When I first read your title and saw it was a political article, the thought that popped into my mind was the title of a song of protest singer/songwriter Sebastian Agnello's. The Goofs Are Back In Town. Lyrics that sing of "How'de we ever get into this mess, you voted em in, How do we ever get out of this mess, Vote Em OUT! " Thinking back on the early days of Revolution, calling on Thomas Paine's infamous words about George.."Whether the world will be puzzled to decide whether you are an apostate or an imposter, whether you have abandoned good principles or whether you ever had any" I wondered which George he was really speaking of, Washington or Bush, for the two share the same ineffectiveness in battle which prompted Mr. Paine to make such a strong critical statement. Taking a look at the choices we will have put before us I call on another statement of his, "THESE ARE The Times That Try Men's Souls!" trying to decide on a decent candidate to vote for! I so long for independents worthy of our vote. Les, thank you for another fine article, but I have a hard time relating politics to humor. Too often they make us look like the clowns.
Michele
As the Patriots cried for "Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness", the loyalists responded with "Why is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty from the drivers of slaves?" Taxes taxes taxes, and more taxes! Taxes on luxuries, taxes on everything but food. Are we free? Imminent Domain? Are we free to live where we chose? Oh Les, I admire your courage to write about politics.
How are we to pursue happiness? What do our children coming of age have to look forward to? Paying off the HUGE debt, worrying about missles falling from the sky? Singing their children to sleep to Seb's Nuclear Nursery Rhyme?... brings to mind another song of Seb's. Politician/Have a Happy Future, "And they say Have a happy Future, But They Don't Tell Us How" Protesters of the world, you have my respect and admiration! oh Seb, how you love what America stands for and are persecuted for it in your own Country of Canada..how I wish your vision of America were true as I see America now!
Thomas Paine, the man who ended his life without a cent, denied a grave in the graveyard his choice, dug up and lost. A patriot whose writings inspired the American Revolution for "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". yet denied help from the country he helped to found. A statue in his name reads as follows, Poor Tom Paine! There he lies: Nobody laughs and nobody cries, Where has he gone and how he fares, nobody knows and nobody cares.
God rest your soul poor Thomas Paine.
Michele Hartley
