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We have always had change

| March 27, 2010 9:00 PM

I am 88 years old; I was born in the aftermath of World War I. Since that time I have witnessed many changes, some good, some bad. I have seen nations rise and fall, Germany, Russia, Italy, China and North Korea to name a few. Their demise all caused by turmoil from within, not from the final battles but from human ideology that started at leadership level. This ideology was called "change," and it came in many forms most of it designed to sell to the public mind. It didn't matter if the public mind understood the change; it was just important that it was "change." The reason for "change" was usually blamed on the faults of previous presidents, governmental bodies, agencies, you name it, but always it had to be "change."

As far back as I can remember change has taken place, as a result, in many cases, the nation and the people benefited. In other instances they have not. For decades our congressional bodies have effected changes that have quietly, subtly built a hierarchy which has removed them from the laws of the common man. No one needs to approve of a pay raise except that royal body; they receive a retirement after one term of office, and this extends to their spouse. They have their own health plan, they do not contribute to Social Security. They accept bribes from lobbyists and their own peers, you vote for my pork and I will vote for yours. They operate under their own set of rules; if a new member does not play by their game he never gets to achieve much, regardless of his well-intended ideas. The list goes on.

This nation exists because our forefathers fought a war of independence to remove themselves from such practices. Government was to be the same for all people. Respect for elected officials was earned not granted. This was the lesson that I and my classmates were taught back when current events, civics, and history became the foundation for our national patriotism. I well remember following events occurring in Germany under Hitler and Italy under Mussolini, and saying this can never happen here.

Today I am not so sure. Everywhere I turn I continue to find people who do not know history, do not know history tends to repeat itself when the public becomes less informed, apathetic or simply does not think mistakes made by nations in the past are relevant. I am deeply concerned by our current administration. The current president has no patriotic ties to our nation. His agenda appears to be personal and not of the nation. His change is to take place whatever the consequences. Changes, if needed at all, cannot be implemented by committee or a timetable or without analyzing closely the consequences of such change. The purpose of government is to lead not control. Capitalism developed this nation; it has its problems, and at times it loses sight of morality, which you cannot legislate. Greed will rear its ugly head no matter what. There are those who forget you can only live in one house or sleep in one bed at a time.

Sadly governmental change can take place if we fail to pay attention to plans that are proposed to take care of all the needy ones. I am addressing this to those who would use the goodness of this nation to their own best advantage without contributing to its existence. A welfare government will lead to socialism, and a nation of our size and population will decay. Handout government will appeal to many and it will, because of its existence generate a popular and controlling vote. This is the idea behind many "changes" that may be offered. Do not for one instant think this cannot happen. Hitler knew, and a nation blindly followed him. With that thought I do propose a change.

In the very near future we will be going to the polls to cast our votes for members of Congress. This will be the time for the "people" to effect change. It is time we elect men or women who will implement the change to remove one of the most corrupting aspects of our legislative bodies. Vote for someone who will vow to remove the element of "privilege" from our houses of government. Privilege corrupts; the Land of Oz living, that our legislators abide in, needs to come down. If you don't vote out the pig trough the new pig will soon get adjusted to the good living. Remove the trough and the pig will get in line with the rest of us. This may seem overly simplistic, but our legislators need to get the word. It is time "public servant" again becomes the banner for our representatives of government to hoist and to carry proudly for a nation that was once the greatest and most respected in the world. There was a time when a person running for public office did so with the conviction that he or she had something worthy to offer to the office, not what the office would provide for them. John Adams, one of the finest of our Founding Fathers, was adamantly against party politics. He knew the dangers of party affiliation and its affliction. No one would listen and from that point on politics became party oriented. No one party has ever had all the correct answers to the nation's problems.

There is one more change that could remove the earmarks and pork that consistently are applied to our bills of legislation. An amendment should be made to the Constitution stating that no amendment nor rider can be attached to a bill unless it pertains exclusively to the basic bill. If a matter of expenditure is of such consequence that it is essential to a cause then it should be able to stand on its own merit, and not sneaked in on the shirttail of another and sometimes very important bill, which is frequently done with the Defense Department's Appropriations Bill. The moneys that could be saved on such an amendment is beyond comprehension. If our legislative bodies were to do this then we would know that some real and proper change was taking place, but don't hold your breath this makes too much sense to ever happen.

I am genuinely and gravely concerned with the immediate future of our country. At the present rate of fraud, misuse of public funds, governmental control of industry, and now the health of the nation, fiscal solvency of the nation could dissolve over night. We are on the brink of a dark chasm of uncertainty, with no solid bridge on which to cross.

I wish to speak on behalf of all the veterans, who in my lifetime stood and defended, many times at the offering of their very lives, the cause of this once great nation. At age 16, profoundly patriotic, I joined the Idaho National Guard; at 18 I joined the Navy and served for 30 years. I never have lost my love for my country. My most profound hope is that all of us did not serve in vain. God bless all of you and may this once proud nation survive with its head held high.

Walter (Fred) Hamelrath is a Hayden resident and author of the book "No Arm Around My Shoulder."