Priorities in Our Country

I know we are in one of the greatest countries in the world and I am blessed to be here. I just watch what goes on all over this world and at times I can not understand our priorities.

A few weeks ago Michael Jackson died and the whole world shut down. I know this man was a famous artist since childhood and very good at what he had done. He had a tainted past which happens to many of us but this man was a drug addict. Yes, I understand this was an illness and it is sad that he died.

Last week Ted Kennedy died from a brain tumor. This man also had a tainted past which I feel it is hard for anyone to live the perfect life. The fact is that this man stood up for our country for over 50 years as a Senator. We all may not have liked him but he was voted in and fought for what he felt was best for our country.

The evening of this man's funeral there was one television station showing his funeral in the dark. God forbid they cut out the preseason football games that were on the other stations. This totally amazed me. It's not like Kennedy was someone you had never heard of. He was from a famous family that had always been involved in politics serving out country. Yes the funeral ran late but couldn't they have stood by prepared in case of the fact this funeral would have run later. Show a little respect please.

Then we have men and women serving our country all over the world. All sacrificing time away from their families and risking their lives to serve our country. Yes, this is the job they had signed up for. What are they paid? How are they treated if injured or mentally damaged from war? They come back from war suffering or worrying about their lives and what support is does our government provide. They should not even have to worry about their future after those kind of stresses. We who have not been there can only imagine what it is like to go to bed hearing gun fire and the whistle of RLGs never know where they will hit. What kind of rest can you get through all of this?

Believe me. I know. My father was a Viet Nam vet with problems from Agent Orange. When trying to pursue this problem he fought up hill the whole way. His records were conveniently lost for when he was in Viet Nam to the six months he had spent in a VA hospital after his return home. We had to prove everything whereas after a lot of research I managed too. He received 10% more in benefits which was an admission from the government to me. This took years and why. Why should he or any other person that served our country go through this?

Did you know when records are missing, they are supposed to take the vet's word of where he was? When they told me he was not in Viet Nam I told them to tell me where he was at that time. Never did get that answer but he did get his 10%.

If you are a football player, very good at your sport they will offer you millions to play on a foot ball team for years. If you are good at any of the popular sports life is handed to you on a silver platter.

I understand these monies come from different purses but where are our priorities. What about the wives that lose their husbands and children who will never see their father or mother again? This is sad to me. This is totally awful.

You have kids in school that are honor society and find it hard to earn a grant or two. Then your best playing athletes are handed full scholarships. I know, sports draw attention to the schools. Priorities........

I know these funds are not all the same or connected in anyway but maybe it's time for some kind of balance. Balance of our priorities. We have millions of people that need jobs and health care yet we send billions of dollars to other countries. Yes it is not as simple as that but don't you feel we should start keeping this money in our country for our people. I believe our tax dollars should start helping us more. Help US citizens. Put freeze caps where they are needed like medical costs. Why are we charged $10 for an aspirin in a hospital. A night in a hospital could cost you for a couple years. It's ridiculous.

I'm sorry I had to jump on my soapbox. I just get so frustrated. I know there is so much more to this situation that I just can't understand. Can you? What can we do to turn this around? Who can we make listen?

I don't want an answer of why it is. I want an answer about how these things will change. Why is what can seem so easy be so complicated? Why can't our government work together instead of fighting each other about everything? Why can't everyone work on this?