Defend the republic

I have read and heard a lot about the division in this country the past nine years. I listened to someone the other day describe the divide as not between Republicans and Democrats but between Americanism and progressivism. Others would describe it as between conservatives and liberals. I believe it is between socialism and saving the republic.

Many would say democracy, but this country was established as a republic. A lot of people want to see more cooperation, working across the aisle, etc. I want the people I voted for to defend the republic. Working across the aisle and cooperating always means accepting more socialism, and I believe we have accepted too much already.

The current attempts to repeal, replace or improve the Affordable Care Act, I believe, are a tipping point. If the ACA is not repealed, I believe it will be acceptance of the United States as a socialist country, and socialism will only grow from there. History will look back at this country many years from now and single out the handful of Republican senators who voted no on repeal as the deciding factor of whether the United States of America is a republic or a socialist or communist style of government.

When this country was created someone reportedly asked Benjamin Franklin as he was leaving the Constitutional Convention, “What do we have, a republic or a monarchy?” He answered, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Who knew his words were spoken for three or four Republican senators nearly 230 years later?

DANNY NAEGLE

Little Rock