Letters from Linden
by JACK LINDEN
There seems to be a group of people in the United States who actually want the president and the Congress to fail. One of the entertainers has openly said that numerous times on radio. Even though when confronted with his statements, he has said that he does not mean for the president to fail, only his policies.
It is beyond rational people’s understanding why the entertainers have so many followers. Is there nothing in America that those who follow the entertainers like? Is America so bad that the only comments coming from some people are negative? Do these people really find the president, who was elected by an overwhelming number of Americans, so intolerable, that they wish him to fail and thus potentially bring down the economy of America?
There is no doubt that America is not in very good shape economically. We have borrowed too much, both at the governmental and personal level. Since we, or at least most of us, have borrowed too much to maintain the style of living to which we have become accustomed, shouldn’t we all try to help get us out of the hole we are in?
It is going to take some sacrificing on our part. Where do you want to start? Many of those who wish ill of the president demand that we keep a strong military. When the Secretary of the Defense announced that he was closing some redundant commands, the militarists screamed to the high heavens. Have those same people raised a question about why we should have a standing army in places like Germany, England, Japan, and dozens of other countries around the world? Could it be that some of them have not heeded the message of a Republican president some 50 years ago who warned us to beware of the military/industrial complex. Are we willing to reduce the defense budget? More importantly, have we asked the question – against whom are we defending?
Are those of the militant right willing to reduce the spending on the health care of their grandparents? What about the autistic child? If Social Security is going broke, are they willing to demand that those now receiving it have their income reduced?
Those federal highway dollars are merely pork according to those who are criticizing the size of government. Our highway system is deteriorating rapidly and most states are not even putting in the 10 percent that is required to get the federal money.
Can America continue to be a leader in the world without a superior transportation system? Look around the world at developed nations and compare their transportation system with ours. You will find that we are sorely lacking.
“We should abolish the Department of Education” is the campaign slogan of some of those who want to see the president fail. Where would the educational system be in many of the states without the federal assistance? Look at the cost of a university education. Where would it be without federal grants (Pell, e.g.)? From where would the research grants come?
Health care costs are growing at an astronomical rate yet there are those who do not want any form of federal laws concerning health care. If they don’t, then let us get rid of Medicare, VA health benefits, Medicaid, Congressional health insurance plans and all the other federal health benefits. Are they willing to end programs that affect miners and railroad employees? What about childhood immunization programs?
There are too many Americans who are going to suffer if this president or any president fails. For those who wish this president to fail, they are also wishing that America and Americans fail. They are not offering constructive criticism or alternatives to what is being offered. They are too busy criticizing the president, workers of America and doubting the patriotism and motives of a great many.
Those who are shouting the most will be the first to ask why the government let them down. They are also the ones who will be the first to blame the president for America’s failure. Just as they have let others fight their wars, they will find fault with someone else. Yes, they might want him to fail, just as long as it does not affect them.
