Stimulus money wasted

I read a shocking article on President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill that said we spent $300,000 to study the effects of drinking malt liquor and smoking marijuana. We spent $3.4 million on a wine-tasting train in Napa Valley and we spent $3.4 million to build a tunnel for frogs to cross a road in Florida. We also spent $500,000 to study the effects of alcohol on mice and on the effects of alcohol on ants!

The American people need to wake up and realize that this is nothing more than a giant transfer of wealth to the so-called elite. Every budget and every bill that is passed is loaded with similar outrageous earmarks. And it needs to stop.

Here’s an idea for Obama: Take the $500 billion in re-paid TARP money and $500 billion in unspent stimulus money and pay off all the debt we owe to China, which is approximately $780 billion on which we are paying 6.85 percent interest.

Of course, this would eliminate the Democratic slush fund for elections. But there would still be $220 billion to create a “Real Jobs Bill” using the GOP-proven ideas.

Then President Obama needs to go line by line and cut that bloated pork-lined budget in half. He promised as much.

Butch Miller

Robinson

Pay raise an issue at election time

Another election season is here, and this is one I’ve been waiting for. Several years ago, McLennan County commissioners gave themselves a pay raise. While most of us are struggling to get by without raises — and I suspect some of us on pay cuts — these guys laughed all the way to the bank.

At the time of the raise, all we citizens could do was write letters to the newspaper complaining. Now we can do something that will show them that our memories are not short. There’s only one up for re-election with opposition — and one of those opposing him will get my vote.

Michael James

Waco

Getting back to God

I attended church at the First Baptist Church of Mexia on Valentine’s Day where Pastor Marcus Sheffield brought a stirring message that I wish every American citizen could have heard. It related to everyone living in this great country. He discussed the deterioration of this country and how deep we are in debt. He also talked about how far our country has lost contact with God. We have become a nation that makes its own decision without consulting or praying for guidance.

So much of our Christian faith has been removed from our country. As a school girl, I remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. I think we were more concerned for our faith then than we are today.

Our nation desperately needs to get back  and look to God, not our government, for guidance. Our government is suppose to serve the citizens, not rule them. We, as American Christians, should ask ourselves whether we want to continue to serve the government of our country or do we want to serve our great creator?

 Maudie Sunday

 Mexia

Senator’s resignation

I could not help but give a sigh of disgust after hearing that U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., had decided to step down. I was even more disgusted to hear Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele’s response. Steele’s reaction was the poster-child response to the very reasons Bayh stated for his decision not to run — because of so much partisanship in Washington.

Unfortunately, Steele chose to see it as a purely political decision. It’s just possible Bayh is telling the truth and that he is just as sick as most of us are over the pettiness that has come to personify both of our political parties. Let’s follow Bayh’s advice and clean house come election time.

Michael Parrish

China Spring

Don’t make vitamins illegal

I am completely against the Food Supplement Criminalization Act, which would outlaw a multitude of vitamins and supplements. This sort of government control makes me ill. I do not want my government telling me that I can’t take harmless vitamins and supplements. This act is all about money and nothing more.

Whatever happened to honesty, integrity, family and freedom? Our democracy is slipping away. Our government is turning its back on the working people of this nation in favor of big business.

Debra Austin

Waco

Enjoying new Trib column

Kudos to the Trib for adding the column written by Dr. Michael Attas each Tuesday. I am an avid writer, and I am enjoying each installment that he writes. This column is not copy filler but is filled with interesting information that is enlightening, encouraging and enjoyable.

Jim Fitzhugh

McGregor

Peanuts cartoon was ‘heartless’

I was shocked by the Peanuts cartoon that ran on Valentine’s Day, which was supposed to be a day for love and kindness. Instead, the Trib published a heartless cartoon about a drawing that Charlie Brown made. In the cartoon, Lucy acted like she liked the drawing and then to my shock she started making fun of him and really hurt his feelings. This ran on Valentine’s Day!

What is this teaching our youth? Are we saying it’s OK to be cruel to others?

We need kindness in the world, especially now. Our little ones should not read this while eating a bowl of cereal.

My little boy will no longer be reading the cartoons in the Sunday paper.

Nancy Erskine

Bremond