January was named after the pagan god “Janus” in ancient Roman religion. He was the god of beginnings and transitions, and was portrayed with two faces, which gave him the power to look back into the past and to look into the future.
The new year is upon us and, like many, we are apprehensive about the coming year. If mortal man could look into the future it may relieve the anxiety most of us feel, or it could confirm our worst nightmares. It may be better not knowing what is coming down the pike.
We do know that the current government is spending billions of dollars trying to start a war with Venezuela, but for what? That money could have been spent on our infrastructure, like better roads or upgrading our electrical grids, which would give Americans more jobs.
We do know more than $400 million and counting is being spent for a ballroom at the White House. Was it necessary to tear down a historical part of the White House to make way for a frivolous whim? That money could have been spent to feed hungry children in the United States.
If the government wants to make America great again, then start with supplying public schools with the supplies they need to teach our children, and increase the wages of all teachers across this country. School teachers are making the leaders of tomorrow, but they cannot succeed without necessary funding for school systems.
If they want to make America great again, then stop cutting programs that help the elderly to live a decent life. If they want to make America great again, then start with restoring the Affordable Health Care Act so nearly 40 million Americans (who are Republicans, Democrats and independents) will have health care, which includes expanding Medicaid.
We do know that the prices of eggs are still higher than they were with the Covid-19 pandemic, and for what reason?
We also know a pack of hamburger is around $12 and a nice steak is $20. Grocery prices are through the roof with no relief in sight. Everything from furniture to kids’ clothes at Walmart have shot up since the tariffs. But we are being told that things are looking up and prices are down. But Americans are not stupid.
The senseless war on Venezuela cost a tremendous amount of money and like wars in the last several years, we are left with the question, for what? What was worth the killing of innocent lives and the devastation left in the wake?
In the words of George Santayana, renown philosopher, poet and novelist: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
But my favorite quote of his is, “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”
Yet we never learn.
The writer is a resident of Andrews.