DAC: Beyond Words When Will America Finally Take Action?

It’s time for us to get real, America. We’ve been hearing the same tired rhetoric for too long—words about justice, freedom, and leadership, but where’s the action? We’re at a breaking point, and no amount of speeches or promises will change the fact that when the storm comes—literally or figuratively—it’s the most vulnerable among us who get left behind. Let me break it down for you.
Right now, as Hurricane Milton barrels towards Florida, Manatee County Jail has decided they’re not evacuating 1,200 inmates. That’s right—1,200 people, stuck in harm’s way, with no way out. The officials are telling everyone else to evacuate, to get out while they can. But for these prisoners? It’s like they’re being sentenced to ride out the storm with no protection, no lifeline. What does that say about us as a country?
And this isn’t just a freak occurrence—it’s a pattern. Hurricane Katrina, remember that? Over 500 prisoners were “unaccounted for” after the storm passed. Unaccounted for? No, they weren’t unaccounted for—they were forgotten. Abandoned by a system that values punishment over people. Here we are, decades later, repeating the same mistakes. America, we’ve had enough words. We need more than talk, more than condolences. We need action.
Now, let’s talk about leadership. You see, real leaders don’t just show up when the cameras are rolling. Real leaders step up when it’s hard, when it’s inconvenient. They take action when it matters most. Let me give you an example. Right here in Rochester, we’ve got Cradle to Career, or C2C, showing us what real leadership looks like. They’re not just holding summits for the sake of it—they’re bringing together parents, educators, and even government officials to take real steps in breaking down barriers in education. It’s not just talk with them. It’s action. They’re in the trenches, fighting for the future of our kids, centering the voices of families and students to drive change.
That’s the kind of leadership we need more of in this country—leaders who don’t just give lip service to community and unity, but who actively make it happen. They don’t create division, they create solutions. But here’s the thing: a true leader isn’t afraid to call out injustice, to confront broken systems head-on, even when it’s tough. That’s what we need, America. We need leaders who will stop dancing around the problems and start fixing them.
Because the truth is, talk is cheap. It always has been. We’ve been hearing about freedom and justice since the founding of this country, but too often it’s been freedom for some and justice for a few. The real test of a nation’s leadership isn’t how they treat their wealthy or their powerful—it’s how they treat the least of us, the ones who have no voice, no power, no escape.
So while we watch this hurricane swirl toward Florida, and while 1,200 inmates are left to fend for themselves, we have to ask ourselves: When will we stop accepting words as enough? When will we demand more? Because let me tell you, if we don’t demand action, we’ll keep getting exactly what we have right now—a system that abandons people in their darkest hour.
Look, America first is more than just a slogan. It’s a mindset. It means putting our people—all our people—first. And that means action. We can’t just pat ourselves on the back when we hold a press conference. We can’t just tweet about injustice when it’s trending. We’ve got to step up, roll up our sleeves, and do the work.
Right now, as a country, we are failing that test. But that doesn’t mean we can’t turn things around. It’s going to take more than a summit. It’s going to take more than words. It’s going to take action at every level—local, state, national. From the leaders we elect to the grassroots efforts in our communities. We have to push for change that’s real, that’s tangible, and that makes a difference in the lives of people who’ve been forgotten for too long.
This episode of Da Urban Conservative isn’t just about bringing awareness. It’s a call to arms for action. Because America, we’ve talked long enough. It’s time to demand real solutions. It’s time to build a country where no one gets left behind, where leaders act with integrity and courage, and where justice isn’t just a word but a reality for everyone.
Stay tuned. Because this conversation isn’t over—it’s just beginning. And this time, we’re not just talking. We’re taking action.