Ponder what talking points really mean

Let's think about this: If you want Obama to fail, what you're really saying is that you want this country to fail for the four years of his term. You'd want more recession, joblessness, foreclosures, the war to go badly, etc.

If you want "small government" what you're really saying is that you want to pay less taxes and receive fewer benefits such as social security, Medicare, high quality public schools and libraries. You want less regulation of businesses and less protection for the consumer. You want control in the hands of those interested in making a profit, not in the hands of those interested in the welfare of the people of this country.

If you are against "Obamacare," you are really saying you don't believe private insurance companies need to be regulated. You are willing to put your health care decisions in the hands of companies driven by profit.

If you don't believe workers should be able to earn a pension, you're saying is that it's OK most people won't be able to afford to retire. If that happens, fewer jobs will be available to young adults entering the work force. Of course, companies are free to fire anyone who is older or making too much money.

What will happen to those people if Social Security is privatized or Medicare is eliminated, as suggested by some very vocal conservatives? Few people can save the $ 1 million experts suggest is needed to provide an adequate retirement, especially in these days of frozen salaries, more work for less and very low interest rates.

Before you buy into someone's talking points, think about what they really mean.

Linda Dickey

Lombard