Posted by opinionated on December 30, 2013, 8:03 pm
The year in review 2013: Worldwide we saw the death of a heralded leader and the birth of a future one. We saw U.S. interest as well as those of our allies still face the wrath of cowardly terrorist. We saw earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters proving once again we are no match for mother-nature. We saw North Korea flex its’ muscles and Iran soften somewhat knowing we can’t ever trust either not to make the first nuke strike of WWIII. Sadly we saw more American heroes return in flag draped coffins. In our nation we saw government being shut down by small minded, self- righteous politicians who used our American service men and women as pawns in their stupid games. We saw the failed implementation of what can best be called, “a poor attempt to do a good thing for the poor”. We saw our nation’s leaders continue to dump money into pork barrel projects like seeing if grass will grow on Jupiter. We saw those same brain surgeons sending billions in aid to other countries while children in the USA go to bed hungry. We saw continued setbacks in the war on drugs. We saw our nation spiral downward in debt, upward in unemployment and saw more jobs lost. Our beloved state of Illinois has continued to show other states how NOT to govern. Record unemployment, foolish spending, unpaid bills and yet our wonderful Governor took a raise. We saw our state become one of the highest welfare states in the nation allowing people to continue feeding at the pig trough of life because we have no jobs for them. We saw a “hands free” cell phone law passed which was brought on because of the massive lawsuit caused by a careless state trooper. We saw the passage of Conceal Carry which will hopefully deter some of the dirt bag criminal element we have around here. More locally we saw Al Dunstan and his stooges try to slide the renovation of a county jail under our noses without so much as a, “hey, do you mind if we stick it to you again”? We saw those same stooges continue to dump money into bike trails while roads deteriorate. We saw the corrupt side of government and some justice when Fred Bathon who ripped off people in this county for years finally got caught. Here in Granite City we saw the closing of one of our oldest educational buildings. We read of the controversy of a new theater and the recreation of downtown Granite City. We saw the senseless killing of a young girl outside of QT. For the first time in my recollection Mrs. O. was asked to put her purse on a table outside the football stadium as we went to see the Warriors. Does this post sound like the rant of a disappointed person? It is. I had breakfast with friends today and we talked of all the above. We wondered how it got here. When did America lose the way? Politicians aren’t all to blame. Our workforce has become lazy to an extent. Our family values have been flushed down a toilet of video games, bad t.v. and parents who simply don’t care. Our schools have failed to meet the standards of NCLB and yet our government again intervenes with the new common core standard. Truth be known, kids who work and have the backing of their parents will do well. Kids who don’t have that support or work ethic will continue to fail and the standardized tests will get another name. My GCG friends and especially those of you who know me in person, this is the last opinion of opinionated. After several years and several hundred posts I am hanging up my pen and tongue. It’s time to quit worrying about others and live out my days with mine. Operator, a classy individual who deserves all the best. WUS, “Baby, you’re the greatest”. To my other friends and supporters Happy New Year. May God bless and keep you in the years to come. I bid you all a goodnight.
on December 30, 2013, 8:03 pm