I’m sort of a news junkie. I try to read a couple of newspapers squeezed into breakfast and lunch, and I have a TV in the office that is always turned to a cable news channel. Today, all in the course of half an hour, I was embarrassed by the ranting conduct of an ex Vice President of America. The ACLU caused to be overturned a law that prevented convicted sex offenders from living next to schools. The wonderful 9th Circuit Court of Appeals staid the execution of a man convicted of multiple homicides, with the public support and urging of Richard Dreyfus, Shawn Penn, Denzel Washington, and Janeane Garofalo. With the exception of Al Gore’s speech, all actions in opposition to the laws of the applicable states and the will of the people. All legislation from the bench. All sponsored by the most privileged segment of our society. I started thinking about my young grandchildren, the failing public school system and the decline in the substance of this country, and I wondered what in the world would ever put things back on track. I couldn’t think of anything.
I am a conservative, but apparently not the same type of “conservative” that is tossed around these days. I thought the Republican Party might change its name to the Corporate Welfare Party, bent on providing cheap labor, low taxes and public tax funding for those that can’t turn a profit. I’m not a free trader; everything goes out and so little comes back. And while I am all for corporations hiring those who are economically disadvantaged, I am not for an illegal alien workforce whose heath care and education is paid for not by the companies that hire them, but the tax payers who pick up the tab at local emergency rooms and public schools. These days, when I call a customer service number and find myself speaking to someone in India, I keep in mind the Americans put out of work in customer service, accounting and sales departments, then I hang up the phone and make it a point never to buy product from that company again. It’s my neighbors and friends they are hurting, all for the purpose of saving money that will end up being used to buy yet another extravagant home for some CEO of a publicly traded company.
I’m not a Democrat. I’ve met a lot of heroes in my life, better men and women than me, but I’ve never known one who wore their medals on their chest in public, or wrote books to celebrate themselves. I don’t believe in socialism, I earn what I make and I’d like to keep the few extra pennies I save to pass along to members of my family so their future might be a bit easier. I think no one should be allowed the use of public accommodations without making some contribution, so matter how small, and I don’t mind paying my “fair share” as long as it isn’t a corrupt politician making the judgment as to the amount, and using my income to buy votes. Still, I have to remind myself things aren’t all bad, and that means there is always hope.
I work with my grown children; grown men with wonderful families and I am so proud of them all. I get to see my wife of 36 years several times each day; we have lunch together and spend evenings together and I don’t have to travel like I did in the past. I have good friends, no a lot of them, but the ones I have are truly special people. For these things I am very fortunate and thankful.
When I wrote the last .30-30 WCF article, I went to the range with my wife and eldest son. I picked on him quite a bit, like most Dad’s do when they love their children, and my wife practiced great patience as I plodded through a day of shooting and data collection. It’s good to be part of a family, its good to be able to look around and see examples of so many good things, when the news spews only bad. I hope something good comes out of this marathon run for the White House – I hope things change for the better.
Thanks
Joe
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