I started writing my wish list for this New Year a few months ago and between my holiday activities, a motor trip upstate and another cruise, it got lost in the pile of pages on my desk. I was cleaning up and found it. With a few adjustments I am presenting it to you as this week’s column.
I wish my dear friends, my family, and my readers — even the disagreeable, combative one who writes regularly in his attempt to irritate me — a happy, healthy and safe 2015. (Psst … he writes under several names and shhhhh, don’t tell anybody. He thinks we don’t know.)
I wish every cop in America, especially the members of the NYPD, safe return home to his or her family every single day after their tours of duty.
I wish the authorities would finally audit the gold in Fort Knox and that every ounce stored there is accounted for.
I wish race relations in the U.S. would improve. President Obama tells us that it is better now since he took office. Sixty percent of America disagrees with him. And in the same conversation I also wish anti-semitism would disappear, not just here but on the whole planet. Carol and I cancelled a trip last year because we were warned not to wear Jewish Stars while there, or even mention our religion. The warning came from an old, non-Jewish friend who worked there in a top hotel for five years.
I know that the job market is getting a bit better but I wish the workers’ salaries would as well. A talk radio caller working in construction in Georgia was saying that because of so many new people in America competing for jobs, he is now forced to work for an almost 25% reduction in his take home pay.
I wish the stock market would continue on its climb. I was given some great advice dealing with proper investing way back in the sixties. I am so happy I took that advice which has made my life more comfortable than if I had not.
I wish that those of you who are dead set against guns would go after those who illegally own them. Those are the weapons which are almost always used in crimes. My two best friends, when I needed them, were Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson. The following wisdom is from a bumper sticker: “When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns.”
I wish certain topics like abortion and climate change would have nothing to do with political parties. What do my opinions of them have to do with my thoughts about government?
I wish we could go through all of 2015 without finding one single elected official with his hand in the cookie jar. Do you think we could?
I wish Congress would fix the tax code so that I would have to pay a bit less and the 43% of America that doesn’t pay anything would have to at least cough up a few hundred bucks.
I wish Trader Joe’s would open up near me. I’ve never shopped in one but those people I know who have, rave about their experiences.
While gas is coming down, I wish the price of food would come down also.
I wish the people who yak away on cell phones in a restaurant would take their conversations outside.
I wish our government would take all the necessary steps to wipe out all forms of terrorism and make our country safe.
I am StanGershbein@Bellsouth.net asking you if there are any wishes of yours that you would like to add.
