Speak Out B 1/8/02

It's the voters' fault

EVERYONE COMPLAINS about politicians. Where do people think these politicians come from? They don't fall out of the sky. They come from American homes, American families, American schools, American churches and American businesses. And they're elected by American voters. This is what our system produces, folks. This is the best we can do. Let's face it: We have very little to work with. Ignorant citizens elect ignorant leaders. It's as simple as that. So maybe it's not the politicians who stink. Maybe it's the public.

Wrong resume

I MAKE fun of people who are religious because I think they're fundamentally weak. But I want you to know that when it comes to believing in God, I tried. I really tried. I tried to believe there is a God who created us in his own image, loves us very much and keeps a close eye on things. But I have to tell you the longer you live, the more you look around and the more you realize something is wrong. War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime and corruption. Something is definitely wrong. If this is the best God can do, I'm not impressed. Results like these do not belong on the resume of a supreme being.

Pay your taxes

HERE'S SOMETHING that makes me mad: retired people who don't want to pay local property taxes because they say it's not their grandchildren who go to the schools. It's not like they can't afford the tax money. Not all old people are as dependent on Social Security checks as they'd like you to think. Some of them get all kinds of checks. They also have stock dividends, bank interest and whatever else they've managed to squeeze out of the system. I say pay your taxes like everybody else.

No sacred life

ONE PHRASE that comes up quite a bit in abortion discussions is "sanctity of life." I think that is wrong. Who says life is sacred? God? Great, but if you read your history you know that God is one of the leading causes of death and has been for thousands of years. Hindus, Moslems, Christians and Jews all have taken turns killing one another because God told them it was a good idea. You know where the sanctity of life comes from? We made it up. You know why? Because we're alive. Living people have a strong incentive to promote the idea that somehow life is sacred.

Understand science

THIS IS to the 12-year veteran of the Catholic school system. Evolution does not have any proof. You are right. But religion has no proof either. Science and religion are based on assumptions. In an education setting, public or private, children need to be taught the science that leads to college and beyond. If they do not agree with it, fine, but evolution is basic scientific philosophy. It needs to be understood as early as possible. That is why, regardless of the school, it must be taught to prepare our children for further education.

Lessons in values

I'M SO sorry that Republicans, by focusing on family values and everyday morals, seem phony and holier than thou. I'm so happy that the Democrats have been able to show the Republicans how not to be phony and holier than thou. With a former president who could lie as easily as tell the truth, we were shown the real truth. And thanks to the Democrats, I realized that it was OK to commit adultery as long as I was doing a good job. I would like a big thank you to go to the Democrats for showing us how we are all victims and that we do not have to accept any responsibility for our actions.

Give support

REGARDING "AGGRESSIVE driving": The caller said there is no excuse to put anyone in danger over a stolen car. What if it were your car? You'd change your tune. My prayers are with the officer, his family and the families involved in the accident. Nobody meant for it to happen. Police officers risk their lives for people every day. They deserve our thanks and support for all they do.

Another category

THERE IS such a thing as reasoned dissent. There is also unreasonable dissent. And then there's Speak Out.

Just keeping up

TO THE caller complaining about the young man who ran five stop signs: If you kept up with him all that time, you must have run them too. I think you should worry about your own driving instead of his.

A comparison

READING A Wall Street Journal reprint encouraging folks not to watch so-called mainstream television news reports because of an alleged liberal bias is like Adolf Hitler encouraging people not to read the U.S. Bill of Rights because to him it is pure communist propaganda.

Egg on his face

CONSERVATIVES verbally fawning over Fox TV would be well advised to wait for the Geraldo Rivera farce to blow over.

Courageous media

YOU RECENTLY noted there was an interesting contrast between the quick return by TV networks to offices contaminated by anthrax and those occupied by the federal government. This is because members of the mainstream television media are more courageous.