What have we come to?

In the past 50 years, the United States has been diminished to a country that has no foundation. We have become a nation that imports almost everything that is available for purchase. Unfortunately, this is done with the backing of our government.

Washington lobbyists fatten the wallets of our elected officials. This is why elected officials, past and present, don’t want to lose elections.

Forty years ago, 80 percent of the jobs in this country were in manufacturing and 20 percent were in the service industry (dentists, doctors, clerks, receptionists, secretaries, etc.) Today, fewer than 20 percent of the jobs in this country are in manufacturing and more than 80 percent are service related. The estimated trade deficit is projected to be more than $2 trillion this year.

That is more than $2 trillion that will go into markets such as China, Japan, India and Taiwan. With this amount of imbalance in trade, the dollar keeps getting weaker and weaker.

The future of the country that we grew up believing in for our children, and their children, is not there. Our government keeps spending and spending on bailouts for AIG, GM, Bank of America, and the list goes on and on.

There would be no need for a stimulus package if those in Washington did what they were elected to do: Represent the people who elected them.

Dan Stewart

Windber



Murtha did right by constituents

There are moments in an elected official’s career when he or she has to make the tough decision of standing with the people who elected him or her, or siding with powerful special interests who want to keep things the way they are.

Nov. 7’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives was one of those times.

The good news is Congressman John Murtha did the right thing by his constituents. Murtha voted yes for a good, balanced health-care bill that will stop insurance companies from denying health coverage based on pre-existing conditions or discriminating on the basis of age or gender.

And the bill brings down costs for all by including a public option to hold insurance companies accountable by forcing them to compete.

Thanks to Murtha, we are one big step closer to genuine health-care reform. If you have a health-care plan you like, you can keep it – and over time, pay less. And the bill passed by the House pays for itself and reduces the federal budget deficit over time.

Despite all the cynicism that is associated with modern-day politics, it’s nice to know that there are elected officials such as Murtha who still go to Washington and represent the people who worked to get them elected in the first place.

Ernie Esposito

President, Johnstown Regional

Central Labor Council



Ask senators to oppose health bill

I would like to urge all readers to please contact Sens. Robert Casey and Arlen Specter and tell them to vote in opposition to the health-care reform bill placed before them by the House of Representatives.

This country has come too far and has overcome too many foes to crumble from within.

We are not a socialist nation. We have been fooled into thinking that socialism is in our best interest by the introduction of Social Security and Medicare.

We have a obligation to teach the next generation to be frugal, work hard and save their money in order to pay their own way when they are older.

They should work hard in school and get good jobs that give them benefits and not rely on government to pay their way, although some may believe that this may be the best way to go.

I must urge them to remember that the most popular and easiest road is not always the best way to go.

All good thing come from hard work and discipline.

Please help keep America on the right track of success.

Roger Birkhimer

Windber



Marine Corps League grateful for generosity

On behalf of the Conemaugh Valley Marine Corps League, I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the celebration of Veterans Day. Especially to Ponderosa and Applebees for the free meals they provided to veterans.

Gerry Horvath

Judge Advocate, Conemaugh Valley Detachment Marine Corps League



Pets not safe even in their own yards

This is for the person or persons who deliberately or accidentally shot a little kitten in the yard with a .22. It was a precious pet to someone who loved it and who now is brokenhearted along with being angry.

This was done on Nov. 4 in the lower end of Riverside.

If you were on the hillside or in the area, then you know about it if it was done for target practice.

Aren’t our pets safe in their yards anymore, especially during hunting season?

Is it any wonder why some people hate guns and hunting season.

Doris Shaffer

Riverside



Cheaper gas means more to buy food

President Obama must stop the rising gas prices at the pumps and freeze the price to $1.50 per gallon.

Big Oil makes billions of dollars a year. So their profits are down a little; they are still making a lot.

I voted for Obama because he said he would stop all the corporate greed and be fair to the great people who love this country. But gas prices keep going up.

A lot of people are struggling to feed their families and can’t afford to pay higher gas prices. Kids are starving in this country. If not for Feed the Kids, St Vincent de Paul, St. Jude Hospital and the Salvation Army that help the poor, those kids would starve and be homeless. May great God bless them all for their help.

So I say to Obama, do it now before Thanksgiving and Christmas come, or the kids will suffer.

John Zawalish

Johnstown