Mike Pompeo: On July 4, celebrate what makes America great

As a kid, I spent July 4th mostly in one of two places – at our home in Santa Ana, California, or, more often, on my Uncle Jim’s farm in Winfield, Kansas.

OK, it’s true. We mostly preferred Kansas because you literally got more bang for your buck.  Fireworks were way cheaper and, man, could you get big stuff that really blew up. When you’re 9 or 11 or 13 years old, well, does it get any better?    Our Founders created a Republic where we can worship and gather and celebrate our freedoms. The older cousins would teach us which ones made the most noise and which ones would drive Aunt Joan to tell us to be even more careful. I always got a kick out of walking out into the yard in front of the Conrod home the next morning and looking at the debris we needed to clean up. Simple. Fun. Family.