By Blaine Davis Contributing Editor
As I peck away at my keyboard here on the “ranch,” it’s Veterans’ Day and my thoughts turn to my father, Dale Davis. Having been gone for nearly 14 years, he was a proud Army veteran of the Korean War. As a modest man, he did not often speak of his service. I do remember him describing the ride across the Pacific in a troop ship as a real “low-life” experience to the extent I can’t recall he ever stepped on to the deck of another boat in his life.
I can say his patriotism shone through as a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, voting in every election, driving only American-made automobiles and proudly carrying Smith and Wesson revolvers through his 25-year career in civilian law enforcement. His commitment to this “buy American” patriotism may best be paraphrased by, “Since 1852, Smith and Wesson has empowered Americans with the freedom, equality and security promised by the Declaration of Independence and guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. It is this sense of safety and security that frees us to pursue our goals and dreams, defines our future and fulfills the promise of America.”
With this parental influence, I found it easy and common sensible to follow in those footsteps of consumer choices. I have only driven American-made automobiles and often “turn the label over” on my purchases of everything from clothing to tools, to look for “made in America” and even shunning imported libations. I recently, with the assistance of my granddaughter, selected a new chapeau – an Australian Breezer, not from “Down Under” but made in my neighboring state of Missouri by a company with history dating back to the 1940s.
When I choose proteins, especially beef, I search for sources with a story I trust.
As I peruse the aisles of my local grocer, I can be caught reading labels for the origin of products, even though much of our fresh food as well as the processed are from American sources. But when I choose proteins, especially beef, I search for sources with a story I trust, whether its local purveyors at my farmer’s markets or nationally branded cuts. Recently, I have trusted one such, with a stop at the 6666 Ranch Supply House in Guthrie, Texas, purchasing a few of their USDA-graded steaks. Since this initial experience, I now opt for delivery to my door in freezer packs with the same great quality, as evidenced by a recent “self-boasting” backyard gastronomically successful cookout for my wife’s college girlfriends’ reunion at Port Aransas, Texas.
Nearly a week ago, what many describe as a pivotal election for the ages with definite mandates, a new wave of American patriotism is emerging. The new administration has tasked the return of American workers and products as a high priority, offering new consumer choices based on a mantra of “buy American.” Not discounting the economic benefits, I see this as even more crucial to our national security.
The day that President Biden signed an executive order to halt the Keystone Pipeline, it diverted the petroleum industry from that of United States-based to that of our enemies – Iran, Russia, Venezuela and others. Not only did this curtail good American jobs with a condescending attitude that 15,000 terminated pipeline welders just needed to lay down their torches and seek positions at computer keyboards, but it enriched the coffers of terrorist-sponsoring nations creating havoc in Europe and the Middle East, and drove the cost of our energy up. Accompanying these increased energy costs was inflation for all consumer goods, as we should all know that just the delivery of such comes through the diesel-fueled trucking industry.
Enduring the past four years with an administration wearing the blinders of a mule-team, quite apropos with their party’s symbol being a donkey or jackass, a new administration can only be welcoming, as evidenced by the financial markets’ response in one week. With a wish list of enhanced national and border security, safer streets and lower crime rates, stabilized energy costs, reduced grocery bills, interest rates receding and employment levels of pre-2020 and limited regulations, the new government has much on their agenda.
With the confidence of my vote and that of another 75,000,000-plus voters, the new administration will deliver the needed results and ensure the freedoms that my father and all of our veterans sacrificed for. Armed with this, I am seeking my granddaughter’s stylistic advice for a new winter “lid” – American-made to cover my earned graying coif, reminiscent of Guy Clark’s lyrics from Desperados Waiting for a Train – “… run his fingers through 70 years of living.”
