[Vision2020] The Way It Was Meant To Be

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of a friend and fellow Visionaire.

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This seems unreal..... Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He
probably made as many, or more, important decisions regarding our nation's
history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However, a
measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White
House. The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which
was in Independence Missouri . His wife had inherited the house from her
mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they
lived their entire lives there. When he retired from office in 1952, his
income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year.
Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking
them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of
$25,000 per year. After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and
Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service
following them. When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he
declined, stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the
President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American
people and it's not for sale.." Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress
was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he
refused to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done anything
which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise." As
president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food. Modern
politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the
Presidency, resulting in untold wealth.

Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy
while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for
sale. (e.g. Illinois ) Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed,
"My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a
politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference! I say
dig him up and clone him!! This is not sent for discussion. If you agree,
forward it.. If you don't, delete it. I don't want to know one way or the
other.

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Something to think about, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Astoria, Oregon

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to
changeand the Realist adjusts his sails."

 - Unknown