Next week the Republican party will gather in Tampa for their convention. The political party that seeks to drown government in the bathtub will offer a number of speakers who will argue that government doesn't have a role in solving national problems because they believe that government is the problem.
Republican audience members will be giddy with delight as several speakers thump their chest in reciting the cynical and hypocritical Romney-esque meme of I built this, while condemning the very notion of service, common purpose and shared sacrifice.
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Today, Neil Armstrong
died. As we honor Armstrong for his service, courage, selflessness, sacrifice and accomplishment of taking the first step on the Moon, we would be remiss if we did not take a moment to recognize and celebrate the shared sacrifice and the collective accomplishment that each citizen took part in when Armstrong made that first step.
The first step on the moon, like the recent landing on Mars, are reminders of the giant leaps that we as a nation can accomplish together. With all of the frustrations that come with government of the people and by the people, we actually do a pretty good job for the people when we work together for a cause greater than our individual selves.
Next week, as Republicans once again attempt to make the argument that government is the problem, and that life would be so much better if government was dismantled and stripped of oversight, it's important to remember that we are the government that they are speaking of.