Average Citizens Have Been Ignored
- Print print this page
- Discuss 19 comments, Blog about
Advertisement
I am a citizen of this once great nation, and I am in fear of what this country and planet will look like for my 4-year-old son. I don’t think that anyone on Capitol Hill understands the average citizen.
I understand that big corporations and banks are what helped the politicians fund their campaigns to their offices, but it is the average blue collar citizen who keeps America going. We have been ignored and are on our way to extinction.
The banks that our hard-earned tax dollars bailed out will soon be in the same position they were in before the government gave them all the money. Mr. President, the government could have paid off every American mortgage in existence, and the banks would have received the money anyway. The citizens would have had extra income to spend on the economy, and we would have created more jobs.
I had to sell my home, and now, at age 47 and a single father, I am living in an apartment. American citizens just want to go to their jobs, work their shifts and then go home to family. As the government continues to send millions of dollars to Pakistan and Mexico, we here at home can’t pay our power bill, buy our children school clothes or sometimes even food.
I am deeply ashamed of our government and what it has done to our people. You ran your whole campaign on change. All the people see is change for the worse.
When I was a child, I was proud to stand in my classroom, put my hand on my chest and pledge to God and country. Now my pride is filled with debts of despair and sadness. May God have mercy on us all because our elected officials have none.
William Calloway
Aberdeen
More like this story
Advertisement
Comments
MikeNC 2 years, 9 months ago
Mr. Calloway, This is what the TEA PARTY MOVEMENT is all about. One by one, we want to see the Congressmen in Washington, whether Democrat or Republican, who chooses to ignore the will of the people OUT and someone who will listen to us IN !! It will begin to happen this November. The Tea Party, wants what you do, OUR COUNTRY AND WAY OF LIFE BACK ! PS Gold Bless you, family and the other almost 9.8% of the people who are in the same boat as you these days. Diane McLellan
RadioNC 2 years, 9 months ago
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty - Thomas Jefferson
TheNeedle 2 years, 9 months ago
"Mr. President, the government could have paid off every American mortgage in existence, and the banks would have received the money anyway. The citizens would have had extra income to spend on the economy, and we would have created more jobs."
I totally agree, but the Tea Partiers would have been screaming that it was "socialism".
Despite their claims, they are no friend to the working person.
dustyrhoades 2 years, 9 months ago
"I am a citizen of this once great nation,"
Unlike you, I still believe the United States is a great nation.
wackk 2 years, 9 months ago
TARP is the program that bailed out the banks. I believe this was instituted by the president preceding Obama.
buddysmith 2 years, 9 months ago
"change we can believe in", how about "change left in our pockets to live on". I hope Obama hasnt completely unpacked at the white house, I have a feeling he will be moving out soon!
lachm 2 years, 9 months ago
Nothing in Washington, DC has changed. Our elected seems to care ONLY about foreign countries, the Big Corp. that out-source jobs to other countries (that’s why our people and our nation is in the condition it is today, without jobs to support their families) and their lobbyist that rent them year after year and line the elected pockets; it’s the same old Pay-to-Play. Our elected don’t care that millions of our citizens (the elderly, children and veterans) live in poverty in America. We don’t have money to rent the elected and line their pockets, so we don’t have a voice. I don’t see it changing in Washington, DC. Money is their GOD. All the elected want from us is our vote and they will lie to get it, than go to Washington, DC and close their doors and forget us. No one represents the poor elderly, veterans and children.
Why are the Elderly being blamed for the USA Deficit? All we hear is “cut Social Security or raise the age - in hopes we die before we’re old enough to receive Social Security and Medicare”.
How about increasing the retirement age for Federal Government workers to 65 instead of what it is now (55). They get paid well from our taxes and can enjoy their free time while we have to work to 65 to get our Social Security which is a lot LOWER than their retirement check. We worked hard all our lives, paid into the system, paid our taxes, raised our children, but now all the younger generation and government wants to give us in return is “A $250 Dirt Hole in the Ground”. Is this our Death Panel?
The Elderly, Children and Veterans that live in poverty are the “Helpless Among Us”.
Remember this Leader: "Poverty is the worst form of violence." - Mohandas Gandhi.
The amount of Social Security, to ALL our elderly, should be equal for each senior across the board. The system used now just keeps the poorer elderly in poverty. It’s based on how much wages one earned in their working life, which keeps the poorer elderly poor (especially our elderly women; if they had any income at all, years ago, it was much less than the men‘s income; and in most cases it still is less).
leftfield 2 years, 9 months ago
"Mr. President, the government could have paid off every American mortgage in existence, and the banks would have received the money anyway."
Are you asking for a personal bailout? lol
I'm sure electing Obama was the cause of you moving into an apartment.
GoldenDreams 2 years, 9 months ago
Mr. Calloway, most people feel the way you feel at some point about a President or their administration, and yes, they may having difficulty explaining the government to their child. I had a much worse time when George W Bush was President and explaining those two wars to my young child, especially the Iraq War, which turned out to be founded on false pretenses. Why are you sad to say the Pledge of Allegience? Ridiculous! This is a great country with an outstanding history. Be proud of it! No country is perfect. Remember that the Pledge is a way of stating what we want for all people ultimately, "liberty and justice for all." That is our goal.
Amazed 2 years, 9 months ago
the current FICA (social security and medicare) threshold is $106,800.
buddysmith 2 years, 9 months ago
"the rich will oppress the poor" maybe the poor should stay in school and get some kind of education to earn a decent living. maybe the poor should stop standing around with their hands out and wait for the government to do everything for them. maybe there is a difference between the poor who acyually need help, and the useless who expect help!!!!!!
teufelhunden 2 years, 9 months ago
"maybe there is a difference between the poor who acyually need help, and the useless who expect help!!!!!!" well said buddysmith.
buddysmith 2 years, 9 months ago
oops meant actually!!!!!
OldSpook 2 years, 9 months ago
So maybe lets stop sending money overseas, make education at state colleges free for those who can maintain a "C" average and provide technicial training for those who are not inclined to attend college. Lets also spend some of that money on re-opening factories and the mills. Lets turn Government Motors back into General Motors and get the big 3 back to building the best rolling iron in the world. Lets get some of that fine North Carolina furniture back into the stores in Hickory and get that made in China crap out. Lets stop being the police force of the world (read getting our children killed) and start taking care of our own. We have the money, we have the ability, so why aren't our ELECTED officials putting Americans first?
We need to send the message loud and clear to Washington and locally, we want a hand up, not a hand out!
And just for what it is worth, I think I am going to send this rant to the local democratic, republican and tea parties. If any of them respond I'll advise.
buddysmith 2 years, 9 months ago
"A difference between the poor who actually need help, and the useless who actually expect it". read it keepitreal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NC56 2 years, 9 months ago
Until the majority is willing to stand up and VOTE to say "enough", this country will continue on the path to self destruction. Lowering of standards, elimination of accountability because of your skin color, lack of self control, avoidance of work, and on and on... We all know what the logical destination will be of this path. Very few want to admit it or face it, but down deep, everyone knows. There is an entire segment of our society that have been made completely dependant upon government aid. Living off the government is not what made this country. Quite the opposite. However, there are so many "rationalizers" in this country who don't want to offend anyone, especially those that now are totally addicted to government aid, that the end result is clear.
teufelhunden 2 years, 9 months ago
Amen NC56! Well said.
madstork 2 years, 9 months ago
SS is broken into 2 sections. FICA and Medicare. FICA is 6.2% up to a maximum income of 106,800 (2009 limit). Medicare does not have an income limitation. It is 1.45% no matter what your income is. So, Warren Buffet paid $6,621 into FICA and so did I.
The 6.2% rate was set in 1990. Employer matches that so the revenue to the SS coffers is actualy 12.4%. I would bet a pig roast the current set of geniuis' on the Potomac are looking at raising the rate and/or eliminating or scaling the income limit. Watch out Warren!