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February 14, 2013
A dear friend of mine recently
sent me a proposed 28th
Amendment to the Constitution that
has been the object of much discus-
sion among card-carrying, staunch
Republicans like himself.
Frankly, it sounds like a great
idea to me. Better than great, it
sounds overdue and a measure that
should have been enacted years ago,
not only to ensure the well being of
those who serve in our armed
forces, but the rest of us who pay the
bills for the current elected officials
inWashington, D.C.
My friend said that he has never
been able to understand why young
men and women who serve our
country in the military, where they
risk their lives protecting our free-
dom, only receive 50 percent of their
wageswhen they retire as a pension.
“I've asked and asked,” he said,
and there isn't anybody who has any
explanation thatmakes any sense.
“It makes even less sense when
those who hold political position in
the safe confines of the Capitol, pro-
tected by these same men and
women, receive full-pay retirement
after serving only one term. Plus all
the benefits like health insurance.”
So, my friend has come across
what he calls the Proposed 28th
Amendment and he is joining a cam-
paign to make sure everyone in
America knows about it and sup-
ports it. His proposal reads:
“Congress shall make no law that
applies to the citizens of the United
States that does not apply equally to
the Senators and/or Representatives
in Congress and Congress shall
make no law that applies to the
Senators and/or Representatives
that does not apply equally to the cit-
izens of theUnitedStates”.
I know, I know, I've been on this
soapbox before and it got nowhere,
but the current state of partisan divi-
siveness in the capital of our nation
is the chief factor in getting us into
this current state of conspicuous
inaction. I amunable to name one of
them, from either political party,
whose main objective seems not to
be getting reelected and pleasing
their party officials, lobbyists and
campaign contributors long before
even considering the welfare of
thosewho foolishly elected them.
To realize then, that these politi-
cal gamesmen and women, are
treated so much better than our vet-
erans is appalling. Many of our
returning vets have to fight another
war of paperwork when they arrive
home from a
combat zone to
receive medical
treatment for
injuries, often crippling handicaps,
sustained on behalf of and at the
behest of these people who sit on
their exceptionally well-padded
rears and argue about everything
without ever accomplishing any-
thing.
I find it equally distressing to dis-
cover that not only do these elected
senators and representatives
receive the full salary of their office
when they leave office, they go with
full coverage health care which is
extended to their children and, I
was told last week, to their grand-
children. I can't find any proof of
that one, but then again, I can't find
any proof that it isn't fact, either.
This is simply more proof of the
disparity between those of us who
vote and those of us who win those
votes. I think my friend is really on
to something here and this would be
a good start, but as I reread his sim-
ple language I realized that it would
be pretty simple for these profes-
sional politicians to find a loophole
big enough to drive an armored car
loaded with taxpayers' money
through.
But it is a good idea andmaybe, if
enough people get behind it and
demand it, or something akin to it,
there might be some reform in our
Congress and those we elected
might realize that we are not the
sheep they have come to depend on
to quietly accept their poor job per-
formance and undeserved and
unearnedpay.
Ahwell, we candream, I guess.
We'd like to take just a moment to remind everyone of the
incredible bargain they receive with their police and fire
departments.
A memorial planned by Wayne County to honor public
safety officers who have died in the line of duty is, we think, a
fitting tribute that is long overdue.
These are the guys who run into burning buildings, run
toward the toxic waste spill to try to clean it up, put them-
selves between you and the guy with the gun and chase the
drunk driver down to get him off the street before he does
youharm.
These are the same men and women who are spit on, hit,
sworn at, insulted and attacked physically with knives, guns
and fists, not tomention some incredibly creative obscenities.
These are the people who save your life when you fall off a
ladder, have a heart attack or slip and fall off the curb or walk
into the local bank in the middle of an armed holdup. Yeah,
these are the peoplewho do that, day after day after day.
These are the peoplewho comewhen you call 911.
These are also the people who are the first targets of any
community budget cuts, the employees first asked to reduce
their number and cut costs. These are the people communi-
ties usually look to for wage cuts, hiring freezes and any other
reductions they can think of to cut costs when there isn't
enoughmoney to cover all the expenses a community faces.
These are the men and women who put their lives on the
line every single day. These are the people who never know,
for sure, if they will come home from work that day. These
are the peoplewhohave diedprotecting their communities.
Many local municipalities or service clubs routinely honor
their police and fire personnel with Officer of the Year pre-
sentations and citations for bravery and actions above the
call of duty. Those are some of the most moving, and eye-
opening, events anyone can ever attend. The performance of
these men and women rivals anything one might see on an
episode, or a whole season, of Law and Order or Chicago
Fire. The stories that are told about the actions of these men
andwomen in the face of danger, adversity or serious tragedy
makes the stuff of many actionmovies andmurder mysteries
pale by comparison.
Most of their days, however, are not that glamorous or
exciting. They spend a lot of time doing paperwork, arresting
drunks and calming domestic disputes. They travel to minor
medical situations that need no more than a Band-Aid, far
more often than they would like. But they are always pre-
pared to do whatever it takes in a major emergency or threat
situation. Always. That's what they have been trained to do
and that is what they love about the careers they have cho-
sen.
We have long been puzzled by the lack of appreciation
shown these men and women outside their own depart-
ments. Often, that lack of appreciation comes from the very
people who should best understand what these men and
women do and howcritical they are to thewell being and via-
bility of any community.
So, this is just a reminder to us all. They are easy targets of
criticism, pay cuts, bullets and insults and have even been
the objects of political vengeance. What they deserve is the
respect and appreciation of the people they have sworn to
serve andprotect.
Thismemorial is a fitting tribute to themand a small mark
of the gratitude and respect they deserve.
What they deserve is the respect and
appreciation of the people they
have sworn to serve and protect.
”
County memorial is long overdue tribute
Another
sign of
the times
Those dining outdoors in down-
town Plymouth next summer might
want to take special care with their
appearance. After all, theywill most
likely be on camera.
Plymouth City Commission
members recently approved a plan
allegedly proposed by the
Downtown Development Authority
to require surveillance cameras at
any restaurant in the downtown
area that offers outdoor dining.
This is the same city that
approved a measure to ticket those
parked for longer than the two or
three hours allowed-waiving the
fine the first time but upping it
incrementally to $75 for any third
parking offense.
What a great place for business.
What a way to encourage shopping
and dining in the community. What
a warm, welcome feeling visitors
must receive when they receive a
$25 parking ticket for sitting at an
outdoor table having lunch while
being carefully and overtly scruti-
nizedby a surveillance camera.
Ah, well, it is the wave of the
future, we guess. After all, London
has more surveillance cameras
than any other city in the world. A
visitor there cannot avoid being
under surveillance at all times, and
according to officials, it has helped
curtail crime and even aided in the
capture of terrorist bombers.
We just find this future unpleas-
ant. We long for the Norman
Rockwell atmosphere that down-
town Plymouth, particularly, used to
exude. We thought that was the
community that people in that town
wanted and strived to perpetuate
and continue. But, apparently, that
isn't a luxury available any longer.
City officials have said that din-
ers won't even notice the cameras,
which alsomakes us a little sad. Are
we so used to constantly being in
the presence of potential wrongdo-
ing, we don't even notice the inva-
sion of our privacy anymore? That's
a very depressing sign of the times.
Officials have also said that the
cameras will help the restaurant
operators, too, because it will pre-
vent thefts of the furniture and
equipment they leave outdoors.
Once more, we find that a sad com-
mentary on the current state of
affairs in our rapidly changing
world.
The cameras are also needed,
we've read, because the city has
reduced the police force so this
mechanical crime deterrent is
needed in place of officers on the
street.
That, too, is anunpleasant reality
in too many communities facing
decreased property tax revenue. It
seems the first place officials look to
reduce expenses is often public
This is simply more proof
of the disparity between those
of us who vote and those of us
who win those votes.
”
Another terrific, non-partisan new amendment
See
Cameras,
page 7