In regards to While America Slept, by Kerri Ellen Wilder.

First let me say, I think she is one of the finest journalist I have read, and I read a lot.

I have saved all her commentarys of While America Slept.

It should be required reading for every Congressperson and Senator and someone should explain it to the President.

It is the best Journalism I have read on what has gone wrong with our government.

How can we fix it? We vote and vote and it gets worse and worse. Our government gets bigger and bigger; we get taxed more and more.

It seems like it can’t be fixed when the rules are constantly changing.

In spite of it all, Thank You, Kerri.

Sincerely,

George Hettiger

Montrose, PA

Ann Coulter called Donald Trump's plan for immigration reform the “greatest political document since the Magma Carta.” An exaggeration to be sure but one intended to emphasize a point. Trump's proposal is really what it says it is: immigration reform. But it's more like a transformation than a reformation.

When politicians talk about immigration reform they mean amnesty. It started in 1986 with a blanket amnesty for 2.7 million illegals. Since that time there have been six more amnesties, granting citizenship to an additional 2.5 million illegals. The Schumer-Rubio immigration bill would be amnesty No. 8.

It is the corporations, not the people, that want “immigration reform,” code for open borders and cheap labor and they are willing to pay for it. Look at the cost of the last six presidential campaigns.

The cost for Bill Clinton's two presidential campaigns was $625 million. Bush's two-term campaigns hit the billion dollar mark with $1.2 billion. And Obama's two-terms cost $1.7 billion. Those billions didn't come from change-jar donations.

But finally there's a candidate with deep pockets, the business savvy, and a testicular mentality, that can break the stranglehold in what has become a corpocracy, a takeover of elections and government by Big Business.

Trump is a self-made multi-billionaire not beholden to any person, party, or private interest. His promise is to Make American Great Again. Its foundation is his six-page immigration transformation document.

The multinationals dread it, as will those who accept tens of millions of dollars from the mega corps to fill their campaign coffers. Trump makes over $1 million/day. He can take them on.

But first, what Trump's plan is not.

The media marginalizes it as an unworkable scheme to round-up tens of millions of illegals, then reminiscent of a great Mexicali cattle drive, and herd them back into the land of cactuses and sombreros.

Nonsense. It they had troubled themselves to read the document, as this writer has, they would have noted that it neither says nor hints at any such absurdity.

It begins in concrete terms, with a concrete and steel wall across the southern border. A wall paid for by Mexico, thank you.

But why would Mexico pay for the wall?

Trump, like Don Vito Corleone, said, “I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.” To refuse is to have all monies sent by immigrants to their homeland impounded. Trump cites the sum at $22 billion/year, others say it is twice that. Next, increase fees on border crossing cards, hike the cost of NAFTA worker visas, and boost fees at ports of entry to the US from Mexico. Our southern neighbor will soon see footing the bill for the barrier as a bargain.

Triple the number of Immigration and Custom Officers. This will be funded by eliminating the tax credit payment to illegals.

Deport all illegals with a criminal record. If a country will not accept its criminals, then all visas to that country would be canceled. (Obama released 76,000 illegals with criminal convictions in 2013 alone.)

Defund sanctuary cities. A sanctuary city shelters illegals. Any city that refuses to obey federal law would be cut-off from all federal grants.

End birthright or anchor-baby citizenship. Anchor baby is a term for a child born in the US by an illegal alien mother whereby the baby, his parents, and his siblings are also granted citizenship. But its basis in law is questionable.

Federal law prevents anyone under the age of 21 to apply for citizenship. The newborn's parents and his family would have to wait 21 years to have their immigration status reviewed.

Nevertheless, maternity tourism is big business. Some 40,000 pregnant “tourists” give birth in the US annually. In time, these anchor babies serve as gateways for more illegals to become citizens.

The number of babies born to illegal alien mothers, both “tourist” and resident, is 400,000/yr. Uncle Schmuck pays for the cost of delivery. Then the mothers receive benefits from the Women-Infants-Children (WIC) program. When the anchor babies reach age 21, their families become eligible for citizenship and government entitlements.

The combined federal/state net outlay for services and benefits provided to illegal aliens amounts to $100 billion annually. It's time to end this economically unsustainable and constitutionally untenable practice.

Requirement to hire American workers first. U-6 is the most comprehensive measure of unemployment. As of July, 2015 it was 10.4 percent. That translates to 16 million Americans who are jobless (figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). With a crumbling middle class, illegals displacing American workers can no longer be tolerated.

End welfare abuse. Every immigrant must prove that he will not become a burden to the state. Not being able to do so would obviate his petition for citizenship.

No one denies that the difficulties, disruptions and courtroom disputes of implementing true immigration reform are formidable, but the cost of not doing so are staggering and potentially catastrophic.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA

This is a response to Cynthia Allen and Nancy Ross concerning “Planned Parenthood.” Will the two of you agree to have on our Federal Income tax forms a box that we can check for those who wish to contribute to Planned Parenthood; and next to it amounts of $5.00, $10.00 etc. or write your amount you wish to donate? You can have it as a deduction from your Federal return or you can send a check payable to Planned Parenthood.

Months ago, I wrote in the Susquehanna County Transcript, “Why should people (every American) be forced to pay for Planned Parenthood’s Abortion procedures? Perhaps the two of you should be forced to pay for my vasectomy.

Perhaps it is your ages. In my younger days I felt that having an abortion before three months of a woman’s pregnancy was ok, until one day while plucking a young tomato plant out of the soil making way for the more vibrant thriving ones, I saw the roots of the tomato plant and my left eye shed a tear. “Dear Creator forgive me, as my head pointed upward to the heavenly blue sky. I am sorry, I am sorry for life begins when it takes root.”

Dear God, forgive me more, for having a vasectomy, for now I am as a tree that can no longer bear fruit.

You see dear women life is a gift and I treasure this gift each and every day. You see dear women my mother was raped.

You can not tell me that most pregnancies are due to rape. However, even if they were, someone like me is thankful for life. My mother worked as a seamstress in a “sweat shop”, making very little money. She was thrown out of her home, because her Italian Father said she brought disgrace on the family. She refused to give me up.

Today, I am making a difference. Penn National Bank of New Milford listened to my plea to continue its food drive every November and December. Now it will continue indefinitely.

I served our beautiful country during the Vietnam War and today serve as a volunteer for the Veterans Administration.

Many locals know me at the Harford Fire Department, where I am a member.

Ten percent (10%) of my fracking (gas royalty) money goes to those in need.

There are many more examples. However, my greatest accomplishment is to comfort those women who have had an abortion and are seeking council.

My reply to them is this: I too made some bad decisions when I was younger. Ask our Creator for forgiveness and it will happen. He has forgiven and blessed me, and in return, I give back.

I can only pray that this response will stop one more woman from obtaining an abortion.

Sincerely,

Larry Gary

Gibson, PA

After attempting to weather the tsunami of words entitled “While America Slept,” I asked myself: does anyone actually have the time to wade through these coma-inducing, self-indulgent rants? Thomas Jefferson said, “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” To Jefferson, I say a single word: Amen. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, regarded as the greatest war speech in American history, was a succinct 272 words. Does the writer of the 2000-word piece which could have been called “While America Took out the Trash” believe anyone is absorbing these yawn-producing posturing, except as a treatment for intractable insomnia? No subheads were granted to gently guide one through the meandering treatise. Did I, as a reader, come away feeling that I learned something of value, that the hour or two taken from my finite life to lumber through it was an investment in my intellectual future? Or at least given me something I could use as an ice-breaker at a smart dinner party? No, what was left was a Berlin wall of impenetrable utterances. Did the writer think the piece had more bite because 5 times more words were used than necessary? In my opinion, this user-unfriendly long-windedness renders the writer’s position impotent and shrill. The writer does not deserve publication as much as begs to be diagnosed with inflammation of the keyboard. How many trees could have been saved had this writer blue-penciled her thoughts to a length that is considerate of the reader’s time? An effective column should be pithy, state its case, and, like a good houseguest, not overstay its welcome. The article should not ramble into perpetuity, boring to death even the most faithful dog. No one is denying a person’s constitutional right to free speech. But for the love of Mike, will you just get to the point?

Sincerely,

Ron Gasbarro

New Milford, PA