Dear America

Tonight I watched the second debate between two people who want to be our next President. I will make no secret that I will not vote for the Republican candidate under any circumstances; however, I'm not crazy about the Democratic candidate, either.

The debate gave me a blinding headache that only a strong pain killer can take away. That said, I want to express my thoughts before I succumb to the wonderful world of sleep.

This election year has been one of the most divisive I have ever experienced in my memory. I probably could dredge up presidential runs in our pre-television history and find some that could have been worse. Andrew Jackson comes to mind - his run for office was more than his wife could handle and she died from the stress. Jackson never got over it. Of course, Jackson was also a horse's ass, but I digress.

Our country is angry. We have a Congress that is holding our country hostage while they play games with our laws. Open debate on issues can't happen with the mind-set of certain party members "My way or you're wrong."

Our country is starved for work. Jobs are scarce and the ones that are available are only available to a select few. Discrimination is a real thing, by the way. Wages are stagnant and the work world has been turned upside down. Jobs once slated for high school and college students are now held by single parents and/or older workers who can't find work elsewhere. The young college graduates are getting jobs that require the experience and wisdom of older workers, but they are willing to work for less and companies are snapping them up.

Our country is frightened. Which mall will host the next blood bath? Which public venue will literally go out with a bang? Guns in the classroom? Are you serious? Sick people dressed as clowns terrorizing children and communities. What is going on here?

Our country is stressed to the breaking point. We can't meet our bills. The Affordable Care Act is skyrocketing out of control and coverage is dimming. Yes, prices at the gas pump are going down, but utilities are going up. The housing marketing is making a rebound, but many communities are still feeling the pain of the housing market crash.

Tonight the world watched St. Louis host the Presidential debate. And, for a change, we showed the world what we are really made of. A peaceful demonstration paraded through Delmar all the way to Washington University. Many issues were represented, but no violence. No one got hurt. But voices were loud and clear.

We need to come together like this again. We need to express our concerns. I believe each of us has the power to turn this country around. We have the ability to fix these problems and we have the ability to put the right people in government who will hear our voices, and help us fix these problems.

America, I'm scared for our future. But, I'm also hopeful that we can fix what is broken. I believe it all begins in the voting booth.

Thank you.

The President and the Pricey Helicopter

While President Obama is scolding Congress and another other political entity for overspending and irresponsible spending, The New York Times printed two articles that detailed something most of us really haven't given much thought to. The first article, posted February 15, explained in detail the history of replacing the aging helicopter fleet that scurries the President to the airport and any other place he may need to go.

I didn't know he needed a fleet of helicopters. I thought he only needed one, maybe two. However, the article explained that other staffers ride these choppers and some act as decoys. From a security standpoint, this makes sense. The article also explained that the current fleet was over 30 years old and really should be replaced. Frankly, I would be nervous about getting on anything that is going to lift me off the ground as ancient and in need of replacement.

The second article mentions a fiscal responsibility summit where Senator John McCain remarks on the cost of the new helicopters as costing as much as Airforce One. OUCH! A helicopter is quite a bit smaller than a jumbo jet and it costs as much or more - WOW! The origin of this purchase actually came in response to the security issues raised after September 11 terrorist attacks.

Now, I certainly want our President and his staff and his family safe in anything they are flying, but a $400 million flying machine is asking a bit much. Apparently, President Obama feels the same way. Does the President really need 28 helicopters? I wouldn't mind the White House having two, maybe three, to get by for awhile - but 28 sounds pretty extreme. Each of these new helicopters is supposed to hold about 14 people, so do you really need 28 choppers? In the event of another attack on our country, are we going to ferry all of Congress on these things? We didn't do that the last time.

I really hope that President Obama gets some really good, sound advice on this one. And I hope Congress doesn't go berserk and insist on all 28 choppers. A knee-jerk reaction to the terrorist attacks is not a good reaction and one that's never based on reason. We need to think clearly during our economic crisis and make decisions that will preserve our country on all levels.