The other side of the coin
Now that Mr. Purtee and Hallock had their little laugh at the expense of the Democrats and their sick America, let's look at the other side of the coin.
We envision the ultra conservative Republican and the Tea Party's sick America as follows:
The first thing we do is make it mandatory that all people over 12 years of age carry guns. All arguments and differences will be won by the fastest gun; that way we can get rid of the police departments and the military. If another country attacks us, we will all be armed and can form a militia. Tax money saved!
Let's have the states take back all federal land and keep it (so sad about the native Americans, but survival of the fittest, you know). Then when we have big wild fires and wipe out the state budget, we can get rid of the fire departments and issue each family their own hoses. More tax money saved!
Open all roads to ATVs, dirt bikes, monster trucks and don't allow people with pets on the trails. Good idea because all the roads will be lined with traps and people on ATVs can shoot your dog because it looks like the big bad wolf (self-defense). Then the timber companies can come in and strip the land of its trees and plants, which will make way for the oil rigs and fracking wells. More tax money saved.
Next get rid of the EPA. We can place sewer ponds or, better yet, just drain all waste into the many rivers and lakes. Get rid of all these costly regulations so the big corporations and the 2 percent can increase their profits even more. Of course, the 2 percent would get tax breaks on everything and the rest of us would get our taxes raised. More tax money saved.
Next get rid of all unions, the minimum wage, Social Security, Medicare, etc., as well as all government handouts, including free school healthy lunches. If the kids want free lunches and enjoy being obese, then they can help the overpaid public employees do their jobs after school (capitalism at work).
As far as health care goes, let's go back to the old ways. If you have a hang nail, then that's a preexisting condition and the insurance companies can drop you or raise your rate 500 percent (that is if you have health insurance). As for all who choose to remain uninsured, just go to the ER. Don't worry, somebody will pay for it. Let's forbid abortions for any reason and birth control as well. Women are just women who don't have the right to decide what to do with their bodies. Oh yeah, while we're at it, let's take away the vote, that will teach um (keep 'em barefooted and pregnant). Who cares if the population doubles in the next 10 years because we can handle it. Our climate and land isn't going through a change. It's just a "natural phase" and everything will get back to "normal" soon!
We can also let Wall St. and the big banks do what they want and get rid of those darn regulations. Come on, 2008 wasn't that bad!
If you fly the American flag, then you have to fly the Confederate flag, Nazi flag, ISIS flag, Mexican flag, and, of course, the "Don't Tread On Me" flag. All these other flags all represent history. Who cares if they offend anybody; it's our First Amendment right! Now when we see a gay couple, let's burn them at the stake (they are going to burn in hell anyway).
Next we will limit the Supreme Court to cases like Citizens United and keep them out of decisions having to do with gay marriage, health care and women's rights.
Also, let's make sure we gerrymander the districts geared to our one true ultra conservative party and limit voting to one day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with all voters required to have at least five forms of identification. We have just got to stop all this voter fraud!
Lastly, let's elect draft-dodger Donald Trump president and Ted Cruz (former Canadian) vice president, or vice-versa, or really any of the Republican candidates; that is one sure way to make sure all of the above solutions will happen.
So you see, there are two sides to what is so sick in America.
Dan and Fiona Gressler are Rathdrum residents.