The stock market is down, unemployment is up, home sales are falling, foreclosures are up, and the GDP is down. On the bright side one sector thrives in this disappointing economy – Congress. Congress will receive a 2 percent raise, which on a $174,000 salary means a meager $4,700 increase. Know anyone who couldn’t use an extra $400 a month? How do these public servants eke out a living on such a paltry sum? What makes the raise more onerous at this time? Congress has an approval rating hovering around 10 percent (Rasmussen Poll), which makes President Bush look like the Christmas Star in the East. The politicos had a chance to vote against this raise, but after much squirming and hand wringing. . .that didn’t happen – after all, there are those pesky holiday expenses. There is a bright spot though – the same poll indicated that 2 percent of the people believe Congress is doing an excellent job!
I have been reading Tom Brokow’s book “Boom: Voices of the Sixties” centered around 1968, and it got me to thinking about my own 1968 and 2008. In January 1968 I was at Fort Lewis, Wash., with two weeks of Army basic training yet to complete.
Where to start, and even whether or not to start a response to Quinn Dahlstrom’s allegations and outright lies?
Ah, yes, ‘tis the season of peace, good will and merriment. Except of course for those who wish to usurp the season for a holiday that you or I or someone doesn’t celebrate. Then we must jealously guard our symbols and holiday time against those who wish to steal them. We must say Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or whatever, defiantly, to let others know that our holiday is best. Those who are timid will meekly say happy holidays, or seasons greetings for fear of offending.
Letters to the Editor
It was a fairly pleasant day as we drove toward Highway 410 on Mud Mountain Road. Rounding the corner just before the area where Mount Peak hikers park, I grabbed the dash at the sight of a small white car coming over the hill straight at us! The driver was passing two cars on a curve in the road. “She’s going to hit us head on,” I yelled to my husband who by then was heading toward the ditch to miss the oncoming car. The young woman glared angrily at us as she sped by, barely missing us.
“Citizens Should be in charge of Bonney Lake.” This was the headline on Ms. Dahlstrom’s latest Letter to the Editor included in Dec. 3 edition of the Courier Herald. It’s not my intent here to deal with the entirety of the letter because much of it is accusations without basis. However there are a few items that need rebuttal.
It didn’t take part of seven columns to get J. Buss’s garbled message. And surely the Courier Herald would have been within its legal rights if it had refused to print the libelous statements about President-elect Obama.
I wish to thank Mr. Jacobsen and his friends George and Mr. Doll for supporting what isn’t broke in this city. I also enjoy their thoughts on what is right with the city – What are they?
Editor’s note: this letter was written in response to a letter written by Lynda Dabson published in the Nov. 19 edition of the Courier-Herald.