The austerity measures proposed by Congress largely aim to cut Medicare, Medicaid and other helping programs. States’ budgets are being starved. Many of these same enthused folks who were putting money in the bucket would, in turn, be harmed by these policies. Where was the discussion about the many large corporations and very rich individuals that do not pay their fair share of taxes? Where was the discussion about our multiple wars in the Middle East? These budget cuts harm the common man and benefit the very rich. Our budget structure is revenue poor and disproportionately collects revenues from the middle and lower class. Let us all fully engage to create a society we all want to live in. I cannot support a plan to enrich the already rich at the expense of the ordinary working man and woman. Even ill-considered wars enrich many individual and corporations—a fact we cannot afford to ignore. A defunded local, state and federal government that exists primarily to wage war? That vision is mean and spare. “ Janet Hanson “Ruled by the Wealthy” – Peggy Hebert Letter to the Editor- Salina Journal- April 18, 2011 Christians were first identified by “how they loved one another,” by their care for widows, orphans and the marginalized in their communities. How can a nominally Christian nation so structure itself as to increase the hardship and numbers of those in poverty while fattening those in wealth?The present economic crisis is the result of the failure of the policies of the Bush administration which turned a budget well on its way to a surplus into a pile of rubble. The Obama administrating is expected to miraculously transform eight years of destruction virtually overnight with no economic resources other than increasing debt. When will Congress stop its political posturing and take seriously the plight of poor and middle class Americans (nearly all immigrants or descended from) o whose back this country was built and will be sustained? Or will we become increasing like the oppressive Middle East nations whose oil we covet, ruled by a wealthy few who are kept in power by a military industrial complex?
“Phelp’s Freedom of Speech” by Janet Hanson Letter to the Editor- Salina Journal
I am responding to Mr. Wetter’s claim that we should use the bad behavior of the Fred Phelps church family to limit free speech.
Phelp’s plan to get attention through any means, even bad behavior; is not new and is, in fact, favored by many toddlers. It works only when the desired result occurs; he gets attention. Unfortunately, we have a media and a populace hungry for the outrageous, the nonsubstantiative and the media gives Phelps the free media he craves. I betray my jealousy when I say that I wish the press were this diligent at communicating the concerns of Peace and Justice Representatives in the community when they march, protest or write letters to the editor.
Perhaps you will be happy to hear that more savvy organizations found ways to quell this time-honored way of letting other voices be heard. At the political conventions for the presidency, protesters were made to stand in fenced, designated sites, far way from where the delegates would enter the venue. This allows our politicians who already live in might rarified air,; to continue their fantasy that they represent the will of the people. This practice reflects a bona fide degradation of the right to peacefully protest.And this is the conundrum presented by Phelps, Larry Flynt and others. if we stand on the notion of free speech, which is generally accepted to include this type of gathering, then we have to listen to people we don’t like, don’t agree with, and in fact, are offended by; just as I am offended by Wetter’s suggestion that we should “annex Mexico and Central American countries. His suggestion describes an invasion and takeover of sovereign countries whose economic troubles were arguably magnified by our own policies.
