2A The Madison Enterprise-Recorder www. greenepublishing. co Viewpoints & Opinions Friday, August 1, 2008 ac sa e _Letters*ToTheEditor Jacob Bembry SColuri.t Letters to the Editor are typed word for word, comma for comma, as sent to this newspaper. Hearty North Florida Stock What About Us Jumbo's And Smokers? Within the last week, my father and my mentor both spent time in the hospital. My father, Bobby Bembry, fell last Wednesday morn- ing and fractured his hip. We thought at first that it was simply a bruise because he was able to get up. He limped gingerly around and used his walker (which he had from a previous hip surgery) to get around. On Friday night, the pain became so intense that we took him to the emer- gency room. They allowed him to come home for the weekend and, on Monday, I took him to the VA Hospital in Gainesville. He was scheduled to undergo hip surgery on Wednesday I'm writing his on Tuesday, so I don't have any more information for you. Keep Daddy in your prayers. My mentor is my pastor, Retis Flowers. I have learned a lot under his teaching about the Bible that I had never realized before. Brother Flowers underwent appendix surgery last week in Tallahassee. Daddy and Brother Flowers are a lot alike. They both love Jesus Christ. Both of them can be a little gruff at times, yet still maintain hearts of gold. They would do anything for their families and for their church. They also are as tough as hickory. Some could say that Brother Flowers' toughness comes from being a Marine. Some could say that Daddy's toughness comes from being a member of the 101st Airborne Division or being a firefighter in the Air Force (yes, he did serve in the Army and in the Air Force both). I think the toughness of both men was born within them. They both come from hearty North Florida stock. I know that the road to recuperation for both men will be tough but that both will lace up their combat boots, strap on their helmets and fire up their weapons for battle. Over the past month I have found some amazing fi- nancial facts about Medicare and Medicate. In 1945 President Harry Truman asked Congress for legislation to establish a National Health Care Plan. In 1965 under Lyndon Johnson it was passed into law. Harry Truman was actually the first person to sign up at a cost of $3 per month. The programs, without controls have gotten way out of hand. Health costs are a big part of why our country is bankrupt. President Bush has tried to reign in the cost, probably the wrong way, and now presiden- tial candidates are in favor of raising the cost. Where is the money going to come from? The answer is simple by robbing the earnings of those who are working earn- ings. I am now 66 and on Medicare, over weight and obese, at 6 ft. and 268. The problem with the program is there is no responsibility put on the beneficiaries as we break our nation. The average cost without additional rising cost of health care for someone 65 until they die, at today's rate, is over $14k per year. That is over $240K. With rising medical cost it will probably be over $500K in the next ten years. Most of us have paid in less than $35K into Medicare including interest. We are punish- ing the non-seniors to pay our bills without requiring us to take responsibility for our own health. If I do not care enough to start taking care of myself through physical activity and nutrition what right do I have to force someone else to pay my medical bills? That is exactly what the government, is requiring under our tax system. If I am not willing to pay my share of the premium by eating right and exercising, shouldn't the policy be canceled? Since I have seen what I am doing to myself, pun- ishing others with my bad eating habits and lack of ex- ercise, I had a decision to make and I have made one. I have started exercising and my eating habits have Pros And Cons Of Living I It's true I am a transplanted Yankee. I was born and bred in the Northeast. I have my own personal northern ways -of living. I have my own ideas, traditions, and ways of life. I live in a certain way, I speak in my own, sometimes sarcastic, way, I cook and keep my home in my own way. Most of all I have my own style of writing, which I have been told by several local folks that they enjoy reading my columns. I spent 30 years of my life living in upstate New York, twelve of them as an adult. We moved here to north Florida 18 years ago when I was 29 years old. At which time I was a mother of three boys ages 6, 10, and 11 years old. I've always had my own way of raising my children and now I have 4 grandchildren I plan to influence and instill my values of living into. I have no real problems living in a small town among southern born and bred folks. Over the years I have ac- cepted and adapted to the southern way of living the best I can. Like some say if you come to America, learn English. So, if you move from the north to the south you have to change your ways to live and understand the southern way of life. I feel I have overcome most of my shock. Actually not a lot surprises me anymore in Madison County Here are some of the differences I have been through and survived as well as accepted as my new way of life. My family moved from a city of 16,000 to a county of 16,000. We lived in a 14-room house on a one-and-a-half acre city block with neighbors that we could talk to over the fence, and share coffee and conversationwith just a few steps away We paid $2,000.00 a year for property tax- es.-Now we live in a mobile home with additions on a 5 acre mini-farm in Cherry Lake paying less than $500.00 a year in taxes on 3 acres. Most neighbors and friends are % mile to 10 miles away. The schools were within walking distance, and my children often walked. The teachers cared and earned the money they were paid. The schools were in very good shape and kept that way The children respected the teachers and the school property If there was a problem I would receive a per- sonal phone call from the teacher or guidance coun- selor. I was a P.T.A. mom. I was there for class parties, field trips, and other school activities. I knew what was going on at the school at all times. There was a Y.M.C.A., parks, and school playgrounds, and a community pool, -Since 1865- "Telling it like it is with honesty and integrity" The labison Enterprise-Recorber Madison Recorder established 1865, New Enterprise established 1901, Consolidated June 25, 1908 Published weekly by Greene Publishing, Inc., 1695 S. SR 53, Madison, FL 32340. Periodicals postage PAID at Madison Post Of- fice 32340. Publication No. 177.400. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Madison En- terprise-Recorder, P.O. Drawer 772, Madison, FL 32341-0772. This newspaper reserves the right to reject any advertisement, news matter, or subscriptions that, in the opinion of the manage- ment, will not be for the best interest of the county and/or the own- ers of this newspaper, and to investigate any advertisement submit- ted. All photos given to Greene Publishing, Inc. for publication in this newspaper must be picked up no later than 6 months from the date they are dropped off. Greene Publishing, Inc. will not be responsible for photos beyond said deadline. ROM "Tinkliri Sheree Miller which were always open and available to my children. It wasn't another time like the 70's it was 1983-1989. Mov- ing here in 1990 and trying to get my children into the right school district and on buses to get there was a. painstaking and difficult time for all of us. Though it, was difficult, we eventually managed to make it work and it resulted in me taking my children to school and picking them up most of the time. I personally was in shock over the condition of the schools and attitudes of both the teachers and students. My children were also about two years ahead of the system academically But as time went by I realized why there was such a differ- ence overall. Needless to say my children did well in school here and have all graduated, and married south- ern girls, and all have children whom are running into roadblocks'trying to get into the school system here al- ready Up north we attended and were married in a church with a membership of two hundred and here we attend- ed local churches with a membership of less than fifty in Cherry Lake, where all three of my boys were bap- tized. Pastors only having temporary stays locally was another difference, which we had to get used to. As the pastor of our church in New York was still at the church we were married in 20 years later. Getting my Florida Driver's license was a difficult task as the local license office was only open a few days a week with short hours, and now we don't even have one in Madison County. When I tried to register here to vote Republican, I was told that I couldn't vote Republi- can in this county I said okay, fine I won't. My husband and I both had good paying jobs in mills and factories within five miles of our home. In fact just before we moved I was working for a Daily newspaper company Here I have been working for two weekly newspapers, and I drive 10 miles to work. Although our income dropped dramatically, so has our cost of living here. I remember how everyone waving as we passed by confused us at first. We would look at each other and say "Who was that?" or "Do you know them?" then we soon realized it was a friendly small town way We have been waving and confusing other out of town folks ever since. In Madison County everybody knows everybody Usually if you need help on the road or wherever, some- one is always there to help. You usually know the local store owners and employees by their first names and al- ways find a familiar face. Although in all my years de- livering newspapers, I haven't found a whole lot of gen- tlemen or ladies for that matter who will open a door or hold the door open when I'm balancing a bundle of newspapers in my arms. At times they even walk in just ahead of me and let the door swing right back in my face. On occasions though I have had a few to open the door or hold it open for me, so I know it's not a total lost changed. If I am notwilling to make the changes, I have no right seeking medical help at the expense of others. My eyes have been opened. President Bush is right. We do need to reign in the cost of Medicare and Medicaid by giving benefits to those who are willing to care enough about themselves to start eating better, doing physical activities and quit smoking. That creates bet- ter health and lower health cost. Those who don't par- ticipate will just have to pay their own bills or suffer the consequences. I prayed a long time ago and asked God to give me good health and a long life. He said, "you've got it eat right, and exercise". I .didn't listen real well. But I promise you unless I am losing weight and exercising I want go back to the doctor punishing my children, grandchildren and yours. The Government could start a check-in facility for seniors, and those on Medicaid that doesn't require doc- tors and nurses. Overweight and obesity along with to- bacco are the leading causes of death and health cost. This would seem like the right place to require testing. Those who are not willing to participate take away the benefits. Of course the Government will not because politicians have stayed in office by offering services we can't afford without requiring personal responsibility If you don't believe it just listen to the candidates offer- ing health care to everyone without requiring any re- sponsibility on the beneficiary's part. S Some may say this is cruel, just think how cruel it is for the government to rob others of their pay checks to pay for services for people who are not willing to exert an effort on their own. Billy Burnette n The South act of kindness. SDriving and travelingaround the. county also-in- volved getting used to. It's a slower pace, and more wildlife (and other animals) on the roads, most of the roads don't have shoulders on them and no slopes for water runoff Not all drivers seem to know how to use their signal lights, or how to show respect by pulling over to allow funeral processions by, and many seem to ignore(what I always knew as a law), which is to pull overhand out of the way to let fire, police, and ambu- lance emergency vehicles by. Sometimes you can travel 10 miles and never see another vehicle on the roads. Slow moving farm tractors and machinery on the roads are also more common here. Living 10 miles out of Madison means that it's a trip no matter what you need or have to do whether it's mailing a letter, paying a bill, cashing a check, getting groceries, or getting gas in your car. Living in Cherry Lake it's 10 miles to town or it's only 20 miles to Georgia where we can get our gas, cigarettes, household supplies, and even alcohol is avail- able and all these items are usually cheaper, so it's a one stop shopping trip and we may still have money left to enjoy a meal in any restaurant we want. This way we get the best of both worlds. Local doctors and hospitals were another advan- tage of living up north. Here we have to travel an hour away for better health care. This, too, caused problems in the beginning, but now I understand why, and we have managed to get by The change in the weather here, of course was expected. We have tolerated it quite well. I still miss the changing of the seasons up north. Especially when I'm Christmas shopping when it's 60 to 70 degrees out and there is no snow covering the ground. Or in the Spring when my first crocuses would push though the snow, and here everything is in full bloom in March. Climate changes in the last ten years has made for cooler weather in the winter here which feels a bit more like back home. My family also cele- brated all traditional holidays in the same way that we did when I was growing up. We still do carry on our own traditions, and I plan on continuing to celebrate them all with my grandchildren knowing the same ways and having the same fun as we always had, even if this county doesn't. I have learned about some foods and food dishes that I never heard of before we came to the south. Such as grits, collard greens, chicken and rice, boiled peanuts, sweet potato casserole, mullet, scallops, and flat dumplings. None of which I cook or enjoy All in all, I have spent 30 years in the north and 18 years in the south I feel that I have adjusted and ac- cepted the southern way of life and I'm happy here. We have all changed our ways to fit in and be accepted. But we still have some northern ideas and I know we are not alone as many other Yankees have transplanted in this county as well. The initial shock has worn off, and I have seen a lot of changes and progress in several ar- eas in the last ten years or so, but I feel there is still room for improvement. Hopefully this county will be even a better place to live as my grandchildren grow older, graduate and make choices in their lives. You Know I've Been Thinking I might have more on this subject next week, or maybe I won't. we'll see. See You Next Week!!!