From "Smallville, USA"

Posted Thursday, August 25, 2011, at 10:36 PM

I didn't write this, but I certainly understand the guy who DID.

This was a "Letter to the Editor" in the small town of Tawas, Michigan........and was titled, "What Has America Become?"----------------

"Dear Editor-----

Has America become the "Land of the Special Interest" and the "Home of the Double Standard?"

Let's see: If we lie to the Congress, it's a felony, but when the Congress lies to US, it's "just politics." If we dislike a black person we're "racist", but if a black person dislikes whites, it's their 1st Amendment right.

The government spends MILLIONS to "rehabilitate" criminals, yet does almost nothing for the victims. In public schools, you can teach that homosexuality is ok, but you'd better not use the word "GOD" in the process.

You can kill an unborn child, but it's wrong to execute a mass murderer. We don't burn books in America....we "re-write" them. We got rid of the communist and socialist threat by renaming them "progressives."

We are unable to close our border with Mexico, but have no problem protecting the 38th Parallel in Korea. If you protest against President Obama's policies, you're a terrorist, but if you burned an American flag or an effigy of Bush or Palin, it was AGAIN, your 1sr Amendment right.

You can have pornography on television or on the internet, but you had BETTER NOT set up a "nativity scene" in a public park during Christmas. You can use a human fetus for medical research, but it's "inhumane" to use an animal.

We take money from those who work hard for it, and give to those who DON'T want to work at all, other countries, and those who are here illegally.

We all "support the Constitution", but only when the Constitution supports OUR political ideaology. We still have freedom of speech, but only if it is "politically correct."

Parenting has been replaced with Ritilan and video games. The "Land of opportunity" is now the "Land of handouts."

The similarity between Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf Oil Spill, is that neither President did anything to help.

And how do we handle a CRISIS today?........The government appoints a committee to determine who is at fault, then threatens them, passes a law, raises our taxes, tells us the problem is solved so they can all get back to their respective re-election campaigns.

What has happened to the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave?

Ken Huber, Tawas City

........I knew we weren't by ourselves out here.............

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For the most part I have to agree. Just a sad state of affairs that has to change.It takes work to parent and a lot just don't want to work.

-- Posted by arsenal on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 8:42 AM
Parenting is a thankless job at times. Especially as your kids get older. There is no guarantee on how your kids will turn out. You can only provide them with as many life-skills that you possess and pray them through the teen years and adulthood.

Most of us are having to factor in being a primary care-giver to our grandchildren. And they deserve everything that we can possibly give them to have a good life.

We made our own kids pay their way, by not automatically allowing them a driver's license just because they turned 16. They had to pay for driving school first. Consequently, both of them were well over 17 when they began to drive.

It is like a coin toss sometimes. You might have the brattiest kid on the block who grows up to be a nice and decent person. Or you have a model child who goes off the rails as soon as they turn 18. We cannot divorce our children. They may disappoint and hurt us, but the love that we continue to give them keeps the door open for future improvement.

The world has gone mad and a few of us sane ones are trying to keep from getting caught in the tornado's path.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 10:54 AM
Terry Reilly Health Clinics offer a free service that should be mandatory for all food stamp recipients. They take people to Winco and Walmart and teach them how to shop, how to meal plan, nutrition etc. Yes, chips, soda, pizzas, bottled water, candy, frozen dinners, you know, JUNK FOOD should be removed from eligibility on the card.

God knows I'm busy BUT it just isn't that darn hard to COOK! I almost never cook just for one night.

I can stretch $300 so far in the the store it amazes people.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 2:29 PM
jd, your wrong! I've been some of those things.

I don't have a problem with food stamps but, they are intended for FOOD. I don't doubt there are scams going on with motorized chairs, but then there have always been scams of one sort or another.

I am a firm believer in the following.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[note 1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Pay attention to the part about the general welfare.

Our forefathers instructed us that it was the obligation of all to provide for the lesser of us.

The things I mentioned are unhealthy! We pay enough to treat the consequences of obesity. To provide the public's money to buy items that contribute to obesity is INSANE. Do I buy those items? Sometimes. The difference? We are not obese and I pay for them with the money I earn from my JOB!

I remember very clearly to this day the days over 50 years ago when my Mother was raising her 3 kids by herself. She worked hard, but there were times food was in short supply. We were members of LDS and I remember the boxes and bags of food being delivered. Nothing fancy, but nutritional. And I remember going to the ward to contribute her labor in exchange for food. A good idea then and a good idea now.

Read some of my blogs and try and learn something about me before you attempt to pass judgement on me.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 6:37 PM
AMEN Mike!

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 6:38 PM
WE....have been here before and all our ideas made sense....I like several said the administrators bear much of the blame for abuse,there could also be as we stated before A FINE TUNING OF THE COMPUTER PROGRAMS TO ONLY ALLOW CERTAIN ITEMS TO BE BOUGHT.THAT IS FOR THE FOOD STAMP THING.To further enchance the quality control, qualifications should be reviewed frequently.First time hearing about the power chair fraud...that I can believe, given a way some people will fraud anything.We also have to understand that the poleticians dont want to stop welfare.They say they do, but try to stop it in there district and see what happens.

There should also be some form of work required if you dont have a job or are not looking,if disabled record of doctor visits to insure compliance.The drug test thing is not going as expected in florida so that may need to be looked at again a different way.

I am with ZOOK WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN FIRST HERE IN THE USA.ITS OK TO TEACH HOW TO FARM, IT IS NOT OK TO GIVE A FARM.....

-- Posted by lamont on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 7:38 PM
lamont, I would apply the same standard the LDS applies when it comes to the disabled. Almost everyone is capable of contributing something in return for what is given.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 7:46 PM
Here's your answer Send them to the Poor House

http://www.poorhousestory.com/history.htm

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 8:07 PM
MsM, who is the link for? I am aware of the poorhouses. That is in no way what I am suggesting.

Contributing could be as simple as going back to school if your a drop out, helping feed the homeless. You can't possibly believe that I'm heartless enough to endorse the poorhouse concept.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 8:17 PM
Well written.

-- Posted by skeeter on Sun, Aug 28, 2011, at 12:40 PM
50 million abortions and 15 trillion in debt. might be a little late for either ammendment.

-- Posted by skeeter on Mon, Aug 29, 2011, at 5:46 AM
Wow!

I am not sure if my remarks were posted out of context. But always think this.

So many of us were not planned and if that choice was available 50 or so years ago, would you be commenting on these blogs now?

There are many people wanting children and there many organizations willing to help unwed mothers. The crux of the matter is that the choice to be made should happen before sex not after.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Mon, Aug 29, 2011, at 2:16 PM
To anyone and everyone who cares to read this comment. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, each of us will face the repercussions or rewards for our actions on this tiny speck of dust in the universe, and no one on this speck of dust will be privy to it.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Tue, Aug 30, 2011, at 6:24 AM
Good debate. Not going to inject any more.

-- Posted by jessiemiller on Tue, Aug 30, 2011, at 10:52 AM

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