We are bombarded with experts on all the TV channels and articles
in print media regarding the earthquake in Japan, effects of
which are continuing with news releases daily. Each expert
is presented as very learned on the topic they address.
We were told over and over, there was no possible way ill effects
from the lack of radiation containment would reach our shores.
Even the people of Japan who were more than 50 miles distant
from the nuclear sites were told not to worry.
As
days and weeks have gone by since the March 10th earthquake
and Tsunami, the total damage and death toll still are
not yet known. Initially, in our country we were told there
would
be no evidence of Japan’s radiation reaching our shores.
That statement was replaced with reports of radiation traced
to Japan’s disaster being detected on both of our
coasts. It has been found in both the air and water. Will
it be found
in our food? If the answer we receive is no, how can we
believe it?
It
is difficult in this new age of instant access to data, news
and images placed, in the palm of our hands, to believe
most of what we hear because by the time we access it — with
no time to fact check, it changes. Good examples are
the conflicts in Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Libya plus additional
countries
in that part of the world. I could not believe it what
I saw while watching a live report, a call for prayer
went
out during
one of the fiercest battles and everyone put their weapons
down and went to worship.
As I see it, the prayers should be asked for 24/7 and the fighting
would stop.
I
also wondered what to believe when our President said, “We
will not put boots on the ground” in Libya. What do CIA
spies wear on their feet? Just before the President’s
address, the news had reported we had CIA operatives
in Libya. Maybe the President should check with CNN,
Fox or
MSNBC before
making an address to the nation. Each of those networks
cut his address at Georgetown off as he began explaining
a plan
to limit our countries dependence on foreign oil
by a third in 10 years.
Why must we be so involved with what is taking place in Muslin
countries? As I related in an earlier column, they have been
fighting for as long as history has been recorded. It must
be their way of life, and who are we to tell them they must
change it? As we consider providing arms to members of the
various conflicts, we must remember how Al Qaida got their
arms to turn upon us.
I
heard a great suggestion regarding attempts to set our national
budget and avoid shutting the
country down. If
our elected
officials cannot agree on a budget, they should
go without pay for the time they let the country
be
at
a standstill.
Both parties share the blame since we, the hapless
people, elected
them to do a job. If they can’t accomplish
their job as we directed them to, why would they
expect to
get paid?
While the elected officials are working, I suggest an idea
that may help them. Require the IRS. to report to them why
many (too many to list) major companies are not paying taxes
and are bragging about it to encourage investments in their
stock. I believe if we could compile a list of the companies
avoiding taxes via their high priced CPAs and lawyers who design
loopholes, we the people would stop doing business with them.
I know I would! That act, by enough people, would result in
a rush to pay taxes which could help balance our budget!