Think about the future

Think about the future

In the April 13 edition of The News-Enterprise, there was an article titled, “Yarmuth blames Iraq for economy.” I think that statement is only partially correct and I can agree in a limited way with his statement.

Then in the same issue, on the front page, I see an article, “Dana Corp. production leaving Glasgow.” That change, which moves production to Mexico, results in the loss of about 100 jobs. Now that is a relatively small number of employees, but when we see this type of article over and over across our country, that number grows considerably. What effect does this have on our economy?

Consider the vast amount of imports we consume even to the point that the Air Force is buying its new refueling tankers from Europe. What is happening to our economy and what will happen if the foreign countries decide they want their money instead of government bonds and such other promises with which they are now satisfied? Think of the effect on our economy. Let’s also consider the amount of expensive fuel being consumed to transport all these products back into our country.

Numerous other examples could be given, but that's enough for now. These show the shortsightedness of our leaders in the past and present and of our friends and neighbors. I would like for all of us to have a long range outlook.

In Iraq, we are not fighting the Iraqi people. We are fighting people who want and claim they are going to destroy America. I feel that we, our children and grandchildren may find that threat carried out. Where will our beloved economy, which is not worth defending now, be then? Maybe, 48 percent of Americans, as the article states, think that if we withdraw from Iraq it would help the country’s economic problems a great deal. But what happens when we have terrorists on our soil, whether or not they attain their goal?

I’m praying for our nation to make good, rational decisions, not only for our present but for our future as well. Let’s get convictions and stand by them, yet be ready to alter them when wisdom says to do so.

Remember the old saying, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me? We’re surely proving that statement false.

Ralph Leach

Eastview