Congress may actually pass an economic stimulus bill this week, which is good news for the short-term needs of the country. There is no question the economy is tottering, and could easily tip over from recession to depression, so a bill that focuses on saving jobs and creating jobs is desperately needed. The good news is that the bill will definitely help achieve some of those aims. The bad news is that it will lay a crushing debt burden on taxpayers for the future, which can only be addressed if government becomes far more efficient in the use of tax dollars than it has in the past. That could very well force, down the road, what many of us have wanted for years, a smaller, more efficient government. But somehow, that doesn't seem likely. Because Congress hasn't figured out that the model for government is, and should be, changing. And the best example is the stimulus package. Despite billions of dollars in cuts, it still contains way too much pork. And some of the cuts (to make way for that pork) seem to make no sense, such as dropping $40 billion to help keep schools from having to fire teachers. That's counter-productive. The bill is supposed to save or create jobs, not leave them threatened. Both sides of the aisle bear the blame. The Democratic leadership rolled over on way too many pet projects among its members, losing sight of the long-term goal of the bill. And Republicans kept insisting on sticking to the same failed policies of the past, and playing the same old games where personal and party political power carried more weight than the needs of the nation. One GOP leader actually admitted his goal for the bill, and the amendments he introduced, were designed to divide the Democrats and make them look bad. So much for caring about the people of this country. Both parties should be ashamed. It is time for Congress to look up from its myopic and petty party power games, and its proclivity for pork, and look at the desperate state of the nation, focusing solely on programs that stand a good chance of meeting the goal of keeping people working. Making things work should be a bipartisan issue. This bill should be about America, not the Republican or Democratic parties. -- Kelly Everitt

Congratulations, graduates

Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at 9:22 AM

Our congratulations go to the Class of 2016. Whether you will receive your diploma through Mountain Home High School, Bennett Mountain High School, Richard McKenna Charter High School, Glenns Ferry High School, Rimrock Junior and Senior High School or other learning centers, those who step forward to receive their diplomas this week have reached a major milestone in their lives.

Author G.K. Chesterton once said that, "education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another."

Locally, we will see society's soul pass on to hundreds of today's youth who have been granted the keys to what the future has to offer. Some will go on to college or a technical school in hopes of becoming doctors, lawyers or scientists.

Other graduates will go straight into the world of business to gain invaluable experience that will lead them to greater avenues in years to come. A few more have said they will enter the ranks of the U.S. armed forces to carry on a proud tradition of selfless service to their country.

Wherever fate takes them, this year's graduates deserve to feel extremely proud of this accomplishment. Not everyone who starts school actually makes it to graduation day.

Nationwide, school graduation rates are showing signs of gradual improvement over the past 20 years, but they are still a concern. Depending on which statistics you use for comparison, about 20 percent of school age students will never reach the milestone our graduates will meet this week. Some statistics paint a more dire picture; others are more upbeat.

However, our students beat the odds and persevered, despite the ever-increasing amount of education they need simply to graduate. It's a daunting workload that previous generations never had to deal with when they were in school.

Today's graduates should take a moment and reflect on what they achieved. It's a significant accomplishment and one that no one can take away from them.

But after this week passes, the "real life" begins for these graduates -- a world where there are few opportunities for second chances or time to correct mistakes. The protective, sheltered environment that school offered them is gone. A sometimes unforgiving world awaits them.

Some of these graduates will fail while others will succeed. It's nothing personal. It's simply how life really happens.

Oddly enough, many of today's teens have looked forward to graduation day for a long time. For them, it represented a chance for them to gain total independence -- a chance to make and follow their own rules. That will change drastically when they realize they've also gained a tremendous amount of responsibility. From this point, the amount of "fun" in their lives will drastically be cut back if they want to succeed.

From now on, they won't have parents or teachers pushing them to work and study hard or to pick themselves up when they stumble and fall. It's up to each of these graduates to motivate themselves to succeed and to learn from their own mistakes.

Scary? You bet! However, that diploma means they've received the basic tools they need to succeed on their own. How they use those tools will determine their chances of success. Believe it or not, they're ready. Congratulations, and good luck.

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While this week's graduation ceremonies will remain fresh in people's minds, I wanted to take a few minutes to remind everyone that Mountain Home has a couple more great events lined up over the next few days.

The first is Mountain Home's annual Crazee Dayz celebration. The festivities officially begin Thursday evening in the parking lot of the former Paul's Market as the community's annual carnival begins. For the younger generation, it's a chance to enjoy an adrenaline rush by checking out the "white knuckle" attractions in the midway. For others like me, it's simply a chance to relieve a small piece of my childhood.

Things will swing into full gear Saturday morning as the Crazee Daze festival swings into high gear. Booths offering a host of trinkets and treasures will line the streets of the city's downtown area with a full lineup of entertainment planned on the stage next to the city chamber of commerce office.

If you haven't had a chance in the past, take an hour or two out of your day and check out one of the chamber's biggest community events of the year. And while you're checking out all the activities, be sure to stop into the downtown businesses that make events like Crazee Daze possible.

The next major event happens on Monday when the Mountain Home community pauses to remember those who paid the "ultimate sacrifice" in service to their nation. Local military veterans will gather at Mountain View Cemetery to render honors during this year's Memorial Day observance.

It's a very dignified ceremony that really drives home the reason why we celebrate Memorial Day in the first place. For veterans like myself, ceremonies like this really hit home.

While you're planning your Memorial Day weekend activities, please take a minute and pause to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to this nation. If you're able, I encourage you to stop by one of the three ceremonies our local American Legion honor guard will support.