America just celebrated its 250th birthday, and like many people reaching a milestone age, it might be a good time for some reflection, a little self-evaluation, and perhaps a reminder of what was originally in the owner’s manual.
A quick history lesson before everyone starts checking their phones.
July 4, 1776, marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, not the moment America became fully independent. Declaring you’re leaving a relationship and actually moving out are two very different things. The Revolutionary War continued for years afterward, and it wasn’t until 1783 that independence was secured. The Constitution itself would not be completed until 1787, and the final state, Rhode Island, didn’t ratify it until 1790. Fourteen years passed between declaring independence and completing the framework of the nation we know today.
Building a country, it turns out, takes longer than downloading an app and clicking “I Agree.”
Fast forward to 2026.
Over the couple months, America hosted FIFA, welcomed visitors from around the world, and spent considerable time celebrating its 250th anniversary. Ironically, one of the most refreshing aspects of the celebration wasn’t the fireworks or speeches. It was the reminder provided by millions of visitors and fans from other countries.
They looked remarkably familiar.
They wanted to cheer for their teams, spend time with friends, enjoy good food, attend concerts, complain about referees, and get home safely afterward. In other words, they wanted exactly what most Americans want.
Despite what social media, cable news, and professional outrage merchants would have us believe, most people across the globe are not interested in endless conflict. They want stable jobs, healthy families, safe communities, and opportunities to enjoy life. The vast majority of humanity is simply trying to get through the day without becoming a trending hashtag.
That realization matters.
When America’s founders envisioned a new nation, they were attempting something unusual for their time. They borrowed ideas from earlier republics and democratic experiments stretching back centuries. Their goal was not perfection. They understood human beings far too well for that. Their goal was balance: a government constrained by laws, power distributed among institutions, and citizens who would ultimately govern themselves rather than be governed by a hereditary ruling class.
It was a bold experiment.
Two hundred and fifty years later, the experiment continues, but it is showing signs of strain.
One of the greatest challenges facing the country today is not a foreign adversary or economic competitor. It is our growing inability to work with one another. We speak constantly about creating a “more perfect Union,” yet often behave as though our fellow citizens are opponents to defeat rather than partners in a shared project.
The result is a government that frequently appears stuck between permanent campaign mode and reality television.
Both major political parties claim loyalty to the Constitution and to the American people. Yet too often, loyalty to party comes first. The Constitution becomes a prop brought out for speeches rather than a guide for governance. Every issue is treated as an existential battle. Every compromise is viewed as surrender. Every election is marketed like the season finale of a show that somehow never gets canceled.
The Founders argued fiercely with one another, but they ultimately recognized a simple truth: a republic only functions when citizens and leaders are willing to place the health of the nation above factional interests.
That lesson feels increasingly relevant today.
America does not need a commander-in-chief who can divide people into ever-smaller tribes. It needs leaders capable of reminding us what we have in common. It needs leaders who can strengthen alliances, honor commitments, seek peace whenever possible, and use strength wisely when necessary.
Most importantly, it needs citizens willing to do the same.
As we begin our next quarter millennium, perhaps the question is not whether America can survive. It has already survived wars, depressions, political crises, and more bad congressional approval ratings than should be mathematically possible.
The real question is whether we can rediscover the spirit of cooperation that made the experiment work in the first place.
In future installments, I’ll take a closer look at specific issues, constitutional principles, and practical ways we might address some of the challenges facing the country.
Because if America made it 250 years, it deserves more than birthday cake and fireworks.
It deserves a serious conversation about the next 250.
And preferably one where nobody throws anything. 🇺🇸🎂
