Victor Davis Hasnon: Memorial Day, Civic Duty, and the Cost of Leadership

Political dysfunction in California, the collapse of communist regimes, the meaning of Memorial Day, and the importance of the citizen soldier all point back to the same question: what happens when leaders become detached from the people they govern? Cuba remains impoverished decades after revolution while political elites continue to prosper. California continues to struggle with homelessness, public disorder, and governance questions while national ambitions grow among its leadership. At the same time, debates over fairness, political incentives, and institutional trust continue to reshape public life. Memorial Day serves as a reminder that America’s military tradition was built around citizen soldiers, ordinary people who returned to the communities and institutions they defended. Strong societies depend not only on economic and military strength, but on civic responsibility, accountability, and citizens who remain invested in preserving what they inherit. WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now! https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Use code VICTOR at the check out and get 35% off your order at https://www.purehealthresearch.com/