This is a Time of “Survival Mode” For Many Citizens

This column presents a conservative viewpoint about items of interest in our community and our lives. Focus is on items impacting your pocket book, your personal freedoms, and your rights. I hope you will read the column regularly and it occasionally influences your opinions and actions. Now, on to the subjects of the week:




National – Transportation Systems: The transportation system within the United States is broken. During the 1960’s and 1970’s our astute politicians allowed the lobbying influences of the airline companies to influence legislation which channeled the bulk of funding for transportation infrastructure into air transportation …at the expense of the railroad transportation industry. As a result of these decisions, we are today faced with a transportation crisis in our nation.

The sheer magnitude of the volume of travelers, combined with the fact that the air line system is very sensitive to disruptions and delays caused by suspected or real terrorism activities, and extreme weather conditions, has created a system which today is an expensive, horrific experience for the traveler. It is time for our politicians to face up to this situation, and to begin to develop a national transportation infrastructure which coordinates air travel with high speed rail networks which feed air hubs. In addition, two or three cross country high speed rail routes should be constructed. These types of projects will provide needed jobs and will solve a serious problem for the nation. This is much better than wasting taxpayer dollars on sidewalks to nowhere, standby generators, and studies on “irritated bowel syndrome”.

I blame years of inept, corrupt management decisions in Washington for this deplorable situation. Those who participated in our Government during that time should be held accountable. Also, those who are in power today and are doing nothing to correct the problem should be held accountable. So, the next time you are standing in an endless line at an airport, barefooted, trying to hold up your beltless pants, and waiting your turn to be patted down, sniffed, screened, and searched….blame a politician who is probably traveling somewhere in a government provided private jet.

National – Industry – Today our national industrial complex is suffering from over-regulation and an unfair import/export environment. During the past ten years the USA industrial output has declined from producing 34% of the world’s GNP to 22%. Meanwhile, China, India and several Asian nations have experienced dramatic gains. Our economy is suffering from the impact of a flawed political trade concept which unconditionally embraced the concepts of a global economy and free trade. These trade policies have been anything except free for the United States.

Again, the politicians in Washington who embraced these policies which “gave away” the jobs which we so desperately need at this time should be held accountable. It is time for them to be voted out of positions of authority and decision making.

National – Industry – To those thousands of unemployed and displaced auto workers in Michigan and the thousands of similarly suffering steel workers in Pennsylvania and Ohio (where the unemployment levels are 20-30%) …do you suppose your blind loyalty to unionization and the excessive greed it satiates could have anything to do with what has transpired in your industries? You are joining those union workers of Eastern Air Lines and thousands of other failed, unionized companies as victims of your own ignorance and greed. By the way….has the union you adored and loyally followed also gone out of business? Could it be possible they were really looking out for their own benefit while pretending to be looking out for yours?

National – “Government Gone Wild” – For the benefit of all citizens out there who are struggling to pay your electric bill, or have a credit card company harassing you every day, I want to make you aware of what is going on among the bureaucracies which thrive and multiply from your tax payments. The average federal worker now earns $31,000 a year more than workers in the private sector. When the recession started the Defense Department had 1,868 “crats” earning over $150,000 per year….now it has 10,100! Similarly, the Transportation Department had only one person earning $170,000, it now has 1,690 earning above $170,00/yr. Now, be sure and file your income taxes on time this year….they need it!

Local – Living Costs – Things seem to be getting crazier and crazier as local citizens attempt to survive in a world where it seems everything is working against the private citizen. Last month my FPU electric bill was $252.00….this month it was $774.00 and we have been wearing coats in the house and have kept the thermostat on 61 most of the time. Our Marianna water/sewage bill was $96.00 last month, this month it was $172.00, and we didn’t flush or bathe any more one month than the other. Meanwhile, my social security check remained unchanged. Our standard of living is declining, and we are helpless to do anything about it.

Local – Living Costs - The price for gasoline has been steadily rising, and is now once again approaching $3.00 per gallon. This is only adding to the strain on most family budgets. I believe the primary reason for this increase is the steadily weakening of the U.S. dollar which is occurring on the world market. As the dollar weakens, it takes more of them to buy a barrel of oil. This makes us all pay more for gasoline. Thus, the wild binge spending which has been underway in Washington is making us all suffer at the pump. If we want to “Get it Right”, it is time for us to seek new management.



Keeping my New Years Resolution.. “Say something nice each week”

● God bless those poor souls in Haiti. They already live in unbelievable poverty and pain, and now a severe earthquake has struck them. Please take part in any relief action you can. Haiti is a perfect example of the miseries corrupt and inept governments can heap upon its citizens.


“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” - Thomas Jefferson


Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.