Service, Chapped Lips And Americas Toughest Sheriff

So you didn’t have the best night sleep last night, or maybe your eggs weren’t fluffy enough in the morning. Well, boo-hoo. Last weekend I was in Virginia to visit my brother-in-law who is stationed at Langley air force base. During my trip I had the opportunity to take a tour of the USS Wisconsin, an Iowa-Class battleship which was decommissioned in September 1991. While the ship is an engineering marvel, overall what struck me most were the living quarters of the sailors. Throughout the ship, tucked in every nook and cranny, were sleeping areas which consisted of triple bunks facing another set of triple bunks, in areas that would fit into most of our closets. If that wasn’t enough, while touring the Wisconsin I learned that during WWII, the ship held 1,000 more people than it was equipped for. That meant that you not only had people above you, below you and next to you; you also had shifts in your bunk! Needless to say the privacy level was ZERO. Never a cold cot, they said. I suppose if that is the only option you could get used to it, but I can’t imagine it. I prefer my 8 hours of sleep with a bottle of water next to my bed in case I get thirsty. Oh, and I really need lip balm…my lips get simply parched this time of year. OK, so maybe I am also spoiled, but I realize that I am spoiled because of the sacrifices made by the men and women of armed services. (Thank you for your service – past, present and future - and thank you to the military families who hold the fort down at home while their soldier is away.) This got me thinking. Why do the men and women of the US military often live in poorer conditions than the inmates incarcerated in the US prison system? Is it just me or is there a disconnect here? I recently saw a documentary on an Arizona prison system that is running things a little differently. I applaud Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County Arizona. Joe is known as ‘Americas toughest Sheriff.’ How does he run his prison? This was his response to inmates complaining about the heat “It’s 120 degrees in Iraq and the soldiers are living in tents, have to wear full body armor, and they didn’t commit any crimes, so shut your mouths.” Well said Joe! We need more men and women who are brave enough to take a stance on tough issues. Maybe those convicted criminal will think twice before they commit their next crime in Arizona. Either way it is saving the state of Arizona substantial tax dollars. Switching gears, I want to throw a very rare kudo out to Governor Cuomo. Last week he submitted his budget plan which included a provision that would make it a punishable offense to withdraw welfare money using an EBT card at a liquor store, strip club or casino. I am shocked that this is even an issue, but apparently it is a very large issue with rampant abuse. So you and I work our butts off, scrimp and save to get by, cut back on many of life’s pleasures, while Joe Welfare uses our taxpayer dollars for lap dances and booze? Do you hear that noise in the background? It is me banging my head against the wall. That proposed law seems like a no-brainer right? Well I am sad to say it isn’t. Apparently Ron Deitsch, executive director of new Yorkers for fiscal fairness says the regulations are unfair and demonize low-income residents. According to Deitsch “I say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. If you want to prohibit people from using public money at establishments like this, then I think we should be prohibiting lawmakers from using their public money at the same establishments.” What? Did he really say that? Yes, it appears he did. He thinks a public employee who works 8+ hours per day should receive the same restrictions as an individual who does NOT work at all, yet receives free money. Maybe we should expand this and say that all public employees (police, fire fighters, etc.) should not be able to spend their hard earned money at a liquor store or casino. Well I have a rebuttal statement of my own regarding Mr. Deitsch “Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.” Actually I didn’t come up with that, I borrowed it from writer Robert Heinlein. (Thanks, Robert) In closing I want to send a BIG Thank You to the US military, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, police and firefighters from across the country, and last but not least the families that stick by them no matter how hard the going gets. May you all have a sound night sleep, moist lips and the ability to spend your money as you see fit. God bless. Please send me your thoughts at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.