It is almost impossible to watch TV any day without being reminded we might not be strong enough, or in "good shape" and have perfect abs or that we might need to "talk to our doctor" (yeah) and ask him if a certain pill would be good for us, but have you considered that the shape we are in (well, at least some of us) is based on something, unfortunately, that our government seems to have had some involvement and keeping trim or really healthy is not one of them.

CORN FED, LIKE IT OR NOT!

"A little bit of sugar makes the medicine go down, tra la tra la..." Are we left to wonder if the American Medical Association and the agricultural groups are part of a conspiracy to push high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup down our throats whether we like it or not. And the government itself messes with the minds of the farmers enticing them NOT to grow certain crops (they've done this for years in various fields--excuse the pun) and it's getting to be so much I simply have to say something about this.

Has the jury come out yet on this one? What about diabetic people - WHERE can they go to get sugar-free without becoming detectives of the highest degree? TRY TO FIND a product without high fructose corn syrup!!! Why can't there be chocolate milk with just milk and chocolate? (Well, maybe a little corn syrup.) Do we really need all that sugar and is this really the way to cure more ills by doctoring products so the farmers can sell more corn and we know that crops are force fed by who-knows-what fertilizers and herbicides to produce bigger crops, but is bigger always better?

TODAY, go to your pantry or your kitchen cupboard and check all your boxed and bottled products. Be ready to be surprised --- cereals, breads, cakes, so-called "fruit cocktails". There is the unnecessary additive or combined ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup AND corn syrup!!! Don't know about your but I feel like I am sweet enough!

IS THE FOX guarding the chickens?

FARM SUBSIDIES, interest groups, lobbyists and big companies like Archer Daniels (not Jack by the way - they don't pull any punches, every one knows their hard liquor will melt your mind but Archer and his boys play it cool and do their job behind the scenes lobbying and lolling the government-paid workers to do their special deeds and unfortunately "the golden rule" works well - you know, "those with the gold, rule..." Unfortunately the true biblical GOLDEN RULE has been prostituted so "listen" carefully between the lines when we hear the words "golden rule".

These subjects are bigger than a bread box, yeah and then some. Have you ever looked at the Congressional Record and found exactly what you thought you wanted to find? It used to take a determined effort and it was possible to get the Congressional Record mailed to you regularly, however now you get to view it easily on the internet. For starters, try:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/crecord/index.html
It may be discouraging at first because you will find so many minute details and some unseemingly "important" items becoming a part of the Congressional Record that you wonder which is important, "knowing who makes the most wash boards in Ohio or who sells the most suits? -- believe me, I am not exaggerating - the Congressional Record gets full quickly! But you can start your brain working and it will not be easy.

GASOLINE PRICES AT THE PUMP and related issues are so involved the average person could hardly have enough knowledge to know absolutely why or what is going on. Oil reserves are in the trillions of barrels we are told, and is it therefore (?) that we ought not need to allow drilling in remote areas of Alaska? Or is it the teeming herds of caribou and polar bears that roam the land which the animal lovers and protectors feel if we let go of a few hundred sections we will endanger a species of animals which in 200 years will be non existent? What is the answer? And who can we ask that we can trust to give us a truthful unbiased answer? And while we are waiting for the answer the speculators continue to make millions from the frustrated consumers because the pertinent leaders do not seem to care how much higher the price of gasoline will go or be concerned about increased prices for commodities transported by trucks fueled by gasoline. And, most are unaware, it would seem that gasoline is not the only product produced from crude oil. Crude oil is not just used to produce gasoline. It is also used as raw materials for a whole range of chemical products, including pharmaceuticals, solvents, fertilizers, pesticides, and yes, the ubiquitous plastics. What do we want to give up first -- gasoline, drugs, cleaning aids or plastic? The line of products is not singular.

When I started on this essay gasoline was peaking at over $4.00 a gallon and for some reason, can we credit our concerned congress -- that would be great, the price of a gallon here in Lancaster, Ohio, was $3.62 a gallon but within hours it was back up to $3.69. But the gasoline issue still needs addressed. Sometimes we are able to see part of our congress obviously concerned and we need to give credit to some stalwarts who are sensitive to their constituents however, there is a small percentage of American drivers who are simply not driving as much either. This even small lack of petroleum sales is speaking to the industry, however our speaking needs to become shouting!

Well, still we can ponder the original questions: "Are we sweet enough?" and "Who is guarding the chicken house? The "fox" I would hope not! Do your part and keep your senators and congressional people informed about your feelings. We do have a VOICE and that word voice is just two letters less than "our voice" -- which is our V O T E. Votes, believe it or not are still what puts the majority of our congress in office. Sometimes I wish there was a specific term limit - two years to try your stuff, then, its OUT and back to your career at home. But experience in every field is a real asset, and boy does that make term limits a sticky wicket! Unfortunately, or so it seems, the professionals become slicker and slicker at becoming top recipients and they are not about to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. And lets not forget who "make the laws", them--not us!

One of the readers of THE WORDWRIGHT wrote recently and what he says might be the "mix" of leavening and other ingredients essential to our national issues:

"Democracies are as irrational and imperfect as the people who run them. ... If you are a politician--say, you've been elected as a county commissioner, or Congressman, or to the Presidency--you have to lead and generally satisfy many people who don't like each other much. And so you work out compromises that will probably dissatisfy each group but will keep society going along. It's no way to make friends, and I am personally quite impressed with the people who are able to do it."

This reader's comment causes a twinge of envy in me to see someone else be a little more patient with a system that is flawed mainly by critics who seem to enjoy making obfuscation the rule instead of enlightenment and encouragement. Perhaps we can begin to see senators and congressional representatives become cognizant that they can be replaced but it will take more than just a few speaking out - let's make that few become blocks of voters across the land.

THE WORDWRIGHT