Tail is wagging the dog

When dealing with contracts, the advice most people get is: Don’t sign anything without a lawyer present. In other words, you’re going to need a lawyer to interpret what another lawyer wrote.

This brings me to Jonathan Gruber, the M.I.T. professor who was one of the chief architects of Obamacare. When the bill was originally drafted, it was felt it wouldn’t pass because it sounded like a huge wealth transfer and tax increase. Mr. Gruber’s job was to make it more  passable,  to make the bill appear like something it wasn’t, but still keep it the same.

Needless to say, it succeeded and he’s been bragging about it and insulting us ever since. His newly crafted illusion passed Congress and was signed by the president. Opponents of the bill declared it unconstitutional and took their case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ruled against them, saying that the bill that was originally passed as not a tax was a tax, and because Congress can tax it was constitutional.

Once my head finally stopped spinning, I began to sense something wasn’t quite right. The tail is wagging the dog here, and the dog is us. We’ve been sold a bill of goods under false pretenses. That’s fraud, and fraud is a crime. To be able to throw these guys out of office every now and then just doesn’t seem harsh enough. Perhaps if we could hold them more accountable, we’d get a new breed of people seeking public office.

As for  the non-elected Mr. Gruber, I suggest a scarlet letter be tattooed on his forehead. He was right about American stupidity in one sense. It didn’t concern health care, though. It’s that we ever trusted these guys in the first place.

— Allan Gilmour

Salisbury

United  we stand

Family Crisis Council would not be in existence without the support of the United Way campaign run this time every year.

United Way is managed by you. More than 100 volunteers make up eight panels that decide how United Way dollars are spent in Rowan County. The allocation process allows these volunteers to serve as stewards of the community’s money. They visit each agency to observe the delivery of services, and analyze budgets to ensure that funds are being used efficiently. If you have not been involved as an agency that receives the funds, you really do not know what it means.

For many years I was involved in giving my fair share before even understanding what it really provided to the community. I gave because I was raised by parents who believed in helping others. If you were lucky enough to have food on your table and a roof over your head and a family that loved you, then it was your responsibility to share your time, talents and monetary gifts.

I am on the other side of that fence now, as executive director for the Family Crisis Council. Without United Way, the services that our 15 agencies provide would not be there for the many individuals that need them.

If you gave this year, thank you. If you did not, it is never too late to make your donation. For anyone who has questions about where the money is allocated, give me a call and I will personally share the story of United Way in Rowan County. Take the time to give.

Thank you again for your support. Godspeed to the agencies of the United Way and the services you provide. Thank you Bob, Jackie, and Melissa for your never-ending support and the guidance you provide to our community.

— Renee Bradshaw

Salisbury

The writer is executive director of Family Crisis Council.