This is going to be a serious column because I fear for our country. We're not the government "of the people, by the people and for the people." Our representatives are in it for themselves. They fight to get in and then stay in. Running for office takes money, so candidates accept large contributions and then are indebted to their supporters. It's the same in both parties!
I don't like some of the dictatorial tactics the Democrats are using and I hate the decision the Supreme Court made about making it legal for candidates to spend as much as they want. Let's look at the Supreme Court. When there is an opening in the Court, whoever is president fills the vacancy. In today's Supreme Court, five members were appointed by Republican presidents and four members were chosen by Democratic presidents. They can vote for whatever they please, but they tend to vote party lines. Are we going to stand by and let them destroy our country?
Now this week I received two articles from Florida in the St. Augustine Record.
Under Florida law, if only one party fields candidates in the primary, all voters can cast ballots regardless of party. Therefore, Randy Brunson has no affiliation and everybody can vote for him. Randy believes this move will help a conservative Republican win the seat. The other three opponents are all registered Republicans and only Republicans can vote for them. Look at the games they are playing. I wonder what would happen if we had no parties and just voted on the issue represented? We are so blinded by labels!
How do you feel when a member of your party says, "My goal is to keep the opposition from passing their proposals?" It doesn't even care if the goals are worthy or not! What kind of government is that?
We need a change. Think about it, talk about it, write about it - do something!
Now the other article scared me more. Read this carefully. Quote: "Nassau County Tea Party activists push to ban or alter public school textbooks in the name of what's 'right.'"
When political activists are going to decide what is history and what will be contained in our history books (which will teach our children), we are in trouble! And when they decide what's "right," will they be replacing the church?
They claim it wasn't until colonists claimed their land and worked themselves they went no where. This makes us a capitalists country. They claim our history books. They play down the influence of Christianity. All of a sudden I'm aware of the fact that I know nothing about who writes our textbooks (not the scientific ones which are factual) but all the others that deal with our thoughts. I assume these committees consist of teachers and administrators, but you know what they say about the word "assume." I want to know. Will someone in authority please let me and the public know the truth about who decides what goes into our textbooks? What will our children be indoctrinated with? Please, people, this situation is very serious!
We in the U.S. are in a most unusual position. We live in a democracy, but the church is not a democracy. God is the ultimate. How do we reconcile the two? What are morals? I certainly don't want schools to set moral standards. We would really lower our standards of morality. Is a textbook going to teach morals? Based on what? We could go on and on. This is scary! This topic should wake up families to pull together and teach their children what their lives should be. And they can't do this without the church. We need high standards to live by that will make us feel good and the people around us feel good. Maybe we can't control the textbooks, but we can be in charge of ourselves and our families! Will you accept the challenge?
This morning's mail brought me a letter with a clipping I had written to the editor over 10 years ago, and it's still true. Amazing. Listen to this: "How is the U.S. growing? 1) Our food lines are growing longer. 2) Our unemployment lines are growing longer. 3) The number of people without insurance is growing bigger. 4) Our national debt is growing bigger. 5) The people the world over are growing more suspicious of us daily. 6) Children in school are growing more disrespectful because teachers cannot discipline. Should we call these "growing pains?" I know they pain me.
"Is now the time to give the people who have the most, more? Will they throw the money back into our country or will they take it to other countries that have cheap labor and no taxes? This will not jump start the economy. They will just jump ship."
Isn't it amazing how these thoughts apply to today's economy? Only worse. It shows us we've got to change our courses!
Now I don't know who sent the letter because he or she put on my return address instead of theirs. I do thank you for the letter, and I'd like you to visit me.
Margaret Valone is a Fredonia resident. Send comments on this column to lifestyles@observertoday.com.
