Support American Made Month
As everyone knows, making any effort a success requires planning, focus and consistency. The idea behind November as American Made Month is to bring additional attention to the Buy American Made Campaign that asks supporters to remain focused on seeking out American-made products 365 days a year. Our efforts are focused on maintaining and restoring jobs in the United States of America so that people can maintain their ability to earn a living and prepare younger generations to earn a living based on the job skills they learn while attending America’s schools.
The November effort also takes place as people begin their pre-holiday shopping. Shoppers are urged to pay close attention to what they purchase and consider who benefits most from their purchases and their hard-earned dollars. Looking at labels and speaking up in support of American made has also allowed consumers to see firsthand how global imports have flooded the American market and how important it is for us to remain united with the goal of restoring no less than 50% of everything sold in America being made in America again.
Thirty-five years ago, most Americans would not feel the Buy America Made Campaign would be necessary. Today, it’s not only necessary, it’s vital for the well-being of America, its people and our nation’s future.
To help promote this effort there is an American Made Month poster that can be printed out on the front page of AmericanMadeMonth.com.
Thanks for your participation. Kindly spread the word.
Michael Blichasz
American Workers Radio, 860 AM
Don’t ban tobacco products
Every day, governments of all levels – federal, state, local – make decisions that affect the lives of Americans. In many cases, as with the federal highway system or the public school system, it efficiently and effectively lifts up our whole society. But when governments overstep into people’s personal lives, it often goes awry, blinded by misplaced priorities and blinded to double standards and hypocrisy.
For example, there is news that the administration in Washington intends to repeat the mistakes our nation made with alcohol and cannabis by banning tobacco products next year. Talk about your misplaced priorities. This new regulation would likely result in a host of unintended consequences, the worst being the creation of a new black market to meet demand.
In this time of rising crime, do we really want to spread law enforcement resources even thinner by creating a new underground illicit market they would have to police? I don’t think so.
Past efforts to restrict adults’ personal choices, like the aforementioned prohibitions on alcohol and cannabis, went unheeded by the public, gave rise to criminal elements, and eventually saw governments reverse course.
Let’s not do all that again.
Darin Bartholomew
Old City
Mayfair
I’ve walked your streets
Many times before
When I was much younger
And dreamt of being at your door.
Your trees beckoned in the spring
Boulevard Pools summer rang in
Azalea bushes bloomed till the fall
And winter more majesty bore.
Laughter I heard on most every corner
Children giggling, strangers smiling
Green grass being mowed
Babies on sleds at Lincoln being towed.
You offer such great beauty
Tranquility and friendliness abound
You left an imprint during visits
I always wanted to be around.
And so one day we bought a house
Where the dream was realized
Where neighbors smile and lend a hand
And it is a little paradise.
Where gardens bloom
And children play
Where oldsters shop
And often stay.
Where time has tarnished
Some buildings and some souls
But all the while
The joys outdo the woes.
I hope someday that all will know
How great it is to grow
Along with Mayfair’s dream
We’ll remain an idyllic team.
Mayfair will always be
The center of N.E. activity
And sharing everything together
We will brave all kinds of weather.
Let’s keep up the smiles
Lend a helping hand
Share those joyous hearts
We’re the best in all the land.
Submitted by Sophie Kerns, written in 1970s
Fair tax, IRS, Social Security
In response to Janet Cantor’s post on Oct. 12, I also like the Fair Tax plan. Libertarians have proposed similar plans. The idea being, we only pay taxes on what we buy. New luxury items – cars, boats, planes, mansions – would get the rich to pay. Middle-income and poor people, if frugal, could limit their taxes. The Fair Tax would also recover cash in previously unreported income. But Janet, I disagree with you on Social Security. Some kind of safety net has to be built into consumption tax. Individuals and families probably will not invest wisely or at all. I do agree with abolishing the IRS. I feel it’s now a political animal that can be weaponized by Democrats and Republicans.
In response to Mona Cohen’s post on Oct. 26, she is worried about getting rid of Social Security. There will never be enough Republicans and sticky-finger Democrats to end this. If there is a danger, it comes from the billions of dollars to feed, educate and provide healthcare to illegals. I only worry about you, Mona, an American citizen.
Tom Anderson
Holme Circle
Perspective on the economy
Amid reports that the Fed is once again forced to raise the interest rates to curb rising inflation, our nation’s economic woes are making headlines.
With the midterm elections taking place right after the hike, we are urged to consider: “What would XYZ candidate do for the economy?” and, “Which party is better for the economy?”
Perhaps we should ask ourselves, what has the economy done for us? No, I’m serious. Think about it … what has the economy done for you lately? Why have we as a civilization decided to pin so many of our hopes on the abstract undulation of an arcane set of numbers and percentages? Especially when such a system becomes increasingly AI-driven and detached from reality.
(Did you know that as much as 70% of American stock market activity is algorithmically driven?)
Who does this system really benefit? Because I know it’s not me and it’s probably not you.
Our economy has been designed to benefit the wealthy and the powerful. Higher interest rates tip the scales in favor of those persons and institutions who already have cash on hand and don’t have to rely on financing to make major purchases. High inflation benefits those who have a variety of existing appreciating assets – again, the rich.
Neither of our national parties can really do much to actually affect the economy anyway, the current crisis is global in scale. Read about the inflationary crisis in Britain or Argentina or China or Russia … It seems like no one has the guts or wherewithal to pin the blame on the actual culprit behind these issues – an economy designed to cater to a human lust for wealth and power. Such a lust inevitably crumbles all great civilizations, I fear ours is next.
Alex Palma
Oxford Circle
