Politics 2010 and beyond

One of the most cherished privileges that we have as Americans will be upon us Tuesday. For one, I look forward to voting but will be glad when the political season is over so we don’t have to hear the worthless negative ads over and over.

None of the candidates running for national office has put forward any ideas to address our crushing national debt, mainly fueled by entitlements and defense spending. I certainly do not know the answers, but let’s consider a few:

* Term limits: Maybe then lawmakers will be more interested in working than re-election.

* Raising the age for Social Security entitlements.

* Means testing for those fortunate enough to have secured their own retirement.

* Subjecting all income to FICA.

* Rationing health care when treatment is futile; more use of hospice care.

* Active debate before making war.

Some or none of these may be worth considering, but let us begin the discussion and stop procrastinating. We owe it to our children and grandchildren. Please vote, then let us hold the victors accountable. All can be fixed if we have the courage to face our problems.

Larry Davis, Waco

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If you did not read the Sept. 4 Tribune-Herald , you missed an important and very well-written Page One story about the renovation and rehabilitation of the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. It described actions being taken to upgrade our local medical center for veterans. It informed us about five construction projects, including creation of a Center for Excellence on Returning War Veterans; a building housing the acute psychiatry program; reconfiguring a building to house the blind rehabilitation center; and a community living center. The fifth is the construction of a new laundry facility that will serve Waco, Temple, Dallas, Bonham and Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood.

This is just one example of the achievements pursued by U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards. They’re far more than the usual work of your everyday, ordinary congressman. When you think of Edwards, think of veterans who served in World War II. (Yes, many still live.) Think of our veterans from Korea and Vietnam. Think of the thousands of youngsters today who have died and the multiple thousands whose bodies and minds have been ramshackled from two simultaneous wars.

I say this not only for veterans who are disabled but their spouses, children and relatives. I say this for the widows and widowers who have lost loved ones, and their families and friends.

We veterans must lead the way to the pollsTuesday and ensure that Edwards returns to Congress.

Robert M. King, Waco

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“When government fears the people there is liberty; when the people fear the government there is tyranny.”

— Thomas Jefferson

United States laws require that voters must be legal citizens, but when the issue arises for proof of citizenship, the far left screams discrimination.

Our Congress passes laws requiring ethanol-blended fuel, which most tests and studies have shown produces more pollution, decreases gas mileage and costs more to produce. Then lawmakers turn around and pass legislation requiring automakers to produce cars that get better mileage.

A poll of registered voters in California shows that only 8 percent believe our government is headed in the right direction. Yet more than 60 percent said they would continue to vote for their current Democratic representatives.

Lawmakers in both houses of Congress should be limited to two terms. They need to get back in the real world and live under the laws and rules they pass for the rest of us.

How long will it take for people to wake up and take their country back?

G.R. Harper, Waco

Motivate thyself

On Oct. 9, Michael Jones wrote an interesting letter to the editor partly regarding the American Dream. He only left out one significant trait needed to achieve this nationally attainable goal — self-motivation.

My family is fifth-generation American, with our progenitor having emigrated from the Cologne, Germany, area in 1873. Finally, a full generation of descendants has graduated from college with a four-year degree.

We are all very different in every aspect of life, yet we share our ancestry’s most valuable gift — self-motivation. All of us had unequal circumstances but presumably possessed one common dream and the will to make it happen.

Jones and others should not await the alms of a few to help jump-start their own dream. The independent will lies within.

Pete Micus, Lorena

Sizing up Cal Thomas

In the Oct. 25 Tribune-Herald , well-known columnist Cal Thomas tells us of whom the president reminds him. Well, I’d like to tell Thomas of whom he reminds me. He reminds me of all those proud Republican administration officials who won’t admit to all their failed policies and what they did and what they’re still doing to our country.

Thomas says the American people are not ignorant. We sure aren’t. We’ll never forget what the eight years of the last Republican administration did to us at home and abroad. We’re going to be paying for that for a long time. It’s not about to be repaired in just two years.

Please, let’s not listen again so soon to those who almost did this nation in. They may be on a different horse now, but they’re the same riders.

By the way, I’m an independent. I didn’t vote for John McCain or Barack Obama in the last election. But I did vote.

Joe Bob Boyd, Whitney