By JACKIE TAYLOR | July 8, 2026

Happy birthday America!

It was such an awesome 250th for our nation! It was so patriotic and all of the cool events should have made even the stodgiest American stand tall with pride.

I attended several events locally – kudos to all of the volunteers it took to pull off the great community events – but, I eventually ended up in Gladstone, Mo. to watch fireworks and listen to Montgomery Gentry II. II I call it because after Troy Gentry was killed in a helicopter accident in 2017, his son, Eddie, joined the band and continues to tour completing the duo.

An estimated 10,000 people attended the fireworks display; young, old, English-speaking, non-English speaking, all enjoying a night of food trucks and fireworks, all cheering for the birthday of our nation.

What thought keeps working through my mind, though, is how the Democrat Party has let themselves get demolished by Democratic Socialist Jihadists, people who did not and could not enjoy the history and pride Americans carried during the semi sesquicentennial.

I know many good people that are Democrats; people that are hard-working Americans that love their country. As I said to Skip Childress one time, “your dad’s Democrat Party isn’t this Democrat Party.”

There is no semblance of the old party to this new one.

So, what do Democratic Socialists believe in? DSAUSA.org prints it out quite plainly, “Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. We must replace it with democratic socialism, a system where ordinary people have a real voice in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and society…

“We want a democracy that creates space for us all to flourish not just survive and answers the fundamental questions of our lives with the input of all. We want to collectively own the key economic drivers that dominate our lives, such as energy production and transportation. We want the multiracial working class united in solidarity instead of divided by fear. We want to win “radical” reforms like single-payer Medicare for All, defunding the police/refunding communities, the Green New Deal, and more as a transition to a freer, more just life.”

Basically, take away private business and let all own it – under the government, of course. No longer will someone with a good idea own a business that produces; rather, a conglomerate of people would own it, despite not creating it.

Oregon and Washington are great examples of what happens when progressive Socialist people get elected. Oregon is a wonderful state with great fishing and hunting; people are now looking to enact legislation where outdoors people can’t fish or hunt.

According to https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/economic_impact.asp, “Earth Economics’ research indicated that in 2019 hunting, fishing and wildlife watching activities accounted for $1.2 billion ($1.47 billion in 2024 dollars) in spending and supported over 11,000 jobs.”

So far, hit them where it hurts, is hitting Socialist mayors in the pocketbook.

Seattle Socialist losses are mounting. LeftWashington.org reports, “93 Companies Affected, 18,540+ Est. Jobs Lost in WA, $703.7M – $1.5B/yr Est. Tax Revenue Lost, $4.1B – $6.2B Est. GDP Impact, 78 Layoff & Closure Events, #50 Business Survival Rate.”

A gloomy outlook for a wonderful city run by mayor “Katherine Barrett Wilson (born July 12, 1982) who is an American politician, activist, and democratic socialist.” Starbucks, Amazon, Sears, Claire’s, Mattress Land and more are choosing to leave the northwest city and locate to states and cities with more friendly business climates.

With her Socialist beliefs, thecentersquare.com reports, “Seattle is bracing for major spending cuts after a new revenue forecast shows revenues over the next two years, not including grants and transfers, are expected to be $241.5 million less than previously thought. 

“The April pessimistic forecast anticipates a total 2025-26 general fund revenue decrease of $50.4 million, excluding grants and transfers.”

What I don’t understand is why my friends, many of whom are normal Democrats, don’t fight the oncoming wave of Socialist jihadists bent on destroying our nation. 

It is one thing to back your Party; it’s another to watch your party destroy our nation. The time is now to save the Democrat Party and separate it from the jihadist Socialist party.

Wake up Democrats, look at what is happening to your party and take control of it. Do you want the Democratic Socialist jihadists running your party?