Prod our politician

You may have noticed that local and far-flung employers are having a real hard time finding employees. The food industry which provides so many entry-level positions seems especially hard hit but they are far from alone. The problem seems to be the generous, federally mandated, unemployment benefits that seem to keep being extended and extended. Then too, the unemployment benefits are not taxed as are wages so that persons stepping up to take an entry-level position most times will end up with less take home pay than they did get on welfare. My mom had a word for such people and that was lazy. She also wasn’t big on welfare handouts but then she never voted for FDR either.

An easy answer to the above-outlined conundrum would be for our lawmakers to cut down on the excessive handouts. It probably wouldn’t happen as those in charge understand that the vote won’t go their way at the next election if they cut federal handouts. Meanwhile, those of us who actually pay taxes, it seems like we are increasingly in the minority, will continue to pay those who prefer to lay around and not do any meaningful work to earn their own way. It sure is a different world in which I grew up.

Your editor Bruce Crosby did an excellent job of covering a recent GOP organizational meeting held in “Marlene’s Barn” last week. It might have been a bit of a tough assignment for my editor friend because I’ve a bit of a suspicion that he, like a lot of my local friends, quietly leans a little in a more liberal direction than your old long-time conservative columnist. I’ve no complaints because he wrote up the meeting just as I remember it happened.

First off it was a bit of a surprise to this old long-time flight instructor to realize that Mr. Ron Schmidt and I had flown together several times in the past. It was a long story but Ron had bought a U.S.-made Beechcraft airplane, manufactured in Kansas and then had spent its operational life in Germany. When Ron bought it and then ferried it across the Atlantic it was found that several of the electronics installations (radios) were certified in Europe but not blessed in the U.S. by our FAA. Ron and I then test flew the beautiful twin engine aircraft a couple of times after a local electronics shop had changed things to make our own FAA happy. Nothing went wrong on our flights but it was an interesting experience for us both. That is all water under the bridge but it was nice to find an old friend in charge when Grannie and I sat down.

The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer both of which met my approval. Then as I sat back, without participating, throughout the evening I noted that all the stances advocated for by the political participants was in accordance with our Bible. No votes were taken but it seemed that the consensus of the group was that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, that abortion was not to be encouraged and that a person born with male genitalia should remain a man and that those born female remain wonderfully female. No switching of genders along life’s journey and boys born boys were not to participate in girl’s athletic events. A major concern was our Nebraska Department of Education presenting instruction materials to teach sex education, including all those things the LGBQ??? community is pushing at the moment. Yes teach children how to get along with each other but the education about sex should come from the home.

Okay what to do about the things that our GOP identifies with the good or bad in politics today? The answer advocated for was to pay attention, keep informed, write letters (most effective), email, call if you can, to the politicians working for us today. Most of all be informed and vote accordingly in the next election.

An example of a letter—here is an Email that I sent today to this area’s representative to the Nebraska State Board of Education. robinstevens@gmail.com

Dear Robin,

That is how I saw it.

Dick Trail