Through An 'Old Timer's' Eyes
By Howard 'Mac' McDonald

Rays pouring through the stained glass windows seemed to brighten the minister's message. Smiles on the faces of the congregation told me I was not the only one who was enjoying this bright, sunny Sunday. This was a day that makes one glad to be alive.

Sunrise and sunset are my favorite times of the day. Today I got to see the sun come up, but as I sat in my writing room looking out the window to the west, the rain clouds blew in and erased the sunset.

It's tough when the weather forecasts are gloomy because the state of our nation is depressing enough. Greedy corporations and a dysfunctional government have driven the working person right into the ground.

Even Hershey Candy Company is moving its manufacturing base to Mexico. I refuse to buy any of their products. Hershey employs more than 1,000 people in our state and Pennsylvania does not need this kick in the butt. It's hard for me to believe that their profits are so low that they have to abandon us.

We do not play on a level field with the countries that are flooding our market with their products. They pay very little tariff and our exports are taxed so high the people in those countries can't afford to buy them.

Maybe we should stop worrying about Iraqi freedom and start looking at all the freedoms we are losing in this country.

I heard a newscast about this woman who was going through an airport metal detector. She had her shoes off and all her jewelry off. The metal that was causing the alarm to sound was a nipple ring. There were no women security guards available, so the male guards had to see it. Now you tell me how she was going to hijack an airplane with that nipple ring?

Our son Dave McDonald had an interesting experience in the Austin, Texas, airport. He was waiting at security and the guy in front of him looked familiar.

As they were seated on a bench, putting their shoes back on, he found out that, indeed, the man was Robert Redford. They had a nice conversation.

It's time for the Cameron County Canoe and Kayak Classic. With the way the water is moving, they should have some record-breaking times. With all the water in my back yard, I might soon need a canoe to go around my own house.

The Classic draws some skilled canoe racers, it is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart.

Hillary and Obama are seesawing back and forth toward the Pennsylvania Primary Election. Obama drew a big crowd at Penn State. I doubt there were all that many voters in the masses. They hoot and holler a lot, but the youth of today have little interest in what is going on in the world. If there was a draft, most of them would be in Canada.

To make our type of government work right, we must have checks and balances. The majority in the Senate and the House should not be of the same party as the President.

Part of the reason we have such a mess today is that Congress never stands up to the President. Supporters of President Bush don't want to admit that his policies have just about destroyed this country, but they know it's true.

Whoever captures the White House will not be able to undo all the damage of the last eight years. We must get this country's power out of the grasp of big business. Their only interest is obscene profits and to hell with the people or the earth.

My Common Sense Party would put some controls on the price of things. I'd also fire the Supreme Court and hold elections for their positions. There would be no lifetime free ride just because they were appointed and no open license to use the law to impose their own beliefs.

My wife asked me the other night to take her out to someplace really expensive and I agreed. We took a trip down to the gas station.

Then we topped it off with a stop at the grocery story, where a gallon of milk cost more than a gallon of gas.

I heard one of the ladies in another aisle ask my wife, "How's your husband?"

She replied, "Better than nothing."