The New Colossus

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus

On the 234th birthday of the United States Marines I can’t help but wonder where the message has gone astray. American was built on the foundation of immigrants of long ago. They came from Europe, Asia, Africa and beyond to build a better life. America offered a promise of opportunity for them and their family, an opportunity that would enable them to build a future.

Today we are becoming a nation of persons who demand entitlement, hand outs are often sought and those who provide the handouts are treasured. This weekend the US House of Representatives passed their version of healthcare reform 220 - 215. This bill is estimated to cost 1.2 Trillion dollars over 10 years paid for in large part with cuts to Medicare, a promise made and now broken to our Seniors who have paid into the system and now cannot expect to fully be covered. We do need reform just not his type of reform.

Our elected officials are writing checks we cannot afford to cash. We must reach out to the people who represent us and tell them enough is enough. No more waste, no more fraud, no more handouts , no more illegal immigration, secure our boarders and aggressively root out those who seek to do us harm.

Millions of dollars each year are wasted on pet projects for our elected officials. Pork projects are a cancer and need to be aggressively cut from the budget. Urge a Line item Veto for our Presidents to use to protect us. The line item veto will empower the presidents to cut out the pork spending without slowing down legislation. I wonder how many pork projects are in the 2,000 page healthcare reform bill? I’m certain our elected officials don’t know, after all they did not read the stimulus bill, why should they read the healthcare bill?

Reduce the Fraud in medical care and in government programs designed to help those in need. More money is wasted due to fraud and misuse in government run programs – the Office of the inspector General is the preverbal “boy with his finger in the dike”. Fraud is rampant in all areas, housing aid, education, welfare, Medicare. Reform these programs and you will save millions of dollars – use the resulting savings to cover those in need.

End the entitlement mentality of the citizens. The government created the sense of entitlement and is now responsible to wean those who are addicted to the support structure. Life is tough however we all can’t be the CEO just as we all can’t hit the baseball like Jeter, or come from behind like Woods. We each have a role in society, success comes with happiness, happiness breads success. We need to live within our means – embrace the joy of ownership however pursue only that which you can afford.

Secure our boarders – rid our shores of the toxic filth that is infecting our country. Criminal illegal’s should be pursued and removed from our country. Allow for the immigration of educated productive persons from all countries. End the quota system its proven to be unfair and unjust. Millions of South Americans, Europeans, Africans and Asians dream of coming to our country and building a future. Ensure entry is with a cost – a debt to be paid by hard work.

Contact your elected officials – tell them enough is enough. We elected them therefore we are responsible for them.

John Lineweaver
Nemo me impune lacessit!