- November 23, 2024
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Socialism doesn’t make Norway a great place to live
Dear Editor:
In response to Frode Nilsen’s letter, “Socialism isn’t so bad, if you know what it actually is”:
Mr. Nilsen, we are taught about socialism here in our country at a very early age and many of our immigrants come from communist and socialist countries. My Russian neighbors are terrified at what they see, always telling me, “Don’t people realize what is happening here?” And, “We came here to get away from this.”
We welcome you here, but if things were so great there, why did you leave Norway? Could it have been because the taxes in Norway are among the highest in the world? Or that you would not need to wait in line for medical care?
Of the top 10 countries of the world to live in this year, 2013, Austria was in the No.1 slot. Austria was followed by France, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, Luxembourg, United States, Belgium and Canada. Norway didn’t make the current list of top 10 countries this year.
You told Timothy Hall that he should be ashamed of what he wrote. I guess you must not have free speech in Norway, or you would realize that Mr. Hall is guaranteed the right of free speech in this country, as are you. He was only expressing his opinion and has nothing to be ashamed of for doing that. There are many who happen to agree with his opinion and many who don’t, but none should be ashamed for expressing their viewpoint. Free speech is important here.
The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution guarantees our right to free speech here in the United States. Our Constitution is what sets us apart from socialist countries and other nations. It guarantees our rights.
Linda Hansen
Palm Coast
Don’t kid yourself: We are headed toward socialism, too
Dear Editor:
This is in response to Frode Nilsen's letter berating Tim Hall's letter which was about Common Core and socialism. I am certain Hall can defend himself, but I would like to put in my two cents’ worth because I just don't like foreigners coming into my country and bad mouthing it. Nilsen's description of Norway being utopia doesn't impress me at all.
So your women can stay home for 52 weeks after having a baby and get a pittance of $5,000. In the good old USA, a single mom can have a baby and doesn't ever have to go to work and the more illegitimate babies she has, the more money we will give her, plus we will give her food stamps — oops, I mean a debit card — to feed her and her numerous babies and give them free breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner until said children are 18 or in prison. Norway gives them $5,000; that's chump change. They should be ashamed of themselves.
If Norway is as wonderful as you say, what are you doing in Palm Coast?
My authority on socialism is Margaret Thatcher. The Iron Lady said, "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Socialism, like progressivism, communism, liberalism and a whole bunch of other –isms, is nothing but wealth redistribution, which our socialist in chief admits he actually believes in. We are not as bad as Norway, but stick around — we're getting there. We've already run out of other people's money ($17 trillion in debt), and we keep on printing more and more money, which is worth less and less.
Douglas R. Glover
Palm Coast
Parents, please be aware of what your children are being taught
Dear Editor:
I would like to add my two cents to the Common Core discussion:
Although my children are in their 30s and have long since graduated, I have a vested interest in a well-educated population, as it is the fabric of a successful society. I have been following the comments on Common Core and I have started reading the arguments on both sides. It concerns me that, more and more, local government, our legislators and parents themselves, take actions without thinking through or educating themselves about the long-term and unintended consequences of those actions.
I believe it to be the responsibility of parents to raise independent well-adjusted children. I am happy to say that both of mine are successful professionals and living on their own, in houses they own. But, this did not happen by ceding all of my parental duties to others.
I paid attention to what my children were learning, who their friends were and what they were thinking about. When necessary, I went to the school and questioned what they were learning and asked for assistance supplementing my children’s curriculum. I took them to Washington, D.C., so they would better understand their history. I got them interested in reading. And, I taught them to think critically and make the right choices. As a single parent, it would have been far easier to let the schools “do their thing.”
While some may think that the above paragraph is a digression, it is not. It represents a long-term plan for raising successful children. We need children who can successfully take on the responsibilities of an increasingly complicated society. Everything I can find on Common Core points to the same thing: an end to critical thinking and individuality. The most important gifts a parent can give her children are healthy self-esteem and the ability to think critically. I beg all parents to take a serious look at the long-term consequences of a Common Core curriculum. You owe it to your children to make sure that they have the tools they need to succeed.
How many of you have taken a look at what Common Core is really about? Giving out trophies to everyone, passing grades even if you don’t turn in your work, insisting on “fairness” and making everyone the same does nothing but move children along. As parents, you should all be terrified of the long-term consequences for your children as they leave school totally unprepared for the real world.
Lillian Villanova
Flagler Beach
BOX: U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis: Defund ObamaCare now
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, who represents Flagler County and Florida District 6, on Sept. 19 joined House and Senate conservatives at a press conference to support the Continuing Resolution that funds the government while defunding President Obama’s signature health care law.
"Constituents from across the district have expressed deep concern about the harmful effects of ObamaCare," DeSantis said. "When ObamaCare was passed, we were promised lower rates, the ability to keep current coverage, and benefits for the economy; instead prices are rising, Americans are losing their health care coverage they were promised they could keep, and a number of employees are finding their hours reduced."
"I fully support the House’s Continuing Resolution that will keep our government open while stripping funding from ObamaCare," he continued. "The president has unilaterally exempted big business and cut a special deal for members of Congress. It is not fair to deny relief for the American people while rewarding those with political connections. It will be up to the U.S. Senate and Majority Leader Harry Reid to decide whether they are interested in protecting American families from the devastating effects of ObamaCare."
