Sadly, far too many politicians in Washington lack the courage to

“Sadly, far too many politicians in Washington lack the courage to do something to fix our problems. They are worried about the political implications of making the hard choices we so desperately need to cut spending and shrink government.” — thus spoke Matt Salmon, a statesman and servant of the people, lamenting the weakness that too often settles upon those who hold the reins of power. In his words rings not mere criticism, but a cry for courage, that ancient virtue without which no nation can endure. For he names a truth as old as governance itself — that the downfall of republics begins not with the sword of the enemy, but with the cowardice of their leaders, who place self-preservation above the public good.

Matt Salmon, who served his people in the halls of Congress, knew the temptations of power: the applause of the crowd, the comfort of compromise, the fear of loss. In this quote, he condemns not government itself, but the decay of virtue within it — a decay born of hesitation, of the refusal to act when action is difficult. The ancients would have called this the sickness of the soul, when men choose popularity over principle, safety over sacrifice. His words remind us that leadership without courage is no leadership at all, for it leaves a nation adrift, unable to face its storms.

The origin of his warning lies not merely in the politics of his time, but in the eternal pattern of human nature. In every age, those entrusted with authority have stood before the same test: whether to serve their own ambition or the greater good. To “cut spending” and “shrink government,” as Salmon declares, is not merely an economic challenge, but a moral one — the willingness to restrain power, to choose discipline over indulgence, to accept short-term pain for long-term health. These are the hard choices of which he speaks, the choices that demand courage when the easier path would be to promise plenty and delay the reckoning.

History abounds with examples of both courage and cowardice in leadership. Consider Marcus Cato, known as Cato the Younger, who stood against the corruption and excess of the late Roman Republic. When others sought comfort in the favor of Caesar, Cato chose principle over survival. He refused to yield to tyranny or compromise his integrity, even when it cost him his life. His defiance was not born of obstinacy but of devotion to the idea of liberty — that the power of government must be limited, lest it consume the very people it claims to serve. Cato’s courage stands as the opposite of what Salmon warns against: leaders afraid to act, enslaved not by dictators, but by their own ambition.

The fear of political consequence is a subtle poison. It disguises itself as prudence, whispering, “Wait a little longer; act when it is safe.” But while leaders hesitate, problems grow like unchecked weeds. To govern in such times requires the same bravery demanded of soldiers in battle — to step forward into risk for the sake of others. The courage to decide, to confront the truth even when it brings unpopularity, is the rarest and most sacred gift of leadership. Without it, reform becomes impossible, and the people lose faith not only in their rulers but in the idea of government itself.

Yet Salmon’s words are not only for politicians — they are a mirror for all who lead in any form. Whether one commands a nation, a household, or a heart, the same law applies: fear-driven choices lead to decay, but courage-driven choices lead to renewal. To face one’s responsibilities directly, to speak the truth though it costs you comfort — this is the mark of integrity. The shrinking of government, in Salmon’s vision, symbolizes something deeper: the shrinking of pride, the reduction of excess, the humility to govern wisely rather than indulgently.

Therefore, let this teaching be carried forward: that a nation, like a soul, must be pruned to grow strong. Luxury, waste, and cowardice weaken both men and empires. But when leaders act with courage and principle — when they dare to do what is right rather than what is easy — they plant the seeds of endurance. Citizens, too, share in this duty, for the character of a people shapes the character of its rulers. If the governed demand comfort above conscience, then comfort shall be their downfall. But if they honor virtue, they will raise leaders worthy of their trust.

And so, as Matt Salmon reminds us, the first step toward healing is courage — to face what is broken, to sacrifice convenience for truth, and to remember that greatness is not measured by wealth or power, but by the strength to do what is right when all others shrink away. Let every generation heed this call: govern yourselves first, that your leaders may learn to govern justly. For the courage to act — in politics, in life, in love — is the foundation upon which all freedom and all happiness are built.