ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Over 100,000 people from various Midwestern states explored the annual Dutch Orange City Tulip Festival on May 16-18. Attendees had different views on how America is doing and who should be elected president on Nov. 5.
Attendees beliefs ranged from the country’s state being all right to frustration at the rising cost of goods and services.
Brandon Rempfer, 19, is a Nebraskan welder who came to the festival to hang out with his friends. He is frustrated with the economy, the threats of inflation and increases in taxes.
To pay the bills, Rempfer makes sacrifices, going so far as to deprive himself of food. He has gone as long as a week without eating because he cannot afford groceries. He saves money and then buys in bulk to make his food last.
Living paycheck-to-paycheck, Rempfer wants U.S. politicians to lower taxes and increase the minimum wage, which is $12 per hour in Nebraska.
However, while he will probably vote for former President Donald Trump, he is not sure if he will even vote.
“It’s just one vote. In my opinion, I don’t think it makes a difference if I don’t vote with the whole state,” Rempfer said.
But Tom, 75, a retired Nebraskan, checking out the Tulip Festival for the first time, thinks that America’s state is “pretty good.”
“What’s wrong with it?” Tom said.
Tom’s main concern is illegal immigration. He does not have a problem with immigration but wants migrants to go through the legal process.
Furthermore, Tom favors funding the Ukrainian war.
Having no party preference, Tom will vote for “anybody but Trump” and wants Trump behind bars.
“He’s a crook. He’s a liar. He’s a rapist,” Tom said.
Randy Boone, 69, a retired man from Kansas City, Missouri, attended for the first time at the suggestion of a couple friends.
He believes that people do not get along anymore. Instead, Americans fight and hurt each other.
Boone says that America is different from his youth. People used to attend church weekly and read God’s Word, resulting in better character and morals. But America’s values have since changed.
He says that Americans previously called themselves a “godly country” but that the country’s godliness should reflect in how people live.
“I don’t think America cares much for God anymore,” Boone said.
According to Boone, the result of the culture’s furtherance from God is violence.
“We got kids getting shot in Kansas City. Kids never used to get shot,” Boone said.
As a Republican, Boone plans to vote for Trump if he does not get convicted of a crime. Otherwise, Boone thinks that Trump might be barred from running for office.
Boone believes that Trump has a better focus on the right direction for America and will support Israel, which Boone says is still an important “puzzle” in the world.
Ultimately, while politicians may play a part in improving America, Boone says that they are not the solution — only God. Therefore, politicians should pray and ask the Lord for wisdom.
“To me the only answer is God. I’m that biased. But I’m not sure America wants that answer,” Boone said.
