Here it is:
As a loyal and devoted American, and veteran of World War II, I am appalled at the greed, stupidity and inefficiency of our United States government. In 1950, our nation was a leader of the world. We were wealthy, powerful and our industry hummed with made-in-America products. Our workers were building homes and enjoying steady salaries for their labor, producing consumer products sold around the world; trading with other nations for every product they could possibly want. We were the owners of the largest store in the world.
Now, a brief 59 years later, our government has allowed and promoted our corporations to sell off that entire store, piece by piece, lock, stock and barrel.
What is worse, our government permitted foreign countries to buy up our natural resources: Our Fairfield water, reservoirs and lakes together with 50,000 acres of prime land bordering the reservoirs were sold to the Yorkshire Water Company of England for less than half a billion dollars. Yorkshire also purchased the name Aquarion, set up an office in Bridgeport and bought water companies in Long Island, New Jersey and other areas.
Our Prudhoe oil fields in Alaska were sold off to British Petroleum, together with the American Oil Co and many other major American gas companies, along with thousands of gas stations, oil change stations and oil companies. The list goes on without our general knowledge.
Thousands of acres of our forests in New England, fruit groves in Florida and California, ranches in the west are now totally owned by foreign countries. While in Florida I came upon a huge sign in the middle of an orange grove with the huge black letters: "No Trespassing -- International Property: Trespassers Will Be Punished To The Fullest Extent Of The Law!"
In addition, hundreds of thousands of acres were sold to foreign auto companies, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai to compete and drive Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, the corporations that won World War II for us, out of business in our own land.
What happened to my country? Where is the land that hundreds of thousands of brave American men sacrificed their lives for? Isn't this still the land that celebrates the Fourth of July and Veterans Day with parades and political speeches?
Don't our senators realize our store must be rebuilt no matter how much money or effort it takes? Don't they understand that China, Japan and other countries are bleeding us dry with tax-free trade agreements?
Don't they understand that our nation is getting weaker and losing this war for survival?
Will they continue to tell us things are getting better as our unemployment lines get longer?
When will the recession really end? Six months? A year? What excuse will they give us next year?
People I talk to say there is no way we can ever rebuild our industry, that it's completely impossible.
Meanwhile, we waste our energy, manpower and dollars fighting smoke and mirror terrorists in an immoral, unwinnable war. How long can we waste precious time telling China how to handle human rights and warning North Korea against building nuclear bombs? How much longer will we meddle in the century-old political battles of Iran and Afghanistan? Continue squandering billions of precious dollars on frivolous NASA space explorations? Waste billions to build ever more killing power in weapons to battle imagined enemies?
There may be thousands who believe we must rebuild our industry while we remain the world's largest customer, but have no effective voice to promote our message. We must wait patiently until our government and people understand this simple truth. We hope it is not too late.
Dick De Witt is a Fairfield resident.
Watching our greatness slip away - The Connecticut Post Online
Thoughts?
MO
As a loyal and devoted American, and veteran of World War II, I am appalled at the greed, stupidity and inefficiency of our United States government. In 1950, our nation was a leader of the world. We were wealthy, powerful and our industry hummed with made-in-America products. Our workers were building homes and enjoying steady salaries for their labor, producing consumer products sold around the world; trading with other nations for every product they could possibly want. We were the owners of the largest store in the world.
Now, a brief 59 years later, our government has allowed and promoted our corporations to sell off that entire store, piece by piece, lock, stock and barrel.
What is worse, our government permitted foreign countries to buy up our natural resources: Our Fairfield water, reservoirs and lakes together with 50,000 acres of prime land bordering the reservoirs were sold to the Yorkshire Water Company of England for less than half a billion dollars. Yorkshire also purchased the name Aquarion, set up an office in Bridgeport and bought water companies in Long Island, New Jersey and other areas.
Our Prudhoe oil fields in Alaska were sold off to British Petroleum, together with the American Oil Co and many other major American gas companies, along with thousands of gas stations, oil change stations and oil companies. The list goes on without our general knowledge.
Thousands of acres of our forests in New England, fruit groves in Florida and California, ranches in the west are now totally owned by foreign countries. While in Florida I came upon a huge sign in the middle of an orange grove with the huge black letters: "No Trespassing -- International Property: Trespassers Will Be Punished To The Fullest Extent Of The Law!"
In addition, hundreds of thousands of acres were sold to foreign auto companies, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai to compete and drive Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, the corporations that won World War II for us, out of business in our own land.
What happened to my country? Where is the land that hundreds of thousands of brave American men sacrificed their lives for? Isn't this still the land that celebrates the Fourth of July and Veterans Day with parades and political speeches?
Don't our senators realize our store must be rebuilt no matter how much money or effort it takes? Don't they understand that China, Japan and other countries are bleeding us dry with tax-free trade agreements?
Don't they understand that our nation is getting weaker and losing this war for survival?
Will they continue to tell us things are getting better as our unemployment lines get longer?
When will the recession really end? Six months? A year? What excuse will they give us next year?
People I talk to say there is no way we can ever rebuild our industry, that it's completely impossible.
Meanwhile, we waste our energy, manpower and dollars fighting smoke and mirror terrorists in an immoral, unwinnable war. How long can we waste precious time telling China how to handle human rights and warning North Korea against building nuclear bombs? How much longer will we meddle in the century-old political battles of Iran and Afghanistan? Continue squandering billions of precious dollars on frivolous NASA space explorations? Waste billions to build ever more killing power in weapons to battle imagined enemies?
There may be thousands who believe we must rebuild our industry while we remain the world's largest customer, but have no effective voice to promote our message. We must wait patiently until our government and people understand this simple truth. We hope it is not too late.
Dick De Witt is a Fairfield resident.
Watching our greatness slip away - The Connecticut Post Online
Thoughts?
MO
