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Stan reports back on the numbers

We are now told that 78 percent of America approved of Obama’s handling of the Tucson shootings. After his speech, my president’s approval rating surged to 54 percent. That’s an eight point jump and it’s the highest it has been in almost a year. If he keeps this up he has a pretty good shot at another four years in the White House. I know that you won’t believe this, but the very second I typed that last line there was a bolt of lightning right outside my window followed by an explosion of roaring, rolling thunder. I think I heard a laugh also. Does God have a sense of humor?

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Seventy-seven percent of Americans say that the way to reduce our record deficit is to cut spending. When asked where those cuts should be made, some of the responses included closing the border, deporting illegals, cutting foreign aid, drilling for our own oil and gas, ending affirmative action in education and employment, and dismissing all unelected czars and their staffs. There were many more but those are a good place to start. I am strongly in favor of decreasing foreign aid, especially to those countries that vote against us in the United Nations.

One interesting item on the list of possible government reduction recommendations was to decrease welfare and food stamps. In 2007 the U.S. Census declared that 12.5 percent of the general population lived in poverty. In 2008 that number jumped to 13.2 percent. Last year the poverty rate in the U.S. rose to 14.3 percent, the highest level in more than 50 years. Fortunately for the poor, welfare, food stamps, food banks and Medicaid are a valuable safety net. Americans who want to reduce the numbers of dollars put into welfare and food stamps have learned about the rampant fraud and waste. They believe that for many, the safety net has now become a hammock and more investigations will lead to less waste and more savings.

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OK, my friends, enough with all this politics. Let’s go now to one of the more important issues of the day. In a very recent Rasmussen telephone poll of 1,000 adults nationwide, Americans prefer Wendy’s hamburgers over McDonalds and Burger King. That’s right, folks, Ronald McDonald placed second. I am a fast food junkie and I love them all. I see very little difference between the three and I find it very difficult to care for one more than another. I do, however, like — no, make that love! — McDonald’s coffee. I’ll take a one dollar cuppa Joe from beneath the Golden Arches over any high-priced Starbuck’s swill.

I am StanGershbein@Bellsouth.net offering you MY opinion. What’s yours?