The Representative for Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District Congressman Mike Johnson paid a visit to the Lion’s Club as a guest speaker Thursday afternoon. During his speech, rather than focusing on one or a few key issues to elaborate on, Johnson instead decided to talk about where he thinks the United States as a country is right now.
“I want to talk about what I think is on your heart as it is on mine right now, and I know it is because I’ve talked to many of you individually and even some of you today, about where the country is right now. What we’re facing as a nation,” said Johnson, “As a nation we’re in uncharted waters right now.”
He spoke of being invited to speak at an event put together the Koch-backed, where he was asked to talk about what he thinks the biggest challenge facing America is right now.
“I think we’re suffering from national memory loss. And what I mean by that is that I think we’ve become a nation of constitutional, historical, and biblical illiterates. When people have a lack of knowledge, and the scripture is very clear about this, people perish from a lack of knowledge, and that’s what we’re faced with today,” said Johnson.
He went on to elaborate that he doesn’t think this is an issue that only affects Washington. He stated that he has seen this in a Town Hall setting just as he has the halls of Congress.
“When I go back home, there are a lot of people who identify as Conservatives, and a lot of people don’t even know what that means anymore. What concerns me is that there are people even in the Congress who are regarded as Conservative champions that aren’t really able to articulate what our principals are,” said Johnson.
Johnson elaborated that he believes when the Conservatives take back the house, that Conservatives need to have a defined set of core principles to guide their policy making decisions moving forward. Johnson then went on to explain what he believes the principles are that make up the basis of being a Conservative.
“I think it boils down to seven core principles of Conservatism. We believe in individual freedom, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, free markets, and human dignity,” said Johnson,
“If we can agree on that basic set of core principles, then let’s build the policy out from there. Switching to my football metaphor, we’re developing the playbook right now to run when our team gets the majority back.”
Johnson added these steps are crucial in ensuring the future of creating cohesive Conservative policies in the United States.
“When we do that we have to know who we are, what we believe, and what we’re advancing. We owe that to our country, and I believe our country needs it now more than ever.”