On July 5th, Representative Dale Strong was on Newsmax touting his “Promoting American Patriotism in Our Schools Act.” At risk of losing all federal funding for noncompliance, the bill would require the presence of an American flag in every classroom and to begin every school day with the Pledge of Allegiance in all K-12 public school classes across the country. His words: “What we’ve got to do is re-emphasize patriotism.”
Our kids are already saying the pledge in school and we don’t need another unfunded government mandate. Perhaps, instead, Dale should be thinking about his pledge to the people of North Alabama.
Quick Recap: over this term, Representative Strong’s votes have brought us:
- 4 percent net financial loss for families outside of the top 10 percent (OBBB)
- 100,000+ Alabamians have lost health care coverage (OBBB)
- Fuel costs up 40 percent (Illegal refusal to vote for War Powers Resolution in Iran)
- Soy farmers operating at 10 percent Loss (Voting for illegal tariffs)
- Dysfunctional gate access at Redstone Arsenal due to staffing shortages (DOGE)
Whether due to lack of judgment, or conviction, Representative Strong consistently votes against the best interests of our district. Moreover, we are blessed to have 60,000 veterans right here in the 5th congressional district. The idea that we have a “patriotism problem” is not only pandering, it’s offensive.
Let me be perfectly clear, I am a proud American patriot. I love this country. I feel a genuine pride every time I recite the pledge. I am glad that my daughters, just as I did growing up, and just as most every student across the district already does, recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school. So why this article of protest? This bill is a pandering, unnecessary, and expensive use of both state and federal tax dollars.
I believe the first two objections speak for themselves, but the last may require a word of explanation. Consider again the terms: A flag in every public school classroom and gym, with mandatory compliance, and loss of federal funding for noncompliance. That means this bill requires all (already underfunded) public schools to purchase flags for these spaces, and for the federal government to perform audits for compliance, and agencies to administer the removal of federal funds for noncompliance. Does that kind of bureaucracy usually come cheap? And this is all proposed by the same Congressman who voted to literally defund and dismantle the Department of Education.
This bill does not address any real problems facing North Alabama, like exploding prices or the lack of staffing at Redstone Arsenal’s Gate 3. Our problems in the 5th District are not due to a lack of patriotism or an imaginary threat of Socialism, they are due to Dale’s votes for the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and DOGE cuts, that have resulted in thousands of our neighbors losing their jobs, less effective governance, family farms being pushed to the brink, and small businesses going under because of tariffs and government cuts.
One last objection: the blatant hypocrisy. (Worth noting, this will be a defining difference between the service of myself and Representative Strong.) If Dale seriously thinks that the folks in North Alabama aren’t patriotic enough, perhaps he should consider his fidelity to the oath he swore to the Constitution (rather than any individual, President, or political party).
If our patriotism has flagged, perhaps it’s from watching Dale, like so many members of Congress, be more focused on performative politics – like this proposal – and making lobbyists and corporate donors happy, than listening to the real needs and concerns of his constituents. I can think of nothing in this troubling time that could stir more profound feelings of patriotism in our community, or our nation, than seeing our congressional representatives stand up with courage and conviction – at least every once in a while – as the constitutionally-mandated, balance-of-power advocates for the peoples’ voice they are supposed to be.
And that…would be free.
The truth is, hard-working families here are simply tired of the politics of division and they’re sick of the failure that they constantly see in Washington, D.C. They want Congress to work to solve problems for their families, our communities, and our beloved country. What they see right now, however, is a whole lot of talk and not much action. Certainly not much that has a positive effect on their daily lives. This is not what they voted for and they expect and deserve much better from their representative. In Congress, I intend to deliver that change.
Over the last year plus, I’ve focused my campaign for Congress on hearing every voice in our district. That includes, and always will, the voices I may not agree with. And what I keep hearing is that people, from Pisgah to Courtland, are concerned about the rising cost of living. They want to be sure that they won’t go bankrupt when their children need to go see a doctor. They’re worried about big companies dumping microplastics in the Tennessee River and big data centers causing their electric bills to skyrocket. In short, they’ve got 99 problems, but the Pledge ain’t one.
