American statesman Ben Franklin once said, "We better all hang together or we'll all hang separately."

He referred to the fact that each signatory of the Declaration of the Independence faced death at the hands of the British back on July 4, 1776.

Today, we face the most fragmented and fractured electorate since the Vietnam War era.  Democrats blame Republicans for many ills facing this nation.  And vice versa! Ironically, both parties equally contributed to America's horrific $19.5 trillion debt. Both parties voted for the 15-year long war in Afghanistan and Iraq, costing taxpayers trillions of dollars—but accomplishing nothing.  Both parties watched America's inner cities turn into war zones like Chicago, and unemployed Americans into the millions.

Each blames the other, like kids arguing on the playground.  When Obama entered the White House, he promised "hope and change."  Instead, he doubled the national debt.  He promised to bring jobs.  Instead he added 10 million people to food stamp rolls.  Instead of peace, he continued war in the Middle East.  Instead of helping African-Americans gain educations and jobs, he spent a lot of time on the golf course.

During the speech by President Donald Trump, democratic women wore white outfits in protest of the president's policies.  Minority speaker for the House, Nancy Pelosi sat dejectedly in her seat with a scowl and sour attitude. 

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) grimaced during the entire speech.  Muslim House member Keith Ellison (D-MN) sported an angry scowl all over his face during the address. He neglected to stand to honor the widow of the slain Navy Seal William Ryan Owens.  House Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) stayed home.  Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) continued his non-stop scurrilous attack Trump. Supreme Count Justice Ginsberg called in sick.

During the speech, democrats rarely stood, made a few snide comments and pointed their thumbs down at several of Trump's attempts to call for unity on both sides of the aisle in order for Congress to go to work for the American people.

Instead, you could cut the air with a steak knife with the animosity seething from the democrats.  They appeared to still be in a state of shock over Hillary Clinton's loss. 

At one point, Trump singled out several individuals for their heroism, courage and determination. When he recognized Carryn Owens, widow with three small children, and the wife of the Navy Seal William Ryan Owens, the entire Congressional body erupted in the longest applause on record—but the Muslim Keith Ellison sat angrily in his chair.  Few in the MSM admit that Ellison maintains ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist organization.  Imagine if the MSM exposed Ellison's Muslim ties to Islamic groups!

When Trump talked about discontinuing illegal immigration and terrorism by extreme vetting and building a wall on the Mexican border, Democrats fumed in their seats.  When he spoke about creating V.O.I.C.E.  "Victims of immigration crime enforcement", Democrats squirmed in their seats.

Across the country, over 300 Sanctuary Cities allow illegal aliens to work and roam freely---in violation of U.S. laws.  When Trump pledged to bring them to justice, New York City's Mayor DeBlazio promised to fight Trump.  Same with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Colorado's Governor John Hickenlooper. Same with California's Governor Jerry Brown.  All of them pledged to continue violating U.S. laws.  How long will rejecting Constitutional law be the price paid by Americans who die at the hands of illegal aliens?   Is this not the reason why our founders created these laws: to protect its citizens?

At the end of the speech, TV anchor Brit Hume said, "Trump knocked it out of the park tonight." 

Pundit Chris Wallace said, "Donald J. Trump became President Trump of the United States tonight."

Nonetheless, Schumer, Pelosi, Ellison and many other democrats fumed and scowled their way out of the chambers after the speech.  They degraded the speech as well as the president in front of television cameras.

Much the same bitterness occurred at the Continental Congress in Ben Franklin's time.  As the old statesman sat during the proceedings, he witnessed the anger and cynicism at that time.  He asserted and I am paraphrasing, "All of us must state our cases for this new country.  And, we must compromise in order to birth our new nation with a sense of purpose and cohesiveness.  If not, we shall fragment beyond repair."

Today in 2017, if the Democrats and Republicans remain at odds with each other, we all lose.  If the mayors and city councils of Sanctuary Cities continue violating US laws, we all sink into anarchy. If we allowed endless legal and illegal immigration, we all lose.  If governors of states defy our laws on the books, they promote anarchy and civil conflict. 

And if you, the reader on either political side, fume at these facts, how deep must your country's impending demise be before facing your role?

If we fail to maintain and enforce our laws, if we fail to compromise for America's values and her peoples' rights---our country faces degradation into a Third World country.  It's that simple and it's that ugly.

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-- Frosty Wooldridge

Golden, CO 

Population-Immigration-Environmental specialist: speaker at colleges, civic clubs, high schools and conferences

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Six continent world bicycle traveler

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Frosty Wooldridge, six continent world bicycle traveler, Canada to Mexico summer 2015, 2,000 miles, 100,000 vertical feet of climbing: