America in crisis

America is in crisis. Admiral Mike Mullen, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently stated that the greatest threat facing our nation is our enormous debt. While the magnitude of our $16.5 trillion debt is nearly incomprehensible in size, irresponsible in creation and reckless for our children’s future, the monetary threat perishes compared to the danger of losing trust in America itself.

As a former U.S. Navy SEAL Commander, I have witnessed the devastating consequences of what happens when people lose faith and trust in their government. Africa and the Middle East are leading examples where the hope of a better tomorrow has been largely replaced by the injustice of political corruption and graft.

To restore our faith in America, it is time that we unite in our commitment for truth and focus on defending our individual and economic freedoms to ensure America remains exceptional for generations to come.

Truth, intent and purpose does matter. When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton exclaimed that it does not matter as to why Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed in Benghazi, her comment should have been met with universal condemnation. Ironically, her staged performance served only to elevate her status as one of the most admired women in the world.

The fact that negligence in security allowed Benghazi to occur, Cross Border Authority and military assistance was denied, and a cover up story was willfully devised to deceive the public should evoke outrage by every American. Yet not a single official was fired despite the brutal rape and torture of our ambassador and the death of three American heroes. Equally outrageous was our complacency when former U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice was quietly rewarded for her deception by being elevated to the National Security Council. What are we thinking?

Restoring trust in government is only possible when we keep the government out of our house, our business and our pockets. Quite simply, government has become too big and is consuming our basic freedoms to include our right to bear arms, property rights and the right of privacy. The recent revelation that the National Security Agency is monitoring domestic phone calls and emails of U.S. citizens is an example.

Despite sworn testimony from senior officials before Congress, it is clear that the government is mining the personal communications of its citizens with unprecedented reach. If a 29-year-old consultant employed for just three months can obtain virtually unlimited authority to conduct wire taps, download the identify and location of CIA agents abroad, and flee to China and Russia with impunity, it is hard to believe that our government is capable of being accountable.

Is the sun setting on America? The answer lies in the strength and resolve of the American people to take action. We the people gave the government the power of national defense, negotiating foreign treaties and upholding the rule of law. We did not, however, cede to the government the authority to intimidate or lie, wire tap without warrants or reduce our freedoms through executive order abuse.

America was built on the ingenuity of the individual and the belief that success can be obtained through hard work and innovation. Fairness is obtained by ensuring equal opportunity and not equal outcome. Despite the enormous challenges, I remain an optimist that the best days of America are not behind us but we have to act. We are all stakeholders and it is the obligation of every citizen to demand both accountability and the truth from our government at every level.

When the government attacks our freedoms, we all must rally and speak out to defend our rights. Keeping our democracy “exceptional” in honesty is not a matter of Republican or Democratic political rhetoric — it is essential for liberty and justice for all. Truth does matter and the restoration of our trust in government is the only path to preserving our freedoms and the Republic for which it stands.

Ryan Zinke, of Whitefish, is a retired Navy SEAL commander and Montana state senator.