The weight of a million steps presses on, each one a testament to a journey across America, a search for the heart of the American Dream. But the news from Minnesota feels like a stone in my shoe, a jarring disruption to the rhythm of hope.
Reports detail a staggering sum – over a billion dollars – allegedly diverted from hardworking taxpayers through fraudulent claims in social service programs. Day care centers operating without children, phantom autism therapies, misused housing funds, and inflated Medicaid bills paint a disturbing picture of systemic abuse.
Recently, a video surfaced that ignited a different kind of anger. A young woman, speaking with unsettling pride, described her community’s “success” in America – not through innovation or enterprise, but through a mastery of the assistance system.
She stated that nearly 90% of Somali immigrant households with children in Minnesota rely on welfare, a figure that remains stubbornly high even after a decade in the country. The contrast with native-born households is stark: a fraction of the reliance on cash assistance, food stamps, and Medicaid.
This isn’t success; it’s a corrosive dependency, a subtle form of exploitation. Having spent years on the South Side of Chicago, battling the cycles of poverty and violence, I’ve witnessed the soul-crushing effects of dependency firsthand. To find pride in it, to elevate it to a strategy, feels deeply wrong.
The response from some officials has been equally troubling. Accusations of “white supremacy” are leveled against anyone who dares question this system, a tactic designed to silence dissent and deflect from the core issue. It’s a familiar pattern, a silencing of honest inquiry.
This isn’t about race; it’s about principle. It’s about the erosion of merit, the foundational idea that built this nation. The same forces that allowed unrest to grip the nation in 2020 seem intent on undermining the very values that once made America a beacon of opportunity.
Yet, amidst this darkness, the road has offered glimpses of light. I’ve walked alongside immigrants from countless nations – Latinos, Asians, Africans – who arrived with nothing but determination and faith. They built businesses, raised families, and contributed to their communities, embodying the true American spirit.
They understood a simple truth: hard work, coupled with faith, unlocks opportunity. America flourishes when it rewards effort and responsibility, not entitlement. Concentrating refugees in isolated enclaves, discouraging assimilation, and incentivizing dependency ultimately harm those they intend to help.
As I continue westward, my prayers are for a renewal of the American Dream, for every immigrant and every citizen born on this soil. We must invest in skills, strengthen families, and nurture faith. We must reject the narrative of victimhood and embrace the promise of opportunity.
But renewal demands accountability. Those who exploited the trust of the American worker must be held responsible, their actions serving as a stark warning. Only then can we begin to truly restore and repair the foundations of the American Dream.
May God guide our steps and bless this nation, reminding us that true success lies not in what we receive, but in what we contribute.
