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Reiss's Pieces
In the 30 plus years that I have been writing this column, I have never mentioned a thing about politics. But I am so frightened about this coming election that I have decided to change my policy for the very first time. I can no longer ignore the elephant in the room! And if you find what I have to say too outrageous for you, tear it out of the paper and wrap your garbage in it. Just don’t bother to challenge me about it.
Mr. Romney’s proposed policies, I believe, will bring our country back over 100 years and let me explain how. First and foremost for me, I believe that women should be able to make any and all decisions about their own bodies. And certainly not a group of rich, arrogant men! My personal favorite is that a women who is raped or experiences incest should use her own natural ability to prevent pregnancy! What? This is Voodoo medicine. And Mr. Romney believes that women should not only return to the home but should have as many children as possible and stay home and rear them. And she should not be a partner with her husband but should encourage him to regain his position as head of the household. And if Mr. Romeny should become president, he will immediately repeal Roe v. Wade and stop all funding to PBS, Planned Parenthood and other like programs.
If you are like Mr. Romney and believe that America First is a good policy, please think about our world today. America should be and needs to be #1 in the world, but regardless, we need our friends and allies around the world. It should be noted that the Europeans and Scandinavians already hate him and these are our friends. God only knows what the rest of the world thinks. Wherever he has been while visiting foreign soil, he has spoken out of turn and tripped over his tongue. Not a way to win friends.
This summer, as you might know, I had a minor stroke and had to spend two days in the hospital. And while there, I had every test you can imagine. When I came home I had a week of terrific home care and follow-up. And friends, with my Medicare and AARP supplemental insurance, it cost me not one red cent. If I had had to pay I would not have been able to have been treated, and probably would have died! Of course, I have also had a great deal of eye problems and also have received the best care possible, and all covered under my insurance. With Mr. Romney’s voucher system etc., I have no idea what would have happened to me.
When Mr. Romney talks about the 47% who don’t pay taxes, he is still not talking about me. But he is talking about many, many seniors, older veterans, and those who are working at lower paying jobs who just don’t qualify to pay. I agree that there are probably too many who get a free ride, but they certainly aren’t those who have worked their entire lives to be able to live out their lives without paying taxes.
If, God forbid, Mr. Romney should get elected, the rich will continue to get richer and the poor will only get poorer and the middle class? Well, those of us who make up the middle class will take it in the neck and slowly but surely join our friends and neighbors as the poor. I believe in equal opportunity for all, but we both know that this opportunity will only come with a good educational system and preparing our children to be able to enter the workforce prepared and ready to work. I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t able to borrow money from my parents to go to college. I went and worked my way through for four years and I had lots of jobs every day. Of course, I must admit that college never cost what it does today. But borrowing from most parents just isn’t an option.
When you go into the polling booth in November, think carefully about who you are going to vote for. If you decide to vote for Mr. Romney, just know that you are setting back our country about 100 years, and women even farther back than that. You might not like all of President Obama’s decisions, but you at least know he is trying and that he is ferocious about helping the middle class. I believe he is on the right track and I am really afraid of the alternative. And don’t bother to call me or write to me and tell me how wrong I am and how right Mr. Romney is. The big word here being Right... far Right! Conservative is one thing, just plain being in the dark ages is another. We are all living together today on this planet and we need to try and get along. Trying to embarrass and humiliate our friends is not a good foreign policy.
So think when you vote, it could make all the difference in the world!
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