The government shut down. If we knew our civics, we would know that the government doesn’t “shut down”, like average folks might think.

The President and all the Senate and Congress criminals will still get paid and enjoy the perks. Even after they are voted out, or die.

The shut down is the folks who go to work each day and have no say in the policy they are the ones considered “non-essential” and are now being told to sign up for unemployment.

What offends me to the core, is that we are governed by fools.

The policy is what needs changing. No perks or benefits after serving two terms of four years. (If re-elected) Period.

All government is local, so the rules would apply from the federal level, state level, and county, borough and township level. I believe when you can’t make a career of being a fool, you might not want to run the a position. We might then get the government that we deserve.

I find it hard to believe that the ones that are currently part of this colossal boondoggle are the best and brightest America has to offer. I also understand money is the only reason that you can get elected. It costs much money to run a campaign. It’s a pity for the American citizen. Our best folks aren’t into politics because they don’t want to sell their soul to a lobbyist.

Hopefully, my children’s generation will indeed see and understand the current political climate that the elders created, realize the whole thing needs to be scraped, and then do it.

Right now it’s a choking sensation I get when I think of government policy and its attack on the American way of life. If we want to still be considered the best hope for the world, then we need to remove all the current players, all the benefits and perks, and get back to the basics.

Do we even know what the basics are? If we don’t, then the dumbing down of Americans is working.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Allen

Summersville, PA

Our U.S. Military deserves praise and respect. We did not lose the war in Afghanistan!  Our Military and the wounded and dead should always be remembered as heroes. Our Country went to war for the terrible attack by the radical Muslims who insanely killed thousands of innocent people in N.Y.C., Pennsylvania and Washington, DC on September 11, 2001. Please - never put any dishonor on the wounded, dead and the Military who served in Afghanistan or Iraq. 

Could you please tell living Military persons and many that are horribly scarred or with limbs missing or blind - that you are so proud of their service? They were all Volunteers! Shame on you that attack the brave that are defending the U.S.A.

Sincerely,

Bruce Moorhead

Susquehanna, Pa.

This Sunday, October 13th, marks the anniversary of the great ‘Miracle of the Sun, the day the sun danced in the sky’. Four months prior, Mary said to the shepherd children Jacinta Francesco and Lucias, “In October I will perform a miracle so everyone can believe”. Can you believe that Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, conceived without original sin, our creators most holy and blessed mother was sent with a message and mission to the church “Say, God wills to establish in the world devotion to my ‘Immaculate Heart’. ‘If my requests are granted, a period of peace will be given to the world. If not, Russia will spread her errors, (communism – imparticular abortion on demand) raising up wars and persecution of the church, the good will be martyred and the holy father will have much to suffer.”

Good news. Pope Francis has commanded all the bishops in the world to join him in consecrating Russia to ‘the Immaculate Heart of Mary’ in their cathedrals at the same time. As Mary said, if Russia is not consecrated a nation cannot convert, return to the Holy Sea and witness to the whole world the reign of Christ in all things. Better known as: the triumph of ‘The Immaculate Heart over Satan’.

For current information on this event and it’s complete history go to www.fatima.org. If you can attend the local prayer rally in support of this magnificent blessing upon all the peoples in the world, it’s Saturday, Oct. 12 at Noon, in Schneider’s parking lot. May the good Lord continue to bless America in this great cause of liberty and justice.

Sincerely,

John Mann

Lanesboro, PA

Recently, I was in Saint John’s Cemetery, clearing away the brush about my family’s graves. Just so happens, my brother Angelo’s daughter is coming up from Virginia to visit her father’s grave.

Anyway, my sister’s grave abuts a patch of tiger lilies. While I was tending to her grave, I happened to notice those flowers were pretty well hiding two markers. Why I should’ve gone about clearing away brush from around them, I really still have no exact idea … no skin off my nose.

Maybe, it’s because I remembered reading in my Baltimore catechism something about a certain corporal work of mercy. It involves burying the dead. Maybe, it also involves showing some concern for the final resting place.

What I read on one of those once hidden markers made an impression on me. The dates were 1869 – 1903. So, Anthony A. Steinbrecher has been deceased for about110 years. The guy must’ve spoken with Civil War veterans, and likely enough veterans of the Spanish-American War. If I may trust my German, the surname translates as “stone breaker”.

I would be remiss, if I failed to mention what I read on the other marker, which belongs to Anna L. King, who died decades later. And next to hers, one can easily find the one belonging to Thomas King, who pre-deceased her by about 40 years.

For my part, I do hope this reader’s letter proves helpful to the families of the deceased, especially, Mr. Steinbrecher. Perhaps, this letter will be useful to the good people in charge of ancestry.com, which maintains genealogical records.

Sincerely,

A. Alexander Stella

Susquehanna, PA

Exactly what are weapons of mass destruction (WMD)? The generally accepted definition by the US government and the public is that they are nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons (NBC). But there is no treaty or international law that contains an authoritative definition. In other words, WMD are what the U.S. government says they are.

In any discussion of WMD two key facts must be kept in mind: 1) the definition is purely arbitrary and purposely limited, and 2) the US’s anger concerning the use of poison gas—-an “official” WMD—in Syria is hypocritical and self-serving.

While the US takes the high ground campaigning against the use of WMD, it takes the low ground of maintaining a “clear superiority” in all three NBC weapons. The US has between 5,000 and 8,000 nuclear warheads.

However, the US’s possession of biological weapons is unclear. Although the US ratified the Geneva Protocol against biological agents it has refused on-cite verification arguing that it could interfere with legitimate biological research. The nature of that research was not specified.

Chemical weapons are another gray area. What are chemical weapons? By custom, they are understood to mean poison gas. Under this limited definition, the US has about 9,000 tons of poison gas. The MGM-29 Sergeant missile had the capacity to carry 330 bomblets each loaded with 1.3 pounds of sarin nerve gas. Although most of these missiles have since been destroyed, it is not known if they were superseded by a more advanced design.

But what about the chemical weapons outside the narrow definition of WMD, for example Agent Orange and Agent Blue?

About 76,000 tons of these chemical agents were used in Vietnam as defoliants and to poison crops. An estimated 500,000 Vietnamese died from the numerous health problems caused by these chemical weapons.

Should Agent Orange and Agent Blue be included in WMD?

Another under-the-radar chemical weapon is a sticky gasoline gel called napalm. Once on the skin it cannot be rubbed off. It burns at a blistering 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit through muscle and bone. The pain is so intense that it often is the cause of death.

The chemical white phosphorous, or Willie Pete is used in incendiary munitions. During WW II B-24s dropped unnumbered tons on Germany and Japan setting entire cities ablaze. At times more were killed in a single raid than in either A-bomb attack on Nagasaki or Hiroshima.

White phosphorous is also used in anti-personal projectile weapons, such as artillery, mortars, and missiles. Upon detonation they spray into flakes burning hot enough to melt steel.

Should napalm and white phosphorous be considered WMD?

What about ordinary bombs?

For example, a typical formation of three B-52s over Vietnam would kill everything—-plants, animals, and humans—-in one square mile. From a mile away the shock wave would tear out a person’s eardrums leaving him permanently deaf.

A survivor wrote, “The terror was complete. One lost control of bodily function. Uncontrollable trembling and wet pants [were] the all-too-obvious outward signs of inner convulsions.”

Is B-52 carpet bombing a WMD? What about just a single bomb?

The JDAM is a guided bomb with pinpoint accuracy. It falls silently to Earth from a plane too high to see. Then it detonates. Instantly a fireball of 8,500 degrees Fahrenheit vaporizes everything in a fiery sphere. The “pinpoint” accuracy creates a crater 50-feet across and 36-feet deep.

Tons of rock, soil, and white-hot bomb fragments fly out faster than the speed of sound. The shrapnel and shock wave will shred flesh, tear off limbs, rupture lungs, and burst sinus cavities, in a hailstorm of destruction.

The government’s narrow limits of WMD is self-serving. It leads one to believe that weapons, other than the WMD big three, are more humane. With the exception of nuclear weapons, there are many weapons excluded from the “official” WMD list that are more terrifying and have greater lethality. In the past, US has used them all to gain political and military advantage.

With the full knowledge of President Ronald Reagan, the US enabled Iraq’s president, Saddam Hussein, to use sarin gas in its war against Iran in 1988. The current objection to Syria’s alleged use of sarin is hypocritical. One suspects that regime change in that nation is the real motivating force behind the US’ outrage.

There’s more Syria than sarin in the current international fracas.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA

My body has an ingrown hair that becomes a cyst. A doctor prescribes cephalexin a cost of $8.00 at the Veterans Administration (VA). A Dermatologist inspects this cyst as she is also viewing me for melanomas. She recommends Mupirocin Ointment in place of Neosporin to apply over the infection. She estimates a cost around $16.00.

There is a Giant Supermarket on the way home and I go in there to compare the savings from ordering through the VA. A person behind the counter quotes me $48.00. I politely say no thank you and leave.

On the way home is Lenox Drug Store, I inquire to see how much they will charge me. It is $16.00 as it should be per my Dermatologist. I politely say to the owner’ “no thank you” for the VA will charge me $8.00. “You can’t beat”, that price he says with a smile. He is a very honest person and my wife and I order prescriptions from them every month for my wife’s conditions. Lenox Pharmacy is a good place to purchase your drugs.

A nurse informs me at the VA that this prescription will take a least one week ordering it through them. I reply my Dermatologist wishes me to take the medicine now. She informs me to go to Weiss, which is only two blocks away in Binghamton, New York. She says, “It should only cost around $14.00 dollars.”

At the counter of Weiss is a female, and I hand over the prescription to her. She informs me that it will cost $48.00. I am furious and inform her of the information of a VA nurse’s quote of much less. I say to her, my nurse recommends others before me to obtain the same medicine from here. She says to me, “Wait, perhaps you may qualify for a lower amount.” She says, “Yes we can charge you $14.29 dollars since you qualify.” (Please, no reply to me in next weeks “Letter to the Editor” what makes me qualify since she never gives me an answer.)

I state to her, out of principal, I should not take this. However, Lenox is quite opposite from here. Is there a reason why you did not quote a lower estimate in the first place? She replies, “I was only doing what Weiss procedure recommends.” A manager is present and says, “Had she quoted you the lesser price and it cost more, you might be more upset.” (To me this is a cover your butt statement.) I take the medicine and say to the female at the counter, “Don’t take it personally my being upset. I know you are only doing what the store recommends.” Then I leave the store.

According to a friend, he also experiences the same with Weiss and Giant. However, he discovers that other drugs they offer are less expensive than some drug.

My wife takes Cymbalta. The withdrawals are horrendous. I wrote about this disgusting drug many months ago. My wife used to order it through Wegman’s. The basic charge is $525.00 for a months supply. She informs her doctor of her dilemma and the doctor gives her free samples until she applies through a Corporation that supplies this drug. She qualifies and obtains this drug free of charge.

What is the moral of the story? Inquire through your doctor or nurse an approximate cost to purchase a drug or its generic equivalent. (Some doctors do not recommend generics.) Make sure when purchasing from any supermarket that you challenge the cost. Shop around. Finally, you may qualify for some type of assistance. Thus, check all of your options, Federal, State, Insurance Company, and the company selling them. Once you are 65 years old, there may be more options.

I recall reading an article, some weeks ago, by Amy Randall the troubles she has to obtain special medication for her son. There is also local advertisement on local Television or cable stations that may help one’s situation.

I hope this message will benefit some of you.

Sincerely,

Larry Gary

Gibson, PA