Sleeping sheep get fleeced

Sleeping sheep get fleeced

Our ship of state has twice been wrecked in a democratic ditch!

Some folks blamed the chauffeur. They should have blamed the rich!

This is the first verse in a poem published by my grandfather in a small book of poems on political issues in the late 1930s. He was adamant about his opposition to President Franklin Roosevelt and his “New Deal.” This opinion has gained ground over the last several years. I hope it doesn’t become relevant past 2012.

There were a few surprises in the recent election but not many. I was not surprised that the flock in the Valley followed their history of supporting anyone with a D after their name. The one exception gained an advantage from precincts to the south of the true “Little Chicago” area.

People seem to feel that the area economy is humming along. If you consider all the call centers(read telemarketers) that are expanding, this is true. And if both adults in a family of four earn the average wage paid by these centers, they would only need a small additional income to surge above the federal poverty level. Thank you, Mr. Tim Ryan! The sheep are ready to be clipped again.

I have reached the age where the only effect of the new laws pushed through by the Obama crowd may be to shorten my time on earth. I feel sorry though for the young (under 60) who have several years to suffer under these terrible expensive policies.

My one hope is that the sheep will wake up and demand a say in what becomes of their wool. Perhaps then a political career will stop being a job and become the public service. Let the elected serve their team well, and then let them return to working for a living and let someone else serve. Experience may be a good thing, but not if you are an experienced crook.

Robert Husted, New Springfield

A time to give thanks

This column is designed to provide readers with an opportunity to comment on subjects of general interest, and it is not practical to use letters of thanks throughout the year. The people of the Mahoning Valley are a generous lot and at any given time benefits are being held and acts of kindness extended to many people in need.

But as Thanksgiving approaches, we invite letters of thanks for use on the holiday and possibly through the weekend. We ask that the letters be brief and that all the normal guidelines in the box above be followed. Thank you. — Ed.