Uncommon sense for needed cents
When my family needed additional finances, we always went out and worked more to earn more. I have memories of a period when my dad worked a full-time and two part-time jobs every day to make ends meet. He didnít try to sell off any of the kids and throw grandma out in the garbage.
The Republican agenda for the country amounts to selling off the children and quietly disposing of grandma in order to make the rich even richer. It makes no sense to cannibalize defenseless parts of our society in order to transfer more wealth to the wealthy. We are in this fiscal mess because we have fought wars without raising revenues to pay for them and because banks and Wall Street hoodwinked us as they gorged themselves on public and ill-gotten funds. A combination of careful scrutiny of politically earmarked public expenses and raising more revenues makes more common sense and moral sense than a political feeding frenzy on Medicare, Social Security and other safety net programs.
Yes, that means raising taxes proportionately on everybody who can afford it. That means that everyone, even the rich and businesses, will have to contribute their fair share for a change. If you need more money to eat you raise it ó you donít turn the kids and grandma into sausage. I fear the next step for Republicans is to push for Soylent Green.
ó Richard D. Sorensen
Salisbury
A wonderful way to honor a friend
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved and those who came out to support the Tyler Poole Memorial event last Saturday at Gold Hill Park. This wonderful event celebrated the life of my best friend Tyler. I know he would have been so grateful and honored by all his family and friends gathering still seven years after his death.
Last July, I was diagnosed with Hodgkinís lymphoma. After living 25 years of life thinking I was invincible, much like Tyler probably felt, I was immediately shocked and grounded back to a depressing reality that I had a potential life-threatening disease! Sadness and feeling sorry for myself eventually led to madness and hatred of the cancer.
Of course, I wondered why me? But then again, why would anyone have to get any type of terrible disease? I realized and saw that many people complain and get upset over nothing, little things that donít even matter once you just want to live and survive. I also saw that I was lucky and had so much to be thankful for compared to so many around the world. I wasnít always sure if Iíd be OK or not, but with only 13 days left of treatment, I feel a huge liberation ahead of me and know Iím gonna be fine.
Tyler, his father, Gary, and Brandon Sides saw this event as a chance to help me. All the vendors, events, contests and all those who came out and participated all helped raise money for me that day. I know Tyler would be so happy and grinning ear to ear to know that his memorial and celebration of his life were also helping me.
Thank you, everyone, for your support, generosity and love.
ó Travis Casper and family
Salisbury