To the Editor:

In my opinion we are about to lose our country.
A radio talk show host from Atlanta often said, “When there becomes more ‘takers’ than ‘makers’ we will no longer be the unique country we have enjoyed for many generations.”
The percentage of “makers” and “takers” is about 50-50. Forty-seven percent of Americans do not pay Federal income taxes. Government can’t sustain such.
The “makers” stay in school, get jobs, create jobs, work hard, pay bills, and taxes. The “takers” depend on programs funded by the government; Head Start, free breakfast, lunch, food stamps, welfare, health care. Fifty percent of Americans receive entitlements. This includes Medicare and Social Security funded by wage deductions and employer contributions.
Safety nets are needed to aid the true poor and disabled. Government programs exist, plus communities and churches provide helpful programs.
We have become an entitlement society. We’d rather “take.” It is hard to “make.” The government continues to pass legislation that will keep society relying on the government. Socialism?
Founding Fathers did not design the Constitution for us to become a European-style government. The current administration represents this. If this administration wins re-election our country will go down. We are too lazy and complacent to learn what is happening to this remarkable and generous country.
It could be many generations before we come back. Readers, plus myself, may no longer be here. The American spirit will ignite again. We will have learned our lesson the hard way.

Shirlee Moore
Buckhead
Hand-delivered

Printed in the August 30, 2012 edition