Some weeks in politics feel like a three-ring circus, and lately the lions, clowns, and tightrope walkers have all shown up at once. On one side of the world, we’ve got a draft peace plan for Ukraine that asks them to hand over territory to Russia like it’s a neighborhood potluck. On the other side of the Atlantic, Congress is busy passing a resolution condemning socialism after New York City elects a self-proclaimed socialist mayor. Two different issues, sure, but both point to something deeper: the struggle to balance peace, principle, and plain old common sense.

Let’s start with Ukraine. The Associated Press reports that President Trump’s administration has floated a peace plan that would have Ukraine cede land to Russia. Now, I’m all for peace. As Scripture puts it, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). But blessed are the smart peacemakers too, because a “peace” that rewards invasion is the sort of deal that belongs in the bargain bin at a failing dollar store.

Telling a nation fighting for its survival to hand over territory feels less like a peace plan and more like saying, “Good news, everyone! The bully gets your lunch money, but at least he’ll stop punching you… for now.” That’s not how you defend sovereignty, support allies, or keep future aggressors from getting creative ideas. And as a conservative, I believe deeply in sovereignty: ours, Ukraine’s, everyone’s. You don’t maintain a stable world by normalizing land-grabs.

Meanwhile back home, Congress passed a bipartisan resolution condemning socialism after Zohran Mamdani—a democratic socialist—won the New York mayoral race. Eighty-six Democrats joined Republicans in saying, “Maybe socialism isn’t the best idea.” A rare moment of political clarity! Miracles still happen, folks.

Now, listen, I’m no fan of socialism. History shows it loves promising free stuff while quietly emptying your wallet and your pantry. But we’ve also got to avoid throwing every policy we don’t like into the “socialism” bucket. If everything is socialism, then nothing is. Precision matters, and conservatives should be the ones insisting on it.

What bothers me in both stories is how quickly America swings between overreaction and underreaction. With Ukraine, some are too eager to give away someone else’s territory for the appearance of peace. With the socialism debate, others are too eager to shout labels without engaging the real problems driving voters toward candidates like Mamdani: housing costs, transit failures, neighborhoods folks can’t afford to live in anymore. If we don’t address people’s pain, someone offering utopian freebies will.

The Bible also reminds us, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom” (Proverbs 4:7). Wisdom means standing firm on non-negotiables—like sovereignty, freedom, and economic sanity—while honestly confronting the issues people face, both at home and abroad.

If America wants to promote peace, it must be just peace, not appeasement. And if America wants to push back against socialism, it must offer better solutions, not just louder slogans.

In short: peace is good, principles are essential, and political amnesia is dangerous. We can walk and chew gum at the same time. And if we can’t? Well, maybe Congress should pause the symbolic resolutions and start handing out minty-fresh memory supplements.