DEAR EDITOR:
We are at the 49th anniversary of arguably America's greatest tragedy, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
In less than three years in office, Kennedy started the Peace Corps, initiated the largest civil rights movement in history, effectively attacked and began the purge of organized crime in the U.S., demanded that the USSR remove nuclear missals from Cuba and led us out of a recession.
His inauguration speech in January 1961 included the passage ''Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.'' Great words from a man who was the face and leader of what the Democratic Party used to stand for.
Barack Obama's speech on inauguration day in 2009 included the passage ''I want to fundamentally change America.'' So in a half-century, we have gone from a president who asked its citizens to work hard to be self-sufficient, contribute to society, do what's morally right, pay your taxes and don't become a criminal. In return the country will grow, prosper economically, stay out of debt and provide a safety net for those who truly need one when tough times hit.
Instead we have changed to an entitlement society that is trillions in debt, has an 8 percent unemployment rate with 45 million people on food stamps where 48 percent of this Nation's population pays no income tax. So every working person in the country pays not only his way, but that of another. We have a liberal media that protects Obama, and has decidedly accepted this notion and promotes it daily as acceptable behavior and the American way.
Until this fundamental way of thinking changes back to one of everyone needing to contribute and pay his own way, this country will continue to fiscally spiral out of control. When this country collapses under the weight of its own economic ineptitude, the tragedy of the Kennedy assassination will pale in comparison.
Rod Zeck
Newton Falls