Puffs

Progress . . .

Everyone wants progress in the traditional meaning of the word. The dictionary defines the word as “to move forward or to develop to a higher, better or more advanced stage.”

Gosh, I’m sure we all want that.

How-so-ever . . . I just don’t understand why the Democratic Party uses the term “progressive” to identify themselves. I would like to compare two states: New York and Florida in certain broad categories and see what you think.

• New York: The governor is what most would consider a ‘Liberal, Progressive” person: Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat.

Population: 19,500,000

State Income Tax: 8 percent

State budget: In debt

COVID-19 cases: 338,617

COVID-19 deaths: 27,448

• Florida: The governor is what most would consider a moderate conservative: Ron DeSantis, a Republican.

Population: 22,000,000

State Income Tax: 0 percent

State Budget: Balanced

COVID -19 cases: 42,402

COVID-19 deaths: 1,827

For some reason, the media thinks the guy in New York is doing a good job. (Even with the latest charges of sexual harassment being exposed and the fact he send thousands of elderly people sick with COVID-19 to live in nursing homes for the elderly last year causing thousands of more deaths.)

Now, also consider that a lot of those “Progressive, Liberal Democrats” want to send millions upon millions of your tax dollars to the states such as New York and California to solve their budget problems because the “Progressive, Liberal” programs those states seem to want . . . just don’t work in the real world.

Yes . . . I like progress, but in today’s world regarding politics, I cannot figure out why anyone would identify as “progressive” as all the evidence seems to confirm the word just does not mean what it meant in days gone by.

About 110 years ago, around the time of President Teddy Roosevelt and

Howard Taft, the word ‘progressive’ meant things like supporting workers that were about the same as slaves; about changing huge corporations that could get away with immoral practices because there were no law against what they were doing.

I suspect the ‘Liberals’ of today think they are still fighting against immoral programs and ideas. However, when one of their foremost programs they seem to think is so great . . . the killing of unborn babies via abortion . . . I cannot see any progress.

A O

A number of years ago, this newspaper ran a number of stories about “Calving Season.” We contended that every farmer out there had a ‘Calving” story to tell. Many of our readers were kind enough to share a story, or two, with us, which we shared with all of our readers.

I bring this up because last week I came across the following little observation about farm life that is critical and so many people don’t understand.

The words “farmer” and “rancher” are so often interchangeable in this part of the state, so I’ve inserted the word ‘farmer’ after ‘rancher’ so you will know that it applies to those people who think of themselves as farmers as well as those who think of themselves as rancher.

“The rancher (farmer) is my job.

I can’t carry a 70 lb. calf up a rocky slope covered with snow, lift it over a six wire fence and put it in a truck. I can’t quietly walk through a group of resting cows looking for one in need without stirring them up. I can’t look at a cow and know exactly when she is going to calve or that her calf hasn’t nursed.

I am not a rancher (farmer). I am a ranch (farm) wife.

I can open the truck door when his arms are full with a calf. I can drive the truck between pastures so he can cat nap in the middle of the night. I can be an extra set of eyes to spot a cow calving at night. I can pray with him. I can wipe up the floor from his snowy boots. I can feed him and feed him some more. I can stay awake until he is home and hold his hand while he talks. I can use my maternal instincts to help

care for a cold calf. I can be his brain when he is too exhausted to think. I can be his shoulder to cry on...because ranchers (farmers) cry too. I can be there for the worse and celebrate the better. I am a ranch (farm) wife and the rancher (farmer) is my job.”

A O

This time of ‘Lent” before the celebration of Easter has traditionally been a time of fasting (doing with less, or without) for many folks worldwide. My nephew, Rev. Father Jim Golka, recently made the suggestion that we should ‘feast’ at the same time as we fast.

He printed a list first put together by a Mr. William Arthur Ward and I’m going to pass a few of them on to you.

Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of life.

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.

Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.

Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from instant gratifications; feast on self-denial.

Trust in God.

And finally, fast from sin; feast on the abundance of God’s mercy.

A O