The Lessons from ‘The Lord of the Rings’
Many Americans are likely familiar with Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, *The Lord of the Rings.* Likewise, numerous readers have delved into J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. Some might even recite entire passages and analyze Tolkien’s intentional nods to Christ’s life and the grim realities of war.
It seems possible that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) fall into that category. If you don’t, maybe it’s time to do so.
The GOP’s approach shouldn’t be “let’s use the power we have now and leave the next guy to manage it.”
Early in the tale, there’s a pivotal scene where the council discusses the fate of the ring—the ultimate source of power. Boromir suggests a hazardous idea, revealing the perennial danger of humanity’s fallibility: “Let Gondor take the weapons of its foes and turn them against them.”
Aragorn counters with two timely statements underscored by humility: “You cannot wield it. None of us can.” This wisdom resonates now, as Republicans maintain the majority.
Avoid dismantling and borrowing power.
Many supporters of former President Trump desire bold action from Congress. But there’s something even more essential at stake. It suggests that Republicans aim to curtail the federal government’s power while they still can. If they decline, Democrats will undoubtedly seize that power and wield it without hesitation. Not in the distant future, but immediately.
If you think it’s hyperbole to label Democrats as adversaries or to warn against imminent disaster, consider a recent statement from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He shared a video where White House Counsel Stephen Miller remarked, “Donald Trump will be out long before the five-year statute of limitations runs out. We’re notifying you.”
Jeffries didn’t claim any wrongdoing. No specifics were offered, nor was there any factual basis presented. Just a hint of retribution: “We can.”
What Republicans seem to overlook is that the authority of the federal government is not neutral. It exists to be utilized. If left unchallenged, someone will inevitably exercise that power. Progressives have indicated their intentions for it.
The reality is stark: no one can safely manage such power—not Republicans nor any governmental body. Taking up arms and merely pledging better governance isn’t the answer. It’s imperative to dismantle that capability altogether.
Fraud’s Bright Spotlight
Let’s discuss the basics, like fraud.
Witness the unraveling of the Somali daycare scandal in Minnesota, which involved billions in misappropriated tax funds. This incident grew so significant that it jeopardized Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz’s chances for re-election. Nevertheless, the government didn’t clarify much.
The Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of Management and Budget, the Oversight Committees in both Houses, the IRS, and the Small Business Administration—none addressed this adequately. An entire workforce of federal employees tasked with oversight failed to intervene effectively.
This highlights the glaring flaw in the system. Despite immense power, the government remained inert.
A 23-year-old with a camera unearthed the scandal. If agencies can ignore fraud of this scale, it’s worth pondering what else could be overlooked.
Fraud permeates the system. Experts estimate it to be around $500 billion—about 7% of the $6.8 trillion federal budget, a figure still affected by COVID-era spending. Back in 2019, total spending reached $4.45 trillion. Why doesn’t it reflect normality again?
Money equates to power. And, much like Boromir, too many desire to harness it.
Ethics Aren’t Sufficient
Energy policy highlights similar temptations.
My nonprofit, Power the Future, has urged House and Senate committees and Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Biden’s Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm. As the Biden administration draws to a close, Granholm is slated to allocate more than $100 billion in green energy subsidies than have been dispensed in the previous 15 years combined. Many beneficiaries of these funds have previously supported her political campaigns.
Federal funding for green initiatives has been funneled through the misleadingly named Inflation Control Act. $60 billion is earmarked under the amorphous label of “environmental justice,” which lacks a clear definition. The Biden administration boasts about investing $1 trillion in “going green,” a figure Vice President Kamala Harris cited in a speech amidst discussions for the 2024 election.
The structure remains untouched.
Current Energy Secretary Chris Wright could still allocate billions to personal projects—his ethics are commendable; we ought to appreciate that. However, relying on an individual’s ethics isn’t a viable governance model.
The next Secretary might be worse than Granholm, and if there is any power left, it will surely be exploited.
Clearing the Armory
Much like in Tolkien’s tale, adversaries aren’t passive. They plot, they prepare. They’re gathering an arsenal of lawyers, activists, operatives, and bureaucrats. They are constructing a system that will transcend any election. Once they gain traction, they won’t reverse course. They plan for a comeback.
Republicans must strategize, but the approach cannot be “let’s wield federal power while it’s ours, then leave it for the next.”
No single party can dominate Washington indefinitely. When conservatives lose influence, they must ensure the left takes over a diminished federal apparatus. The federal government should be weaker and less encumbered, stripped of tools that currently serve as political weapons.
Thus, Congressional Republicans have a duty to exert every effort… to dismantle the “ring.”
The founders of this nation anticipated a limited federal government for precisely this reason. As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, Congress should act as if it recognizes the risks of centralizing authority. If Republicans persist in keeping this structure intact, regret will follow. Even if the ring finds a new bearer, it won’t spare those who previously held it.
