Letters

Letters to the editor

Highlands Today
Published: December 3, 2012

Who's responsible?

Lately, there has been a lot of chatter calling for Congress to compromise on the budget. Compromise is fine if both sides are on the same page or even the same book.

You want to rob the First National Bank and I want to rob the Second National Bank; should we compromise and rob the Third National Bank? Since robbing banks are illegal, we should not rob any.

There are two different ideologies in debate.

When this country was first founded, capitalism was the economic system. Like any competition, the competitive free enterprise lets the people use their ingenuity and desires to out flank their opponent. The ingenuity and desires of the people made it the great nation that it is.

The other ideology can be seen as a precursor to socialism.

Socialism requires a huge government and a huge government leads to tyranny. In socialism, the government owns everything and controls everything. Since the people can't own property, their ingenuity and desires are put to rest. Because of their greed, the populace is lulled into the promise of a utopian life.

What is the outcome of the compromise between the two ideologies? Does $16 trillion debt cloud your mind? How about high unemployment and high poverty rate? All this is cause by Congress making foolish laws that try to make everyone equal.

"The worst form of inequality is to make unequal things equal," said Aristotle.

I consider socialism, as practiced in the United States, illegal. And we vote for these surrogate thefts. How else can you explain that our representatives lay taxes on the citizens and then give part of the taxes to other citizens who do nothing to earn it? Name me one socialist country that has not wound up with an economic problem?

It is not theft for the private sector to provide aid to the poor, but they have the option of who to aid, where as there is no control when government runs the show. The real debate should be what the government is responsible for and what we, the people, are responsible for.

Russell Errett

Sebring

Properly articulated

In response to the letter, "Conservative touts principles," you left a powerful message in the Nov. 27 edition. Not saying I agree with all you penned in the paper, but the paragraph stating, "I believe most Americans would accept these principles were they to be properly articulated and clearly explained," said it all if you read that column.

I challenge all subscribers, if you have not already, to find that column and read it. Then read it again. You, sir, Ray Stevens, make some cents! No pun intended to anyone.

Brian Rhodes

Sebring

Medal of Honor Park

Does the Heartland know that Highlands County has the only Medal of Honor Park in the state of Florida and possibly the nation?

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest decoration for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the Armed Forces. Medals of Honor are awarded sparingly and bestowed only to the bravest of the brave, and that courage must be well documented. The Medal of Honor Park in Sebring is dedicated to the 22 Florida recipients of the Medal of Honor.

A year ago at the Dec. 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance, a second ceremony dedicated the park at its larger location in Tranquility Garden adjacent to the Veterans Services Office on George Boulevard. The dedication included the citation for SSgt. Robert Miller, Staff Company A, 3d Battalion, Special Forces Operational Group (Airborne) Konar Province, Afghanistan, from Oviedo, Fla. who was killed in January 2008.

Harry Oakley, chairman of the Medal of Honor Park Foundation, and many others are trying to enhance the park and build a structure to display pictures and citations of the award recipients.

To offer assistance of any kind in the maintenance and growth of the park, or to become a sponsor, please contact Harry Oakley at 2454 W. Seville Drive, Avon Park, FL 33825, or by phone at 452-5771.

Ruth Carnovale

Patriots Chapter

Daughters of the American Revolution