COMMENTARY: What made America strong didn’t come from Washington

By Phil Bell InsideSources.com July 18, 2026 - 9:00 pm As Americans celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, it’s worth remembering that what made America strong didn’t come from Washington. It came from Americans. Long before Washington debated the size and scope of government, citizens were building churches, charities, civic organizations, schools, hospitals and philanthropic institutions that strengthened communities from the ground up. They saw needs, organized their neighbors, raised private support and built institutions that often outlasted governments. That tradition didn’t simply complement government; it became one of America’s greatest competitive advantages. Today, however, Congress is debating tax policy with far too little attention to how those decisions affect the institu