Moon Landing, Politics and Socialism

America’s landing on the moon (July 20, 1969) was a big victory for the country, for NASA and the American people, and was hailed worldwide.

However, some see this great success through “political and socialist” eyes.

Jaya Prakash Narayan, one of the great freedom fighters of India, once remarked: “If somebody is not a socialist before 30, there is something wrong with his brain and heart.” He added: “If even after 30 he is a socialist, there is something wrong with his brain and heart.”

So it’s sad to see many over 30, including liberal politicians, whose brains and hearts must be definitely wrong. They are singing the praises of the false ideology and see “socialism” in everything – in the moon landing also. They forget that socialism was a total failure even in its birthplace – the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics – now Russia.

It was especially astonishing and disappointing to read the eminent astrophysicist Robert M. Nelson deliberately injecting socialism even in America’s moon landing. He termed it as a “victory for Democratic Socialism.” He even labeled NASA as a “Democratic Socialist endeavor.” Mr. Nelson would not admit that the democratic socialism (another name for communism) after failing in Russia now exists in name only in the so-called “People’s Republic” of China.

This is a desperate effort to echo a loudmouthed section and turn the Democratic Party into a Socialist-Communist organization for perceived electoral gains. This is exactly how the then-Soviet Union hailed Yuri Gagarin’s 1961 space orbit as the “success of communism (socialism).” Of course, that ideology finally failed miserably in 1989-91 with the break-up of the entire Soviet bloc.

American greatness and the moon landing are the result of free enterprise, hard work, dedication, patriotism of the people and the concept of “less government.” America doesn’t need “Democratic Socialism,” more government controls, open borders, weak military, outright condemnation of America’s history, values and way of life, non-stop fighting the President and blasting the nation’s staunch allies.

Yatindra Bhatnagar

Tujunga

Master Mathematician Need Not Apply

It doesn’t take a master mathematician to realize that a 75%-90% of a retiree’s last paycheck cannot be funded. Upon retirement a replacement employee must be paid at, say, 50%-60% salary [of the retiree’s pay]. You now have two employees costing 125%-150%. Since you have past employees who retired at 50 years old they are on the books perhaps 30 years. Now you have more retirees than you have contributing employees.

City managers cut back on employee count and hire private sector help. Sky rocking hospitalization costs added to pension commitments lead to higher taxes. This is still not enough to cover the necessary funds.

Next come reduced services to the taxpayer and deterioration of infrastructure. High cost of living leads to homelessness and more theft. All this because terrible decisions of the past that were influenced by labor and false promises.

Proper actuary investigation was not followed as per state law.

Ken Grayson

Grayson’s Tune Town

Montrose