Thanksgiving was and is a time to take stock; a time to count our many blessings a time to express our gratitude.
There is a tendency in life to dwell on the negative. As example, it would be easy to look to Washington D.C. to witness our dysfunctional political process, although democracy has always been noisy, as opposed to neat and orderly. In our homes, our TV's seem to be a window onto a world in chaos. Admittedly, there are real problems and challenges that must be met, but the sense of a troubled world is magnified by the ability of television news and the Internet to quickly aggregate and bombard us with images of chaos.
In these harsh times perhaps we should return to the basics and appreciate all we have. Many of us will sit down to a meal surrounded by family and friends. Our Davis family experienced that on Thanksgiving at home where we gathered to celebrate. Did each of us sincerely give thanks for all we have received?
Most of us have roofs over our heads and food on our tables. We have family that is a great blessing when others are lonely. We give thanks for friendship and what it means in our lives. Our good health contributes to our joy of living. We have the freedom to apply our skills and talents in pursuit of happiness.
We should give thanks for living in a democracy where we can express our feelings through the ballot box. We should be thankful for the fact that we can walk down the street without fearing a hand on our shoulder snatching us off to imprisonment and torture. We must also remember and praise those who keep us safe: our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, as well as our law enforcement officers and first responders.
As American's our blessings far outweigh our burdens. Let us reflect this Thanksgiving and praise God from whom all blessings flow.
“Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.” –Edward Sandford Martin
I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving
Missouri families won a major victory in our state courts. The Supreme Court upheld, in a unanimous ruling, the state's new law regulating sexually oriented businesses. That law was adopted by the Missouri Legislature last year to limit the negative secondary effects from businesses such as strip clubs, "adult" video stores and video arcades, and so-called "gentlemen's clubs." Believe me, there is NOTHING “gentlemen” about them. The law was challenged by operators of sexually oriented businesses around the state, who claimed that it violated their First Amendment rights to freedom of expression. The State Supreme Court ruled, consistent with numerous federal court decisions, that the new provisions are constitutional.
As we prepare for session this January, please feel free to contact me with issues you think we need to address this coming year. Here is what I plan:
- Right to Work
- Prevailing wage reform
- REAL tax reform
- Regulatory reform. We simply have to get off the backs of our businesses and allow them to grow
- Disaster relief legislation, rainy day fund usage, commercial property tax relief
- We must have the Turner Fix in education
- We must redo the funding formula for K-12 education so as not to create huge numbers of Hold Harmless districts and let the others take the full brunt of any cuts
- FUND OUR VETERAN HOMES AND CEMETARIES.
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