Letters to the Editor: Don’t believe the socialist Santa Claus

The woman who wrote the letter that you titled “Loaves and Fishes” doesn’t like the work of House Speaker Paul Ryan, but I think he’s just trying to get a handle on our government’s runaway spending.

On the other hand, the woman who wrote the letter seems to love Bernie Sanders and supports his plans to increase that spending. Senator Sanders seems like a very nice man, but he’s just a socialist Santa Claus who promises more free stuff for everybody. Even if Bernie were able to take all the money from the “evil” rich people, there still wouldn’t be enough to pay for all the toys in Bernie’s magical Christmas bag. His bag would soon be empty and the woman who wrote the letter wouldn’t understand what happened.

Our government is supposed to guarantee each of us “the pursuit of happiness,” but socialism has failed everywhere and hasn’t made people happy. America may not be a “Christian nation,” as the woman suggests, but there are more Christians here than from any other religion. Christ certainly told us to take care of each other, but He never said that we should turn that responsibility over to our government.

We are probably the wealthiest nation on earth, but we are not a greedy nation. Even with the heavy tax burden that many of us have to bear here, Americans are the most generous people in the world, for our individual, voluntary, charitable giving is incomparable. May God continue to bless our America and its citizens!

Selective ignorance

Donald Trump’s actions make me wonder. He has attacked his opponents quickly and eagerly and often. He criticized Muslims, Mexicans, female journalists and the media in general. He criticized women he found unattractive, fat people, people who drink water and sweat, those who use profanity (his use of same being the exception). He has criticized the voters of Iowa and the Pope, yet he has to do research on the KKK?

Needless grief

We had a feral cat problem in our neighborhood. So much so, the local humane society sent out somebody in July to collect them to give shots and other medical treatment. We thought the problem was solved; they'd find good homes for them, right?

Wrong. They spayed and/or neutered the animals, then released them back into the neighborhood! OK, population control aside, that still leaves the problem of the cats getting into and overturning trash cans, going in people's yards (some of whom have dogs who just love to chew on stray critters), and not to mention running across the road at inopportune times.

This past Friday night, the family was returning home, open road, no obstructions apparent … we were three houses from home when a sudden sickening thud occurred. I turned around in our driveway and went back ... lying in the road was a striped gray feral cat we had just run over. Apparently it was hiding behind a small tree near the road and dashed out at the last minute to play kamikaze with the car.

My wife and I both burst into tears. Yeah, we're softies --- we love animals.

I keep telling myself that it wasn't my fault; I wasn't speeding or disobeying any traffic laws.

The policy of catch, treat and release may work in the short term, but I can tell you it's flawed. In fact, it's left me feeling damned crummy!

Warmth and health

I look forward to March 20, first day of spring, balmy weather, and blooming flowers.

Hundreds of communities welcome spring with an observance of Great American Meatout, asking neighbors to explore a healthy, compassionate diet of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains.

Indeed, 56% of respondents to a GlobalMeatNews poll said that they were or are reducing meat intake. U.S. per capita red meat consumption has dropped by more than 16% since 1999.

Mainstream publications like Parade, Better Homes and Gardens, and Eating Well are touting vegan recipes. Even the financial investment community is betting on plant-based meat start-ups, like Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods, while warning clients about the upcoming “death of meat.”

The reasons are ample. Last year, the World Health Organization found cancer to be associated with consumption of processed meats. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommended reduced meat consumption. The media keep exposing atrocities perpetrated on factory farms. And animal agriculture remains chief contributor to climate change and water scarcity and pollution.

Each of us should celebrate our own advent of spring by checking out plant-based foods at our supermarkets and vegan recipes on the internet.

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 10:05 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor: Don’t believe the socialist Santa Claus."