Don't miss chance to restore country
As a subscriber of the Daily Herald for years, I don't miss any comments in our Fencepost (my interest in other people's feelings.)
Here are my concerns:
A. The COLA increase for seniors in 2008.
B. Illegal aliens.
C. Daily donation requests for the needy.
D. The many donation requests by politicians.
A. The COLA increase of 2.3 percent 2008 is another way this administration is taking money away from older people to support the huge expenses for the war in Iraq, which is going to cost billions of dollars and many more U.S. casualties and Iraqi civilian deaths.
My wife's and my COLA is about $52 a month (total). The increase for Medicare for us is $28 a month (starting January). The medication plan D for my wife alone just went from $128 to $176 (three months medications). Fortunately I am not on medication or on Plan D yet!
Does this math make you wonder where this country's seniors are going to wind up?
B. Illegal aliens should not be given amnesty at any price -- no exceptions! If exceptions are made, the situation will get worse and English as our major language will be replaced. (I am an immigrant). Fines for any company hiring illegals should be imposed, with imprisonment for repeat offenders.
And don't buy the story that Americans don't want to do some of these jobs. Young people will do what we used to do, make a few dollars and work your way up.
C. Five to eight donation requests come in my mail every day. The minimum donation usually $7 and up. I have given donations over the years, but I cannot afford it anymore. Question to anyone -- How can I stop these requests/begging letters from reaching my mail box?
D. Donation requests by politicians come in an average of four to six every week. They usually ask for donations to help us fight:
1. Social Security privatization.
2. To save Medicare.
3. Illegal immigration, etc. etc.
Is it not funny that the voters elect those people to represent us in Washington and they need money to get things through in Congress?
If that's the case, the United States is in big trouble.
The voters of this once very well-respected country (1940-1999) have a chance to put it back to where it should be -- a leader of democracy and peace -- but we need to change our attitude in understanding other countries' interests and sometimes compromise. The way our present administration is going about it is derailing any such hope.
It took six-plus years to get to where we are today, but at the 2008 elections, we have a chance to show we still care as much for the world as we care for us. The legacy for our present leader could be summed in one word: zero.
William T. Schmocker
Des Plaines