Edmond Dantes Vongehr - Protestors United: Alternative Solutions

T he Declaration of Independence states when in the course of events, it becomes necessary for the people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and God entitle them, a decent respect to opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by a Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience has shown that mankind is more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, invariably pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is right, and it is their duty to throw off such government and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies, and such is now the necessity that constrains them to alter their former systems of government.

The following pages were collected from letters to the editor of the local newspapers, as well as articles by national columnistsall pertaining to the political, economic, and social condition of the country. This book offers alternative answers and solutions for a functional governance of the people, for the people, and by the people on changes for a higher standard of living for all Americans, who are authorized by the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rightsmostly the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The reasons for this book follow:

No. 1

Restructure the Economy

In Japan, the average CEO salary is 23 times that of the average hourly-wage worker. In the United States, its 233 times, and was touring 77 times before the recession. In Germany, 50 percent of the corporation boards must consist of the workers. Germany rarely outsources work to other countries. In France, workers are mandated in guaranteed five weeks paid vacation per year. My generation (baby boomers a.k.a. the weed and greed generation), through American capitalism, has destroyed the livelihood of our children and childrens children by outsourcing jobs to other countries. To counter this economic treason, immediately these sanctions must be put into place. In all stores in the United States, the inventory must consist than 80 percent product made in USA. Textile is maybe imported United States, but all clothes and shoes must be assembled in the USA. Cars built in the USA must be made of 80 percent American-made parts. American capitalism, the federal government, as well as our outdated Constitution failed us. We need to look to South Africa to rewrite our Constitution, and to France, Germany, Canada, and Australia to restructure our repugnant economic system.

Mike E. Miles, Medford

No. 2

Pool Failure Disappointing

I was very disappointed to see that the bond for the pools and Medford did not pass. I just got home from living in Germany for the last five years where we had six, yes six, modem pools within fifteen minutes from our house between two towns the size of Center Pointthree of them were indoors. I voted yes 48m parents have a big in-ground pool and never mind the grandkids and never mind the grandkids coming over and swimming. Have we really just become so attached to a machine that we cant think beyond our front door? We cant look out and see the bigger picture and how this would help many, many people in the community? And not to mention Hawthorne Park in dire need of some kind of change.