Folks have extra choices than ever with regards to the place to stay, work and what to purchase. If the lease or housing costs are too excessive, one can at all times transfer to a spot with no state taxes, cheaper meals and fuel and cheaper housing.
Republicans ought to get off protection (and the Epstein information ) and notice how the whole lot was dearer beneath Biden. The price of medical insurance escalated due to subsidies created by “Obamacare.” Cheaper medical insurance is offered by way of impartial organizations like Medi-Share and Samaritan’s Purse.
These and different truths that show issues are getting higher due to Republican insurance policies, must be hammered house on daily basis. It must also be repeated that if Democrats return to energy, the general public can look to the latest previous, the current in Oregon and the possible future in New York to see how liberal insurance policies have failed.
It shouldn’t be that tough to speak.
Readers might electronic mail Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Search for Cal Thomas’ newest guide “A Watchman within the Evening: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).
