Letters to the editor - Thursday - Nov. 5, 2009

Wednesday, November 04, 2009 6:34 PM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Enough with 'good of the general public'

Each time our Federal government has extended its arm to provide for the "good of the general public," the public has suffered its consequences. Here are some classic examples.

1. On Oct. 17, 1979, President Jimmy Carter created a new cabinet post, Secretary of Education. The department began dangling large carrots to the states but with federal controls.

Even prior to this creation, education was already feeling the intrusion of the federal government in the states' responsibility to provide for education. Education has suffered badly, and we are now worse off than before.

2. The same Jimmy Carter in 1977 created the Department of Energy as a result of our dependence on foreign oil, etc. This department is now one of the largest employers in the government, and again, I find it difficult to find their successes.

Imagine 32 years and billions of dollars as a department, and we are still dependent on foreign oil.

3. Welfare and fraud are causing billions of dollars in losses because it is out of control. Again, in 1979, to protect the taxpayers' money, they "busted" the welfare department as it was and sent a big portion to Health and Human Services and the rest to other foci.

Again, they proceeded to take over a controlled state program to a wasteful federal program, where people are benefiting greatly from the lack of control because of the large numbers. Again, we created another large bureaucracy, too difficult to control.

Now our Illustrious, Omnipotent King Obama and fellow travelers Pelosi and Reid tell us that putting the federal government in the insurance business is the only way to go. They say it is really the best thing for our people, again the general good.

If it is so good, why doesn't the president and Congress get under this same umbrella????

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!"

Louis J. Karabatsos

— Granite Quarry

A way to help

John Andrew Holmes once wrote, "There is no exercise better for the heart, than reaching down and lifting people up."

Recently a Salisbury resident, Jonathan Goble, saw the need for the United Way of Rowan County to increase its treasury, given the status of the economy. He organized a golf tournament, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at McCanless Golf Club.

To date, we have not had a lot of sign-ups. The cost is but $50 apiece for a four-person captain's choice.

Why not come out on Saturday, have some fun and at the same time help the community we love and live in?

Even if you don't play golf, call Jonathan at 704-216-9159 and tell him you will volunteer to help him run the tournament. From experience I can guarantee you that volunteer help is needed at these events.

Golfers, call Jonathan at the same number to register; payment is not due until Saturday at 11 a.m. Tee off at noon.

To the merchants and manufacturers in the area, a special thank you for the items you have donated as prizes. As always, you have supported a worthy event. If we missed contacting you, give Jonathan a call.

A 10-year resident of Salisbury — from Missouri — I believe this is a nice place to live and that we should do all we can to ensure Salisbury continues on that path.

Jack Bilson

Salisbury