Letters to the editor for Sept. 14

Japanese should build military up

As a counterweight to China and North Korea, we should encourage Japan to build up its military capabilities.

Japan should increase its front line military personnel from 250,000 to 350,000 and increase the number of tanks from 700 to 1,000 and armored vehicles from 3,000 to 4,000.

It has about 300 fighter aircraft and 500 transport aircraft, which could go to 500 and 600, respectively. Attack helicopters should increase from 120 to 200. It needs to develop a number of fighter bomber wings.

It needs to upgrade its Navy from three aircraft carriers to five and double its destroyers to 90.

Japan should increase its missile defense systems to counter missile launches from North Korea, and it might want to develop a robust conventional offensive intermediate missile capability that could strike North Korea.

Maybe China and North Korea will be more conciliatory and less aggressive when facing a more powerful Japan.

Also, we should maintain a strong military presence in Japan to influence Japanese policies. We have nuclear weapons available at U.S. bases and on aircraft carriers and submarines in the Pacific.

Not so fast Indivisible IL 12

Not so fast, Shannon Russell. Quoted from the “Indivisible Project” website, to which your group is linked along with 50 other Indivisible groups in Illinois, “The Indivisible Project is a registered 501c (4) non-profit. Our mission is to cultivate and lift-up a grassroots movement of local groups to defeat the Trump Agenda, elect progressive leaders and realize bold progressive policies. Across the nation over 5,800 local groups (at least two in every Congressional district) are using the Indivisible Guide to hold members of Congress accountable. Indivisible is a project of The Advocacy Fund.”

Although the TAF states they are no longer associated with the Tides Foundation, opensecrets.org and Wikipedia report there have been connections between the two organizations. TAF’s posted IRS Form 990 shows income of $14 million with about $3.2 million from Tides, which in turn receives donations from George Soros’ Open Society. As I wrote, and not in a marijuana-induced haze, there is nothing wrong with activism, but the Indivisible IL-12th is part of TAF, unless the TAF website is wrong. Concerning Angel Padilla, he is a policy director with the Indivisible Project and was formerly an analyst for the National Immigration Law Center, which receives some funding from Soros’ Open Society. As required by IRS regulations, we look forward to seeing your IRS T-990 on a public web site sometime next year.

ACA enrollment starts November 1

After the GOP was unable to kill the Affordable Care Act, the Trump administration began slowly, quietly smothering it. They cut this year’s enrollment period in half (Nov. 1 to Dec. 15). Then they cut the advertising budget, used to tell people when and how to enroll, by 90 percent. They’ve pro-rated the grants to groups that help people enroll based on their success last year. Making it difficult for new organizations to join the fight. The grants that are being awarded are being delayed until just before the start of the enrollment period. Most of these groups are non-profits and can’t act until they receive funds. Many Americans don’t realize the ACA is being smothered right before their eyes.

There are groups not only staying informed, but picking up the ball Donald Trump and the GOP intentionally grounded, and running with it. One group, the ACA Sign Up Project, used supporters’ social media accounts for a one-time post of enrollment dates and other information. On Saturday, Sept. 9, around 6 million Americans awoke to see what Trump didn’t want Americans thinking about. Groups like this one are working in their own communities all around the country.

Where to go for help:

Healthcare.gov

GetCoveredIllinois.org

GetCoveredAmerica.org has a connector where you can find an actual person (navigator) in your area by typing in your zip code.

Let’s show Harvey victims we care by donating money

Let’s show the Hurricane Harvey flood victims in Houston how much we in Madison County, Illinois care about them by calling the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 and donating whatever amount of money we can afford.

They would do this for us.

The ramifications of everyone going vegan

Amy Elizabeth thinks that going vegan is going to solve our problems of the “dead zone.” So then tell us: how all of us are going to eat? You think that people that work hard as I do and so many others can get by on a vegan diet? Laying brick or doing a roof, digging holes or so many other jobs that burn lots of calories and see if you can get by on vegan diet. A plant-based diet is not going to keep us hard workers going very long.

What about the mass unemployment that is going to take place? All the truck drivers not hauling cows and pigs to market. How many gas stations will be around with that many trucks gone? And what about the butchers all gone and no way to support their families? Are you going to take them in?

Goodbye, ballpark franks. McDonald’s and all fast food places now sit empty. All the steak places gone. Maybe they can all become fruit- and plant-selling places. No taxes from all the empty places and no one working. So what are they going to do for income?

And forget about hot dogs and a campfire and burgers on the grill come the Fourth of July. So let’s work on a better way of doing things as your way is just not going to make it for millions of people that need and want a job.

Flouting military rank

It disturbs me that Col. Lee Pitzer flouts his rank, as if it is important. We used to refer to his type as colonel of the urinal.

As for Col. Bill Malec, he writes intelligent, cogent letters. Thanks; we didn’t refer to you that way.

I thought we had gotten rid of Leonard Pitts Jr., the reverse racist. I think he was just moving from Washington to Miami. Maybe the BND could cease and desist with his racist columns.

From an old sergeant,

What is harmful and what is sinful

Insight for “Wife in Big D” in Dear Abby’s Aug 14, 2017 column.

Good news for all.

Smoking is harmful but not sinful. And it is not addictive! That is an excuse.

Reference: “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking,” by Allen Carr. There is nothing to buy except the book. It does not take willpower nor counseling.

Drunkenness is both harmful and sinful. It is a spiritual problem, which is not properly addressed by AA or Al-Anon. Nor is it addressed by pastors who are expected to counsel and provide the proper spiritual solution(s). Many health issues are caused by spiritual problems related to “sin.”

Reference: The books by Jay A. Adams.

That be as it may ... once again Allen Carr comes to the rescue. “The Easy Way to Stop Drinking” and/or “The Easy Way to Control Drinking”. Your choice. Books can be found on addall.com.

Allen has more interesting titles too. Get acquainted with Allen and you can save a lot of money and resolve these many other issues without beating yourself up over not having enough willpower.

This story was originally published September 13, 2017 at 11:58 AM with the headline "Letters to the editor for Sept. 14."