Free not always free
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To the editor:
In the past several years we have been very blessed to have traveled to 20 plus different countries in the world. Group travel is very educational and very enjoyable to be with friends and friends you meet along the way.
Most of our tour guides were college educated as being a tour guide was their occupation. We were sometimes invited into private homes and ask questions about America. One question I remember was, are we as Americans required to fly the flag? We said NO, we fly the flag because we want to and we are patriotic. They said they were required to do so in their country.
We had a tour guide in Slovakia that was 14 years old when Communism left and she was free. She said after freedom came things were very tough as before nobody was allowed to own a business or private property, but to start over was freedom.
In New Zealand a farmer said his dream was to come to America and ride in a combine during harvest. His dream did come true as he came to Iowa in the fall and rode in a combine. In New Zealand no grain is harvested by combine. All forages are fed to animals, mostly dairy. Dairy is the #1 industry in New Zealand.
We had a wonderful tour guide in Ireland and one of the many places we visited was a bog and in the bog preserved perfectly was a road build from split oak logs. The thing was, the road was built before Christ was born! Amazing!
There are a lot of stories to be told about travel, the reason for the Letter to the Editor is to say, all our tour guides were unhappy with their socialist form of government. As they told us free medical was not free, free education was not free. Taxes are very high up to 20% sales tax and as high as 48% income tax.
In Slovakia a doctor made 1200 euros per month and the nurses made 700 euros per month. Most all medical people after graduation went to another country to work. A euro is approximately $1.09 US dollars.
In Australia and New Zealand a hamburger and fries cost $27 and a fish and chips cost $28, as every worker is paid a living wage.
So in ending, my main suggestion is to exercise your right to vote, as this is our way to be free in America. Thank you for taking time to read this letter and thank a veteran or soldier when the opportunity comes. Also thanks to the Record News for the publication. Fight the Virus!
Douglas Bullock
Ellston