Letters
Letters to the editor
Highlands Today
Published: October 16, 2012
Vote 'no' on Amendment 8Published: October 16, 2012
First of all, Florida Amendment 8 has nothing to do with more religious freedom. This title was chosen as many are to get the uninformed voters pointed in the direction to get this amendment pushed through.
If passed, this amendment will not promote religious freedom; it will do the opposite.
It will open the door to silence religious organizations and their beliefs in order to receive government funding. It will give the government the ability to promote religious activities through government funding, directly undermining the true principle of separation of church and state — keeping the government out of the church. It will force taxpayers to fund all religious activity, including Islamic, Satanic and cult activity.
You notice it says "no individual or entity may be denied on the basis of religious identity or belief, governmental benefits, funding or other support." Wonder what "other support" means.
And where do you think the state will get the money to do this funding? Another tax? No, you don't think they would do that, do you?
The way it is now is a long way from perfect, and that is because the government is running it, and I have a problem allowing the government power to move into the church.
I don't want them running my health care or my church. The government has no say on how I serve my God. You are not required to fund the way I serve my God. You can fund any religion you please and the government has no say over it.
Look at the ones supporting this amendment and what they are looking to gain if it passes. They will tell you, "You can trust the government." Sorry, but I can't trust the government over God, because I know God will keep his word till the end of time.
Vote "no" on Amendment 8.
Bill Youngman
Sebring
Term limits needed
Do I have to say our federal government is a disaster in its present configuration?
The Founding Fathers did not intend to give the present 535 crooks a permanent lifetime job. However, that is exactly what is happening, either due to the ignorance or laziness of us voters. We just keep putting the same people back in office.
John Adams said, "We must educate the masses so the elite don't run the country." Well, if you haven't noticed, the elite are running the country and are not about to give it up by themselves. Are you aware there are 162 lawyers in Congress and 60 percent of senators are lawyers?
Thomas Jefferson said, "If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which people send 150 lawyers, whose trade is to question everything, yield nothing and talk by the hour?"
When Joe the Plumber from Ohio said he wanted to run for Congress, it was probably a blessing he didn't make it. He couldn't hold up his end of the conversation in the Senate cafeteria.
Folks, we need to change Washington and the only way to do that is term limits. And the only way we can do that is through a concerted effort at the state level. Those people in D.C. are not about to upset their apple cart with all its perks, graft, corruption and earmarks on their own. We can and must do it at the state level. We've done it with mayors and governors — we can do it with federal officers, too.
Each state has got to put an amendment on its ballot that says if you want to run for federal office from our state, you will understand and accept the provision that two terms is all you get and then you must come home and get a real job.
This will allow new people and ideas into government and, frankly, require Congressmen that get into office to produce meaningful legislation and leave before they are forever beholden to lobbyists and special interest groups that presently control our government.
Hal Graves
Sebring