As Republicans, we were excited when the Catholic Church elected an American pope. America is the greatest country in the history of the world, and it was absurd that it took 250 years for one of our own to finally be put in charge of the Holy See. Unfortunately, it turns out that Pope Leo XIV is the wrong kind of American—a woke liberal who denounces things like “violence” and “wiping out entire civilizations.” There’s no better evidence of Pope Leo’s liberal failings than Vatican City. Like all Blue cities, it’s overrun with crime. Looking for the perfect Graduation gift? Perhaps you’d enjoy this gorgeous deluxe boxed set of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass. Shockingly affordable!
The Vatican is in desperate need of criminal justice reform. As of today, any criminal can walk into the Vatican, confess to any crime, immediately be forgiven, and walk out with zero consequences. Any punitive measures are extremely lenient and amount to verbal commitments to pray a few “Hail Marys” or “Our Fathers,” or, at best, the Rosary. In what can only be described as leftist wish fulfillment, there appear to be no prisons in the Vatican, and the only law enforcement agency is the Swiss Guard, who look more like court jesters than a police force.
President Trump, on the other hand, understands that criminals should have to pay for their crimes. That is why he has established a process that forces criminals to pay upwards of $1 million to receive a presidential pardon.
It should come as no surprise that the Vatican’s soft-on-crime policies have resulted in a massive immigration problem. Thanks to its porous border with Italy, millions of migrants from around the world flock to the Vatican every year. In fact, even the year-round population of the Vatican seems to be entirely made up of immigrants, as its birth rate is virtually zero. With the entire city-state being run by immigrants, it’s no wonder the Vatican is a sanctuary city home to St. Peter’s Basilica—one of the largest sanctuaries on Earth.
In the world of truck customization, there is a common rite of passage: buying a half-ton pickup and immediately installing a six-inch lift to accommodate a set of 35-inch tires. I’ve been there myself with my old rig, “Big Red.” While the aesthetic is undeniable, the reality of living with a heavily modified half-ton rarely lives up to the fantasy. If you crave height, capability, and reliability, the truth is simple: stop trying to make a half-ton something it isn’t and just buy a Heavy Duty (HD) truck.
The primary argument for the HD platform—whether it’s a Ford Super Duty, a Ram 2500, or a Silverado HD—is factory engineering. To fit 35-inch tires on a half-ton, you generally need a massive lift kit that stresses the vehicle’s geometry. These kits often lead to premature wear on ball joints and bushings while significantly degrading ride quality. Conversely, most HD trucks can run 35s natively or with minimal adjustment. Many models, such as the Ford Tremor, even offer 35s as a factory option. Because these trucks are engineered from the ground up to handle large diameters, you maintain a calibrated speedometer, proper suspension geometry, and the peace of mind that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty.
Furthermore, the mechanical simplicity of an HD truck is a major advantage for those who actually use their vehicles. While half-tons rely on Independent Front Suspension (IFS) with complex CV joints, trucks like the Ford Super Duty utilize a solid straight front axle. While you still have U-joints to maintain, a straight axle is inherently more robust and nearly impossible to knock out of alignment under normal conditions. You trade a bit of IFS ground clearance for a driveline that is built to endure.
