West Newsmagazine 5-22-19

4 I OPINION I
May 22, 2019
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
In response to ‘A call to
investigate Democrat candidates’
The ravings in Terry Sater’s letter [May
1]to investigate all democratic candidates,
their families, anyone they have ever done
business with and everyone they went to
school with is a textbook example of the
hatred and paranoia this administration
has brought us to. That West Newsmagazine
would give this kook a platform to
spew his nonsense is the height of irresponsibility.
G Frazier
Regarding ‘Discrimination
and disparities’
In the column “Discrimination and disparities”
[May 15], Walter E. Williams
argues that the troubles of minorities are
entirely of their own making and not the
result of any historical oppression. First
of all, this walks right past the reality that
racism, sometimes even deadly racism,
still exists today.
Williams points out that Jews suffered
some of the worst historical injustice, yet
“no one can argue that as a result Jews are
the most disadvantaged people.” Therefore,
he reasons, “Politicians and others
who are now calling for reparations
to blacks for slavery should take note.”
This conveniently ignores that Germany
has paid $89 billion in compensation
mostly to Jewish victims of Nazi crimes
and that Jewish people are still targets of
racism, sometimes even deadly racism,
today.
Williams talks about a single historically
successful black school that causes
him to wonder about separate schools
being inherently unequal. The man is an
apologist for segregation in 2019. Are we
supposed to take him seriously as an intellectual?
J.A. Faust
Concern over store location
I noticed that West County is getting a
Dr. John’s store at the old Audio Express
site on Manchester Road.
One of the many concerns my wife and
I have is the displays in the front window.
With a teenage boy and two young girls,
we drive past this location all the time.
We are wondering what kind of message
that window is sending.
I also know school busses drop off kids
real close by. I personally think that the
people of West County should be made
aware of what’s going in.
Sean Brown
On the subject of socialism
Mr. Buettner makes an accurate point in
his letter [May 15] focusing on political
terminology regarding socialism. But he
misses the big picture.
Yes, there’s always been some socialism
in our economic system but that doesn’t
make the expansion of government desirable.
The Founding Fathers were reluctant
to go much beyond roads, postal
service and defense. That changed in the
20th century. Since the days of Woodrow
Wilson lawmakers have wanted to lead us
down a path toward collectivism.
In my view, collectivism better
describes “democratic socialism.” It’s the
opposite of individualism.
The authors of the Constitution revered
the unique person. Our ageless document
was intended to emphasize his rights and
her rights. The rights of groups, ethnicities
and classes, while important, were not
as indelibly underscored.
One cannot deny the inescapable correlation
between the expansion of government
and the reduction of personal
liberties. Mushrooming laws restrict the
individual’s freedoms.
Some laws, of course, are desirable.
We’re grateful traffic lights stop other
cars when we motor through an intersection.
But the trend in America, and
throughout the world, is toward increased
centralized power and that means repressive
laws that control almost everything
we do.
Socialism invariably turns into communism
and that, as we know, means slavery.
So it’s in our interest to limit government
as best we can. Some may feel a
democratic socialist republic isn’t a very
scary thing. Human nature being what
it is, we are usually grateful for governmental
largess. But we must understand
it comes at a price. It’s not free – whether
it’s health care or a college education.
Someone pays for it.
Eager recipients may say that’s fine – as
long as it’s someone else. But that’s shortsighted
and selfish. Sooner or later the bill
comes due. How much debt will burden
your grandchildren?
Britain’s Margaret Thatcher summed it
up decades ago. “Socialism cannot last in
the long run,” she said. “Sooner or later
you run out of other people’s money.”
Which way should we lean today? We
can shrug and say, “Hey, we’re all socialists
now. Get used to it.”
We can pursue the dream of many millennials
and ask government to give us
what we need when we want it. That’s the
route from dependency to slavery.
Or we can strive for limited government
and trust capitalism, which has rewarded
us with the highest standard of living in
the world. We can rely on our individual
talents and dreams and take full responsibility
for our lives and the acquisition of
material things.
We need to be concerned about the
direction we’re taking. Unlike what
the letter writer suggested, our schools
should teach the merits of free markets,
self-initiative and private endeavors.
I beg to differ, sir. Socialism is indeed a
four-letter word.
Norman Baxter
Finding a place for seniors
Area seniors have been gathering for
several years on Manchester Road to
socialize via card games, line dancing,
exercise classes, painting and meals. The
location, located below the Agency for
Aging offices, was closed this month and
folks have scattered to wherever they
could find space until a solution is found.
If small towns are able to provide senior
centers, I think West County can manage
the same.
Dianne Larson
A note of thanks
Thank you to the young gentleman who
assisted me yesterday [May 14] when I
got stranded with my car at Henry and
Manchester roads at about 1 p.m. He
immediately got into action to keep me
out of harm’s way and my car moved to
get traffic flowing.
I failed to get his name but his help was
wonderful. His parents raised a fine man.
Thank you again, young man. You
eased the situation very much.
I. Smith
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A PUBLICATION OF
ON THE COVER: Pathfinder Church in Ellisville.