THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410120142
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: BY H.J. CRAWFORD
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
I cry for my country because of what we have allowed greed to do to us.
I cry for my country because of the behavior of Congress - for the personal greed, for the lack of real ethics, for the rules that should have been thrown out or revised generations ago, for Congress' refusal to face up to the realities of what is necessary if this country is to survive, for the failure to pass restrictions on themselves, for making a career of politics rather than statesmanship and real representation.
Term limits is a must. And while millions either suffer personal and financial loss or have the real potential to lose everything, Congress has the best medical care. Shame on Congress.
I cry for my country because of 300 congressmen and other politicians who stood in Washington, waving American flags and offering a contract to the American people to balance the budget and lower taxes. Shame on them. What a fraud these politicians are trying to perpetrate on the American people! It is my sincere hope that voters can see this sham very quickly.
I cry for my country because of the lack of concern Congress has for the ability of its members to control and spend millions and millions of dollars for special, sometimes useless, projects. For what, except for votes to perpetrate their career?
Everett Dirksen was rightly concerned about ``a billion here and a billion there.'' I believe he would truly be crying now. Shame on Congress, a trillion here and a trillion there.
I cry for my country because we cannot live together in harmony. What will we do without an enemy to occupy our focus and energy? Now we must focus on the most difficult subject of all, ourselves. An enemy or war of one kind or another has carried us for generations. Let us learn to live together before it is too late and shame on us forever.
I cry for my country because of the lack of concern by so many leaders for the general welfare of our long-range economic status by not taking hold of and doing something serious about medical-care costs and care for all. This demands serious attention. Shame on those who worked so hard to destroy rather than build.
I cry for my country for the loss of the basic values of respect, good manners, neatness, proper use of language, speech and other basics that for so long were so important to us. Shame on us.
I cry for my country because the more we tell ourselves this is the greatest country on earth and nothing is really wrong or ``I want mine first,'' the more we delude ourselves into thinking this will last forever. This greatest country will only survive if we wake up now.
I cry for my country because of the gross greed and commercialism of much of the news media. Even valued reporting and investigations without follow-up leaves a gaping hole in what could be a real service to the public. They can surely do better.
I cry for my country for the rise and acceptance of the negative and serious degree of nasty campaigning and attacks as the main thing our political system has to offer the voters. What have we come to? I think we all know. Who shall lead us? When shall we put a stop to this? Our main thrust is destruction rather than building. Politics may never have been pretty; however, shame on us if this continues.
Shame on Congress for taking all the favors, special treatment from special interest groups and monied lobbyists. Why do they refuse to get rid of these lobbyists? Why don't they represent all the people rather than primarily the special interest?
Will Rogers once said, ``We get the kind of government we deserve.'' Things haven't changed much since; it appears Congress and the Capitol are still for sale.
I am not absolved of my share of responsibilities and shame on me if I do not speak out and try. MEMO: H.J. Crawford, of Turner Drive, Suffolk, works in the Suffolk District
of the Virginia Department of Transportation. by CNB