LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Three steps to a better America

LaRue S. Boenig, Henderson

Monday, Jan. 12, 2009 | 2:02 a.m.

In eight days Barack Obama will preside as our new president and, with that, he will inherit a tremendous number of problems (wars, economy, home foreclosures and unemployment, to name just a few).

Under such difficulty, he will exert mental and physical energy to the point of exhaustion and will need the patience and support of all Americans to assist him with the solutions to all these problems. I have three priorities I would like to see implemented:

1) First and most important, the return of all our military from the Middle East, and upon their return reward them in the same manner as World War II veterans (that is, a paid college education).

2) Reinvent the middle class (that is, put an end to the greed and corruption of the new breed of billionaires at the top of the totem pole and put an end to the high rate of unemployment at the bottom).

3) Finally, bring back unity. Unite America and bring an end to the hostility and antipathy between Democrats and Republicans. Rather than referring to liberals/conservatives, right/left, refer to all as Americans. Then and only then can we call ourselves the United States of America.

Discussion: 6 comments so far…

By lvsundog

1/12/09 at 4:28 a.m.

Suggest removal

Well written. I would add:
4) Make Medicare available to everyone. If it were available to younger people, they would pay the medicare premiums and not have as many claims, thus helping to keep it working.
By Houstonjac

1/12/09 at 6:39 a.m.

Suggest removal

You can start to bring the military out of Iraq but we have to beef up the war effort in Afghanistan. There is an enemy that we are still fighting--this is not a figment of national imagination. I am all for giving veterans a college education--those that want one. We owe them more than we can ever pay them. I like lvsundogs idea of spreading medicare. Politics will not disappear. That's part of the picture too. But hopefully as a nation we are ready to better unite.
By geezelouise

1/12/09 at 6:53 a.m.

Suggest removal

I would add:
5) Stop the war against the American people. We currently incarcerate more people per capita than any other country. This causes a loss of tax revenue because these incarcerated individuals cannot work and don't pay taxes. It also decimates the family structure.

More education, less incarceration.
By Future2012

1/12/09 at 7:16 a.m.

Suggest removal

With the Bush "status of forces agreement" the Iraq war is over - and Obama just need to remove the troops per the agreement.

Obama needs to not ramp up the Afghanistan war and get alot of troops killed. We will do no better than the Russians.

Reinvent the middle class mean we all must stop spending beyoud our means. Cut up those credit cards. Stop buying a new car every three years. Stop buying those 50" LCDs. Then there will be no bottom up money for the rich.

Obama keeps telling us how much worse it will get this year - so we need to save not spend.
By uddeboda

1/12/09 at 11:24 a.m.

Suggest removal

Medicare premiums range from $96 for the elderly and infirm to about $308 for the more wealthy. However, this year there will be no increase, even so, such monthly payments are huge
By lvsundog

1/13/09 at 1:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

Regular medical insurance, if you can get it when you're between 58 and 64, costs more than a house payment. In comparison, medicare looks good.