“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.”Erma Bombeck
Ah yes, overeating is certainly a most American of traits.
This will definitely happen this week, as tons and tons and tons and tons of burgers, dogs, ribs, watermelon, ice cream, corn on the cob and, of course, ice-cold pops will be consumed this Fourth of July as the United States of America celebrates its 237th birthday.
We celebrate our freedom and our men and women in uniform who have made it possible and who preserve it each and every day.
While that is plenty to celebrate, here are a few other things we can tip our beer koozies and barbecue tongs to this Fourth of July:
BASEBALL
And, more specifically, our Royals, who have finally figured out what every sensible Royals fan has known since Opening Day — Chris Getz and Jeff Franceour do not belong on a major league roster. Johnny Giavotella and David Lough — their replacements at second base and right field, respectively — went a combined 7-for-8, with five combined RBI and five combined runs scored Sunday in their first game in the lineup together.
GOV. JAY NIXON
Missouri’s Republican-controlled state legislature had a very busy legislative session this spring — busy making themselves look incompetent, that is.
First, they turned up their noses at hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid to expand Medicaid that would have not only resulted in healthcare for 300,000 uninsured Missourians, but the creation of hundreds — if not thousands — of jobs in the healthcare industry.
Then they passed a bill making it illegal for federal agents to try to enforce federal gun laws in Missouri, which only makes sense if Missouri plans to secede from the Union.
Then they passed a law decreasing income tax rates primarily for the wealthy and businesses, which most economic experts agree will eventually result in $700 million a year in lost revenue. We all know who would have felt those cuts the deepest — programs for the poor and the already-underfunded public education system, anyone?
And they managed to do all of this and more while expressing outrage over the state license bureaus’ scanning-gun-permits “scandal.” Puh-lease.
So, I say we celebrate Gov. Jay Nixon for throwing it right back at those so-called lawmakers in the form of his gubernatorial veto. Nixon vetoed the income tax decrease bill and some other proposed laws, including one that discriminates against collective bargaining organizations in the workplace.
And just to make sure the Repubs in JeffCity got his message, Nixon also froze $400 million in spending in anticipation of a veto override effort.
“Members of the General Assembly can either support (the income tax cut) or they can support education,” Nixon told The Kansas City Star. “They can’t do both.”
Give ‘em hell, Jay.
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
As of this writing Monday, 19 firefighters had been killed fighting a massive Arizona wildfire.
Like our afore-mentioned military, emergency responders — firefighters, paramedics/EMTs and policemen — answer the call when others are in need or threatened. They do so many times at great personal risk and for not-near-enough compensation.
This is why emergency responders in our area get the benefit of the doubt from yours truly. I respect, appreciate and celebrate their service.
Thanks for reading and Happy Independence Day.
Lee Stubbs is owner/editor of The Citizen. He may be reached by email at editor@plattecountycitizen.com or by calling 858-5154. Follow him on Twitter @leejstubbs.