Letter to the Editor: We Are Not the ‘Divided States of America’

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Trump is a moron! Anyone who supports him is ignorant. The idea that he has anything to do with the economy is ludicrous. Three groups, for lack of a better way to describe them, control our economy and foreign policy   multinational petroleum companies, military contractors and pharmaceutical companies and their associates that cluster around them. The fact that we don’t have socialized medicine for every citizen is criminal. It should be a violation of law to advertise prescription medication. I shouldn’t need to talk about some medicine I saw on TV to my doctor. If my doctor doesn’t know what I need to cure whatever is the matter, I’m going to the wrong doctor. 

It seems that the vast majority of commercials on TV are about a medicine or an automobile. Does anyone know someone who was a cook in the military? It’s hard to speak in absolutes. But other than the Navy and the Marines, supplying the troops is a for-profit business. If there’s money involved there will be abuse. Tom Cruise’s character in “Born on the 4th of July” is or was a real person. Our government not stepping up and taking care of our veterans goes back to World War I and beyond. 

I think it’s great that a number of nonprofits try to see to the needs of our veterans. Our veterans should have zero needs. It’s the government’s job to take care of the people that put their lives at risk in defense of this country. All gave some, some gave all! Our government shortchanging our veterans is historical and systemic. 

I don’t identify as a Democrat or Republican. I consider myself a patriot. I know where the freedom in my daily life and my right as a citizen to exercise free speech comes from. It seems like everything that’s done by government, whether it’s local, county, state or federal, can’t be learned from someone else’s example. They want to start from scratch all the time. In regards to socialized medicine, all we have to do is look to other countries that already have it in place. Don’t be afraid of the word social. It doesn’t make us a socialist country nor a communist country. 

In regards to the clown in the oval office. I don’t blame him. He should know better but he doesn’t. I actually blame his dad Fred. Fred never taught young Master Donald the ground rules. They are sit down and shut up. He should have backhanded him out of his chair at the dinner table. Time and a place is a foundation for anyone living in society. Trump has lived a life of privilege and has no concept of reality. He wouldn’t make it ‘til lunchtime in the real world. 

In my lifetime, I believe we are at our weakest point as a nation. It’s not about red or blue. This isn’t the Divided States of America. If you’re not Native American, you’re an immigrant. People in other parts of the world sit on furniture that is older than this country. 



I love the saying. “A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” We don’t have all the answers. What do we do? Think globally and act locally. And vote! If you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to express your opinion. Don’t pick sides. There’s only one team. USA! 

You measure a democracy by the freedom it gives its dissidents. Not the freedom it gives its assimilated conformists. A patriot must be ready to defend his country against his government.

Erik Potter

Centralia