News Virginian LTE: 'Congress needs to adjust its priorities'

News Virginian Letter to Editor
October 3, 2013

This is disgusting. So the government is shut down. I can’t even take a trip to Shenandoah National Park. But at the same time, members of Congress still get paid. How does that make any sense? Why should a Congressional staffer still collect his $90,000 paycheck when the park ranger making $30,000 just got furloughed? As usual, it’s a case of both parties looking out for their own self interest.

I agree with Wednesday’s editorial, Congress does need to adjust its priorities. Unfortunately, they won’t. You and I both know it. I’m a Republican, but even I can see the Democrats in the Senate won’t defund Obamacare. So why are we screwing over people to “fight” for something that’s never going to happen? I’ll tell you why. It’s so these Republicans in Congress can come back to all of us and say well, we gave it our best shot. We failed, but at least we tried.

No, they didn’t try. If you know the answer to something is going to be no, why ask the question? Instead of shutting down government, why not work toward a compromise? I teach my kids that they may not get everything they want. Sometimes they have to be the bigger person and work things out with someone. It’s time for Congress to do the same.

Greg Miller
Waynesboro

Valley military families ... 'A special homecoming'

Today's News Virginian has a story, A special homecoming, about a Valley soldier who returned from Afghanistan to see his six-month old daughter for the first time.

This is yet another way our military sacrifices for our freedom. Imagine not being able to stand with your wife as she gave birth to your first child because you were deployed with the Army halfway around the world. We can never thank our troops enough for what they do.

"For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."

Cross-posted at Facebook