I have read all of the recent Republican columns but none with rhetoric so blatantly obvious as Al Arends, co-chairman for the Freeborn County Republican Party. Mr. Al Arends, whether or not Europeans “use” their ancient churches or maintain them for tourist trade is none of our business. The point you really wanted to make is that Europeans receive many benefits and therefore are, in your words, “tired, stagnant, afraid of venturing out and taking risks.” What Mr. Arends and the Republican Party fear is that Americans may want to emulate their cousins and demand a few benefits of our own. This requires a government — and that is what Republicans typically hate governments that have the power to regulate,

To further stress how shameful it is to receive any govermental handouts, Mr. Arends wrote about some fictional people who are rewarded but “decide not to work or fail to take risk.” Please, sir, tell us who these people are so that thousands can run and take the jobs they are refusing. As for the risk you will have to explain that as well. I know the middle class was wiped out for taking risks while the rich and powerful took our tax money for a bailout. We remember still.

I realize the Republicans are all keyed up over the latest Supreme Court ruling, but I would advise them not to count their chickens as it will be a cold day before the Democrats go back to the Bush years. Citizens still have faith in the Democratic Party. The party that gave us Social Security, Medicaid, veterans health care and Medicare. We could not literally live without them. Understandably, we will have to rid our party of the running dogs and Blue Dogs, but anything is better than having “corporatism” over us. How do you get rid of something like that?

Richard Trumka, head of the AFL/CIO, when asked why the unions side with the Democrats after being disappointed so often, replied, “With the Democrats, there is always hope. With the Republicans, there is no hope whatsoever. They hate our guts.”

Mary Milliron

Hollandale