The Freedom Exchange Online

Will Manly, a reporter for the Hays Daily News and The Stir has a little gem circulating the States via email titled Dear Barack: You’re wrong about small towns. I have reprinted it at the bottom of this article, but first my response.

Will Manly is wrong about small towns.

Mr. Manly may believe he is from a small town, but Hays Kansas prefers to think it’s a city. From their web site: “Hays Kansas is the largest city in Northwest Kansas at the crossroads of Interstate 70 and US Highway 183. This city, which has approximately 20,000 residents, was incorporated in 1885. Hays is a growing city with excellent opportunities.” (emphasis mine)

I live in a town of less than five thousand. I grew up in a town that boasted 1,100 residents. In retrospect I believe that to be a cumulative total. The point is, I know about small towns. Small towns are made of people, real living people, not the caricatures Manly and Obama have painted.

“We don’t vote for Democrats because we’re self-reliant so we don’t like the government trying to “solve” everything for us.” So I guess Plainville didn’t appreciate the government’s help when the Schult Homes announced it was closing earlier this year. Plainville is a small town of roughly 2000 residents 25 miles north of Hays on US183. The one hunderd laid off workers there are scheduled to receive a workers assistance package that includes classes on resume and skill building, tuition reimbursement and help in relocating.  Read more... (1554 words, estimated 6:13 mins reading time)

There was never a justification for invading Iraq. No wmd’s, Saddam Hussein had no part in 911, Al Queda was not using Iraq as a staging ground for attacks against the US or our allies. George Bush decided to go to war and that was that.

After five years and hundreds of thousands dead the war still goes on. It needs to stop. Now.

They held the coronation
Up in Washington
Gallant balls and celebration
If you’re connected, son
I tried to tell myself
It’s only four more years
But it’s the changes in between
That are feeding my fears

King George’s War
Watch your rights just slippin’ away
King George’s War? ?
On the streets of Baghdad
Or right here in the USA

Another mother’s son
Supports the country he loves
Random fire cuts him down
When will it finally be enough
A mother’s cry in any toungue
Still sounds the same
Her child dies in any land
She feels the same pain

King George’s War
Watch your hopes just slippin’ away
King George’s War
On the streets of Baghdad
Or right here in the USA

lyin’ in my bed
Trying to get some sleep
But the problems in my head
Well they just won’t keep
I tried to tell myself
It’s only four years more
If it all don’t go to hell
Fightin’ King George’s War

King George’s War
Watch your dreams just slippin’ away
King George’s War
On the streets of Baghdad
Or right here in the USA