Dear Maureen,
Thank you for your column 12/30/12. I'm sure it brought a lot of peace and healing to many people. I don't believe in God, Christian or any other, but I do believe in human kindness and I respect the beliefs of others. I always knew there was some kindness in me even though I also saw disdain, uncaring, and the hardness that grows as we age and experience life's trials, but it became much clearer to me recently as I faced my sister's death and felt somewhat surprised as I rose to the occasion, if such a thing is really possible. Perhaps we all have this capability but are afraid to show it in case it is seen as weakness and advantage is taken of us. But I learned from my experience helping my sister that many people admire kindness and wish to be part of it. For many hours and days I sat by her side at the hospice as she gradually faded, and I watched her sleep and saw her smile at me as she wakened self-conscientiously and asked me to rub her feet or her back or get her some more water. She never complained and even as her life drifted away she seemed more concerned about others and showed appreciation of the attention I paid her even though it was the least I could do. I saw the kindness of the doctors and nurses and attendants and even the custodians who carefully cleaned and sterilized the room each day. I saw the concern in the eyes of the volunteers who served me tea in the common room and sat with me and talked about life and death. I saw the humanity in the parson who, even though he knew I didn't subscribe to his faith, still spent hours with me in discussion of many things. Each day as I arrived the receptionists would ask me how Marie was doing and how I was myself, and I felt that the entire hospice was one big human family of support. So maybe it's there in all of us and perhaps some of us need religion to show it. But the important thing is to recognize our own ability to be kind to one another and to care, and that's what really counts in the end.
Tom McManus
710 Ashcreek Court
Roswell, ga 30075
770 552 0417
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Fiscal Cliff
Fiscal cliff Dec 19 2012
In trying to reach a deal to avoid going over the Fiscal Cliff, both President Obama and speaker Boehner have mixed too many elements into the discussion without doing an adequate analysis of the real issues that need correcting. There are at least three dissimilar areas in their respective plans that need to be tackled on an individual basis and time frame.
Two areas that should be removed from these discussions and addressed in their own right are Social Security and Medicare. These two programs are currently fully funded and are not directly responsible for the current deficit. In fact they are solvent for a number of years, and yes they do need adjustment to improve their future financial prospects. But that should be a separate discussion for each and should not be lumped in with the current deficit problem.
The deficit is mainly due to the economy and the fact that we had to pay for un-budgeted wars with revenue that had been negatively impacted as a result of poorly thought out tax reductions by the Bush administration. Focusing on improving the economy, creating growth to improve employment , and implementing tax reform are the main thrusts that will reduce our deficit. That is where the discussion should be, and not on extraneous self funding social programs that have no immediate impact on the economy.
In trying to reach a deal to avoid going over the Fiscal Cliff, both President Obama and speaker Boehner have mixed too many elements into the discussion without doing an adequate analysis of the real issues that need correcting. There are at least three dissimilar areas in their respective plans that need to be tackled on an individual basis and time frame.
Two areas that should be removed from these discussions and addressed in their own right are Social Security and Medicare. These two programs are currently fully funded and are not directly responsible for the current deficit. In fact they are solvent for a number of years, and yes they do need adjustment to improve their future financial prospects. But that should be a separate discussion for each and should not be lumped in with the current deficit problem.
The deficit is mainly due to the economy and the fact that we had to pay for un-budgeted wars with revenue that had been negatively impacted as a result of poorly thought out tax reductions by the Bush administration. Focusing on improving the economy, creating growth to improve employment , and implementing tax reform are the main thrusts that will reduce our deficit. That is where the discussion should be, and not on extraneous self funding social programs that have no immediate impact on the economy.
Child Murders
Child Murders Dec 15 2012
How many more people must die before we do something real to stop the carnage. How many parents,spouses, brothers, and sisters are we willing to lose before we admit to ourselves that a cancer is growing in our society. A cancer of hatred and contempt, driven by party politics, media, and clergy, and we turn a blind eye and ignore the signs of our decay. We no longer listen or accept other ideas or concepts in our bigotry against any who don't think or act like ourselves.
It's time we as a nation took stock of our culture and started a course of reconciliation and respect to regain the real American society that once was there. Yes we have too many physical weapons in our midst ,and we don't know how to control them, but by letting our society sink into the morass it has become, we have turned ourselves into the most dangerous weapons.
How many more people must die before we do something real to stop the carnage. How many parents,spouses, brothers, and sisters are we willing to lose before we admit to ourselves that a cancer is growing in our society. A cancer of hatred and contempt, driven by party politics, media, and clergy, and we turn a blind eye and ignore the signs of our decay. We no longer listen or accept other ideas or concepts in our bigotry against any who don't think or act like ourselves.
It's time we as a nation took stock of our culture and started a course of reconciliation and respect to regain the real American society that once was there. Yes we have too many physical weapons in our midst ,and we don't know how to control them, but by letting our society sink into the morass it has become, we have turned ourselves into the most dangerous weapons.
GOP war on the elderly
GOP war on elderly
Not content with their war on women, the republicans have now declared war on the elderly, the poor, and the sick with their latest proposal to cut spending on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. This escalation is in line with their long avowed strategy to destroy the social security net that has protected millions of Americans over the last 75 years.
Behind their obstinate obstructionism is the ideological belief that the country needs to be led and controlled by the rich few and that the majority should provide the support and market to keep this rich elite in their leadership position. Never has this principle been clearer than during these last twelve years as they have rewarded the rich and impoverished millions.
President Obama has an opportunity to step up and oppose these diabolical plans. By returning tax rates to more normal levels for the rich and eliminating the earnings cap on Medicare and Social Security payments, he could move the country back to a more balanced and fairer budget and take us a long way towards cutting the deficit. Cutting spending on social programs will only push millions more into misery and will not impact the budget adequately without raising taxes on all Americans instead of just the rich.
Not content with their war on women, the republicans have now declared war on the elderly, the poor, and the sick with their latest proposal to cut spending on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. This escalation is in line with their long avowed strategy to destroy the social security net that has protected millions of Americans over the last 75 years.
Behind their obstinate obstructionism is the ideological belief that the country needs to be led and controlled by the rich few and that the majority should provide the support and market to keep this rich elite in their leadership position. Never has this principle been clearer than during these last twelve years as they have rewarded the rich and impoverished millions.
President Obama has an opportunity to step up and oppose these diabolical plans. By returning tax rates to more normal levels for the rich and eliminating the earnings cap on Medicare and Social Security payments, he could move the country back to a more balanced and fairer budget and take us a long way towards cutting the deficit. Cutting spending on social programs will only push millions more into misery and will not impact the budget adequately without raising taxes on all Americans instead of just the rich.
Grover Norquist
Grover Norquist. Nove 26 2012
By bucking the republican group-think that catapulted Grover Norquist into a position of dictatorial might, Saxby Chambliss has shown strength and determination to put country first before blind ideology.
It's amazing that one man has been able to hold the GOP hostage with his intellectual bullying and uninformed obstinacy. Perhaps the recent defeat has shown the thinkers in the party that blind obedience is not what the people want.
Poll after poll has shown that the majority wish to see the more affluent carry their share of taxes. It's time to look at our situation with clear mathematical analyses instead of ideologically based opinions that history has shown to be failing strategies.
Our union requires a basic level of taxes to keep us operating in the mode which we consider truly American. Surely the rich who have gained so much from this country are willing to pay back at least at the same level as the average citizen. Paying taxes is patriotic and the minimum contribution that we all should be willing to give to maintain our defense, our infrastructure, our health, our education, our children's future, and the dignity of our elder citizens.
By bucking the republican group-think that catapulted Grover Norquist into a position of dictatorial might, Saxby Chambliss has shown strength and determination to put country first before blind ideology.
It's amazing that one man has been able to hold the GOP hostage with his intellectual bullying and uninformed obstinacy. Perhaps the recent defeat has shown the thinkers in the party that blind obedience is not what the people want.
Poll after poll has shown that the majority wish to see the more affluent carry their share of taxes. It's time to look at our situation with clear mathematical analyses instead of ideologically based opinions that history has shown to be failing strategies.
Our union requires a basic level of taxes to keep us operating in the mode which we consider truly American. Surely the rich who have gained so much from this country are willing to pay back at least at the same level as the average citizen. Paying taxes is patriotic and the minimum contribution that we all should be willing to give to maintain our defense, our infrastructure, our health, our education, our children's future, and the dignity of our elder citizens.
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