LETTER: Let Me Ask You This…

How does it happen that we’ve given powers to our State and National Governments, to do things to our citizen, that those same citizens would be jailed for doing on their own. Case in point: they routinely take your hard-earned money out of your pockets and give it to others for food and cars and you-name-it.

See, here’s the thing: I remember, not so awfully long ago, there were no Federal Departments of Health, or of Education, or of Welfare, or of Energy, or of Environment, etc., and etc. So how on earth did we ever get along without them? They were not needed. We certainly didn’t have Big Brother managing our local TV service, and forcing us to buy a specific government sponsored antenna, now did we! These things were seen to by private industries or by local lower forms of government. Work in these arenas was done for your area by those living in your area. Personally done by people you knew personally. Not by a huge bureaucracy at exponentially increasing prices.

Who among us would stand still while monies were removed out of our bank accounts by a thief in the night, replaced by little statements saying, “I’ve taken your grocery money, I will be spending it on a government program you voted against, after I’ve pocketed my expenses off the top.” We would be up in arms! And yet, what’s the difference?

I was educated, as far as possible, by local people and by local monies. This was back when everyone wanted to do their part. Our property taxes were referred to as “school taxes”. And that’s exactly where they went. To the local neighborhood school district, whose boundaries did not fall along city or county lines. It was managed by a school board, who was voted into and out of power as needed. They were not paid but volunteered their time. We knew them. And we required a high standard of proficiency from them. They complied.

Now, part of what our hard- working teachers pay in as union dues, goes to fund a permanent abortion lobby in DC. Really? Is that a necessary part of our children’s education? That’s not a little out of control?

I believe that’s only a minuscule example of your grocery money being misused and you think it can’t be stopped. I believe we all need to assess what’s important to us locally, and begin to hold our “leaders” accountable.

Esther Ramos