Yesterday, I found myself face down in the mud—literally. I had rushed outside to confront a group of men cutting down trees on my property. They claimed they were working on a neighbor's trees, but I knew better. These were my trees, and they had no authorization to be there. Just two years ago, a similar crew came through, taking down 30 of our trees under the guise of easement clearing, even though such maintenance is supposed to occur every four years. Their compensation? A mere $100 certificate for a single establishment.​

When I confronted them, they shifted their story, suggesting I had requested the previous tree removal—a blatant lie. In truth, a neighbor had seen them working nearby and decided to have them trim my trees, ones he felt encroached on his property line. No permission, no discussion, just action.​

Lying there in the mud, I felt a surge of frustration—not just at the violation of my property, but at the ease with which truth was twisted. It made me think: if such deceit can happen so casually on a small scale, what about on a national level?​

Recently, concerns have arisen about potential insider trading within our government. For instance, House Democrats have urged the SEC to investigate possible insider trading linked to shifting tariff policies. A particular incident involved a social media post recommending the purchase of a specific stock, which then surged following a policy announcement. Such actions raise questions about the integrity of those in power and the systems meant to hold them accountable. ​

This isn't just about politics; it's about trust. Trust that our leaders act in the nation's best interest, not personal gain. The STOCK Act was designed to prevent such conflicts, prohibiting members of Congress from using nonpublic information for personal benefit. ​

Yet, enforcement remains a challenge. Without transparency and accountability, the very foundation of our democracy is at risk.​

My muddy encounter was a stark reminder that confronting wrongdoing, no matter how uncomfortable, is necessary. As citizens, we must demand integrity, challenge deceit, and hold our leaders to the standards they set.