To the Editor:

I recall some 65 years ago when citizens were often complaining about their governments, primarily about their inabilities to furnish all the desired benefits to these citizens. So here we are 65 years later and the complaints, it seems, have gotten more and more about more and more (benefits or goodies). With misnamed “government benefits” from one of the three governmental entities — county, state or federal — on our wish lists, the matter is simple but unappreciated. There are too many riding on the wagon and too few (taxpayers) pushing said wagon.

My observations are that our commissioners and legislators do a great job with the dollars that they have to fill the holes in the state’s dike. Neither Haywood nor the state has the monetary assets to solve each problem that wanders through the minds of our voters. It might be wise for any group seeking a substantial amount of aid for any project to be required to develop a comprehensive plan for the availability of the requested funds. 

There is no free lunch, and if you have some suggestions for resolving these issues please submit them in writing or email to our elected representatives. Or even better, sign up to run for office so that we don’t have to wait for your suggestions to wind through the system. 

How about me? I don’t think that I can get the votes after this letter, and I’m too old to put up with foolishness from the uninformed. If the shoe fits, wear it; if not, try the socialist program of tight everything, including shoes. Look around you: there are more regulations, statutes, directives, etc., than a show dog can jump over just to tell us how to brush our teeth or pull them out.

What I want to say is that things can get worse very soon, and what is complained about now will be minute compared to what’s on the way. Let’s talk about the Armed Forces; they’ve been gutted by political bungling at the highest level, as many good troops have opted out of a force that is not permitted to win without apologies. The women are now on the front lines (if there are any), and I’m confident will fight as hard as anyone to prevail. However, we’ve not witnessed body bags filled with parts of a female yet, but it’s coming.

You know, of course, that a body bag should be renamed “a body part bag.” Rough but true. After a number of years of mendacity by the Armed Forces and their civilian bosses, truth might seem a bit callous. But this country needs some truth, and a thought among many is that it’s coming.

Let’s give our elected officials our appreciation for their efforts to try to make two dollars out of one; and try to plug the holes created to a large degree by regulatory authority, without — you guessed it — the necessary financing for the mandated items.

Let’s all push the wagon. We can’t support those who can push but desire to ride. Get off and help us.

KG Watson

Maggie Valley