OPINION:
As I approach my ninth decade, I often reminisce and ponder the memorable moments and events in my life. I am happy and grateful to report that I participated in, benefitted from and lived through the most productive and prosperous years of America. As the coronavirus spreads its misery, I am witness to the slow transformation of America. The country I know and grew up in is no longer and will not return.
Not only has the virus changed the way we communicate and associate with one another, but our response to it has exposed corrupt, dishonest and deceitful behaviors by our elected officials, which threatens our country. Why weren’t we told America is dependent on antibiotics and health care products made in China, and that we don’t even produce aspirin? Why and how did this happen? Our politicians have lied about their nefarious connections and dealings with China for years.
The virus has disrupted our economy and when Congress was asked to provide aid to small businesses in order to maintain payrolls, some elected officials, so as not to let a crisis go to waste, included payouts to the Kennedy Center, multimillion-dollar conglomerates and their favorite donors. Our national debt is now more than $24 trillion, which equals $802,000 per taxpayer.
For the past few months, we have been subjected to countless sermons by politicians extolling the virtues and increasing the power of government. Perhaps we should take a moment and ponder who and what has exacerbated this calamity.
ED KONECNIK
Flushing, N.Y.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.