Saturday, July 23, 2011

Saturday LTE's 07/23/11

Good AM, folks!

LTE's are a bit thin today, but go after 'em or whatever else comes to mind.

One thing that comes to mind is the budget kabuki dance between President Obama and Speaker Boehner. Boehner dramatically broke off talks w/the Prez last night. According to tweets from Washington reporter Jamie Dupree, Boehner said the impasse was over revenue increases. Boehner has offered $800T in 10 years v. Obama's wanting $1.2T, so saieth the Speaker. I may be a bit simplistic, but it appears to me that there is a middle ground: $1.0T.

Anyway, have at it. I must go assist Mrs. Stab in remodeling the master bathroom. I have to detach and move the toilet. "Commode hugging" thus takes on a different form from that which I experienced as a college freshman.

Worthy ideas
I believe the ideas presented in the July 18 letter "U.S. Foreign Aid" to be of merit and worthy of consideration by our elected representatives. I would also add to his foreign aid catalog list the salaries of American technical and business personnel that might be needed to see that equipment is installed properly, imports used appropriately and projects completed in under-developed countries and others where assistance may be necessary.

We need visionaries who will look for new, workable and fair solutions rather than just rant and rave and "curse the darkness" as so many elected legislators are inclined to do. Could it be that they have re-election on their minds? Isn't it time to consider term limits again?

BILLIE JO BRINSMAID
Winston-Salem

Paid by Americans
I have heard nothing about the U.S. Senate or House members wanting to sacrifice their cost-of-living adjustments each year. I think they should have to revert to Social Security at 65 like all Americans. If they did, I'll bet that Social security would never have to be looked at.

I also believe that Social Security is paid by Americans, not the government. If I understand correctly, they just borrow this money to pay other bills.

Let's get rid of all the bums and let the districts they represent set and pay their salaries. Then we can work on this government debt.

DOUG SPRY
Advance

A God problem
It is glaringly apparent that this nation is engulfed in an economic and political quagmire. What is not so obvious to most people is the real problem that exists, which is leading to the aforementioned problems.
This nation has a God problem. A God problem cannot be alleviated with economic and political efforts, which are counterintuitive.

The reason we have a God problem is because this country has turned its back on God. Therefore God has allowed our blessings to become curses (Malachi 2:2). When a nation rejects God, what follows is moral rot, evil and wicked behavior manifested in the lifestyles of its people. Lifestyle always trumps morality, doesn't it?

The bottom line in this scenario is that unrepentance of sin is eating away at the heart and soul of this nation like a cancer that has metastasized.

It's obvious that as we grow more wealthy and prosperous, sin becomes more prevalent (Hosea 4:7). The godless institutions of the media, Hollywood, academia, along with certain members of the judiciary and clergy, have relegated God to irrelevancy.

In summary, the antidote to stay God's chastisements requires repentance from sin. Then we can experience the graciousness, mercy and forgiveness of our creator.

However, there are many who do not want God interfering in their lives — God is cooperating.
Will we unknowingly drink from the cup of God's wrath, poured out unmixed?

JERRY W. GRIFFIN
Walnut Cove

2 comments:

  1. LTE1: Yes, it is time to consider term limits.

    LTE2: You get what you pay for. It is expensive to live in DC and maintain a home elsewhere. Being parsimonious with legislators' compensation means we end up with very wealthy legislators for whom the pay is essentially meaningless, and True Believing ideologues who are there to advance personal agendae.

    LTE3: There should be a page for religious LTE's. That said, I suggest that folks who are active church members are less likely to be found standing in front of judges than those who aren't.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, except for that guy who got arrested AT the church the other day for questioning the minister about church finances.

    ReplyDelete