Posted by  larry lewis, tampa area on 01/03  at  03:21 PM

Washington D.C. IS A JOKE. Our leaders really want us to believe they have all the answers and really know what they are doing.  To set the record straight I am a conservative and am very disappointed in the way our government have handle the war, Katrina, Crime, Education, jobs and Iraq.  The congress and the white house have decided that the safety of U.S. citizens is not their top priority.  They have made Iraq the #1 priority. As if the results in Iraq will define what the U.S. is all about. I am sorry Mr. President; the citizens of America is what America is all about. It seems every single politician in Washington D.C. have decided, what the citizens in the U.S. think or feel do not matter. We do not have to support the troops in Iraq when they were and are dying for another people’s country. Not one solider who died in the war in Iraq died for freedom. I will say that all solders fighting the war on terror are dying for freedom and democracy. But remember there were no terrorist attacks in Iraq prior to the over throw of Sadam Hussein. Nor were there ever any mentioning of an Iraqi citizen being involved with any terrorist activity anywhere in the world. At least our government never made it known that Iraqi citizens participated in a terrorist attack against any American interest.

The Katrina debacle really was a slap in the face to all American citizens. To believe that the Federal, State and Local government politicians did not have any coordination or proper preparedness is really undemocratic. How can you pretend to be leaders and preach democracy and human rights. When during Christmas, home owners from Gulf states are living homeless in other cities of the country. Where is the shame. Upon observing the handling of American citizens during the Katrina episode, made me feel ashamed to be an American.

The government did not think about over spending when they gave Boeing an 80 billion dollar contract for a foolish plane and plan. As if the other countries and terrorists in the world will run and hide. Look, put together an elite unit of counter terrorist cells (thousand of them). Go hunt the terrorists and we do not need to know about it. Please stop using the Iraqi war as a barometer for determining a course of action that has a low chance of accomplishing real democracy. Only the people of Iraq can determine their own destiny. The president needs to get off his high horse and realize that only the people of Iraq can determine the direction of their country. Democracy may only play a part in the development of Iraq. They must first define their own culture and identity without any assistance from the U.S. Our government will mess it up and try to control everything. The federal government can not prevent children from getting stolen in America, how the hell can it control another government. The safety of the U.S. citizens is not a top priority for the politicians in America.

I hope and pray the citizens of the United States began to ask more for infrastructure of the United States. The more educated our kids are the better prepared we will become for the many disasters that can happen. Video technology can protect this country and supply millions of jobs. This might would help to cut welfare programs. Just imagine if there were video and audio technology everywhere in the public domain. Crime would go down, police would be less stress, millions of jobs would be created. Think about it. Citizens working to protect America. More goods and services will be purchase. The government will began to have more income due to the increase in the number of people paying taxes and the cuts in the welfare and other titled and non titled programs. The military could also raised a large part its own budget. Let the various branches of the military compete for these “safety” contracts.  America is large enough with counties that have vast numbers of localities. There would be plenty of money and opportunities for all of the military. The military may possibly choose to contract out to private venders. Since this is government money regulations on wage and demographics should be implemented. That way it is fair for everyone and people will make enough money to live a good life. ($20.00 per hour starting pay). The Military could easily build any safety infrastructure needed in the United States.

I don’t know, but it seems to me protecting America can, increase jobs, decrease crime, increase disposable income and add surplus to the government through savings in costs cutting programs and increase revenue generating and most importantly aid and assist in the war on terror.  The government motto should have been “Every Citizen In America, Is Guaranteed A Job”. Now would that add to global creditability?

L.T.

Posted by  Deborah L. Stasiak, Riverview, FL on 12/31  at  11:20 AM

My resolution is to find out some answers to the many questions that I have. 1. Why do so many children get abused in the State of Florida? 2. Why is the sentence worse for a bad driver than it is a first time sex offender? 3. Why do Senior Citizens who has a large family, have so few visitors every year? 4. Why does people only feel a need to give when it is a holiday or a disaster hits? 5. Why is it when education is free people don’t attend college? 6. Why don’t judges have term limits; just like every other elected official? 7. Why do people critize our president, when their isn’t a thing they can do about it now? 8. Why does gas go up and down over night? 9. Why did our children have to sing “We wish you a Happy Holiday” this year? Instead of “Merry Christmas?” 10. Why did they build that “Thing” in the middle of the crosstown? Why not a high speed monorail? 11. Why is it Grand parents can pay for: food, clothing and shelter for their Grandchildren, yet in Florida their are no Grandparents rights? 12. How can our deputies talk on the cell, read their computers, look for the bad guy and drive at the same time? 13. Why is it when you have health insurance, the doctors accept what the companies pay, if you don’t you have to pay in full? 14. Why hasn’t people figured out yet during a hurricane evacuation that people are not going to leave their pets behind. 15. Why do I have to find these answers…don’t we have elected officials to do this for me?