Mortgaging our grandkids’ future
Some are yet to be born; others barely know us; maybe a few know what is happening to their yet-to-be earned money.
We adult Americans, young and old, have gotten our country’s economy in such dire straits that even the most conservative of us realize drastic measures are needed to rectify three decades of buying “wants” vs. “needs,” wanton greed and mortgaging the future to satisfy our selfish “now gratification.”
Now, our bankrupt government plants to inject $1 trillion into programs creating several million jobs to provide our economy the transfusion it needs to get well. Next year the economy will get another $1 trillion transfusion to continue the same. How long such transfusions will continue no one is saying. The hope is that these transfusions will work. That is my hope, also; but I was taught that hope it not a method.
One of the major reasons I ran for Congress was to solve problems with hard work, not hope. Another reason was to address our national debt, which is currently above $10 trillion and will surely grow by at least $1 trillion a year for a few more years. Too few voters cared.
As an older adult, I do not have to worry about the national debt, but my five grandsons do, and right now they are only worried about a little homework, cartoons, “bots” and pacifiers. Shame on us for living off money to be earned years from now!Were I in Congress, I would be screaming bloody murder that these economic transfusions must provide jobs for legal citizens and yield permanent, real infrastructure enhancements that support longterm economic growth. And lastly, that the money borrowed for them be paid back by President-elect Obama’s generation, not that of our grandchildren.
ó Ty Cobb Jr.
Rockwell
Unions aren’t destroying jobs
Regarding Bill Rainey’s Jan. 15 letter about jobs and unions:
I’ve spent 40 years in the work force, as a union and non-union worker, and the word “union” does not mean greed. Also, a wage 30 percent above an $8 or $10 an hour job would not seem to be devastating to any employer, in my opinion.
Union representation can give workers the right to speak when conditions are unsafe, or when the employee’s health is at issue.
As for jobs sent to other countries, NAFTA could be partly to blame.
I do not believe the closing of industries in this area is caused by the wage demands of their workers.
ó Truman Davis
Salisbury
Protecting life and humanity
Barack Obama has promised to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) if Congress passes it into law. FOCA is the next sad chapter in the book of abortion. If it is made law, virtually all limitations on abortion will be lifted, which will result in the following: 1. All hospitals would be expected to perform abortions upon request. 2. Partial-birth abortions would be legal and have no limitations. 3. All U.S. taxpayers would be funding abortions. 4. Parental notifications would no longer be required. 5. The number of abortions could increase by as many as 100,000 annually.
Perhaps most importantly, the government would then have control in the issue of abortion. This could result in a future amendment that would force women by law to have abortions in certain situations (Down’s syndrome babies, for instance) and could even regulate how many children a woman is allowed to have.
The economy has seemingly overshadowed other issues of national importance. Let us wake up to the truth that there are other even more important issues dealing with the life and death of our unborn children. Starting with lack of respect for human life and continuing with greed and a false believe of self-importance, the failure to adhere to moral values leads to problems in all areas of our lives and society in general. One step leads to another in the general decay of our society.
We must pray and speak up. Shame on our leadership and us individually and collectively who claim to believe in God and his commandments. We cannot allow this to become law when we know that it will lead to the further demise of our humanity and moral values.
ó Barbara Franklin
Salisbury
More laws won’t solve the problem
In response to the Jan. 15 letter “Help the animals”:
Rowan County’s ordinance, “Sec. 5-36. Restraint of non-vicious animals,” is a very thorough and well written piece of legislation. If this, along with cruelty and neglect laws already on the books, had full compliance, there would be no animal control issues in Rowan County. Passing more laws will not work. Those who already fail to comply with the existing ordinance will not comply with new ones.
Any new legislation should be carefully considered, as every bit of legislation that is passed further removes and restricts citizens’ rights and privileges. In the case of more stringent animal-control legislation, those affected most would be responsible law-abiding animal owners.
In the current economic climate, it would be irresponsible of our legislators to ask more of already overburdened Animal Control workers. It also shows little regard for the Animal Control workers’ health and good judgment to consider the proposed humane euthanasia bill. This legislation would require each feral cat or vicious dog to be personally handled and given a lethal injection. These animals are dangerous and possibly rabid. No Animal Control officer should be asked to take that sort of risk with his or her own life.
Change is happening. Despite skewed statistics spouted by animal rights groups, the rate of euthanasia of shelter animals in North Carolina is decreasing. Objective research points to education as the most effective way to approach this issue. Perhaps if “Concerned Citizens for Animals” really wants to make a difference, they should reach out to the community with educational programs and raise funds for low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter programs.
You cannot legislate ethics or intelligence!
ó E.P. Ratledge
SpencerThanks for paying our restaurant tab
On Saturday, Jan. 10, my wife and I were eating supper at Hendrix Barbecue off U.S. 70. When we started to pay our bill, the waitress said the young man sitting across from us had just paid his bill and ours and had left. No one knew his name.
We were very inspired by this and want to thank him. We also plan to do the same (pay the bill) for another couple in the near future.
We hope others might read this and agree that there are good young people who care for others even in today’s troubled times.
Let’s hope all of us can take a few minutes and do something nice for others.
Thank you again for your kindness.
ó Jimmie and Dianna Harwood
Salisbury