Who will answer my question?

When the Potomac News (now News & Messenger) redesigned its Web site — a while back — a change was made that I was completely unaware of, that is, until this past week. Readers have the
option to comment by adding to the “Reader Reactions” at the end of each column. This may have actually existed before the Web site redesign, however I read the real paper and spend my online time
reading news on ScienceDaily.com or Slashdot.org.

Based upon comments I received in e-mails past, many readers believe that the job of opinion columnist is a full-time paid position at the paper.

While this may be true for some larger publications, and while many who are syndicated may write columns as their primary source of revenue, the columnists at the News & Messenger are regular
citizens who receive a small stipend for their work. We write for the love of writing and because we are driven to try and make our voices heard on the important topics of the day. Of course, I am guessing
this is the case as I have never actually met any of the other columnists.

It has been interesting to read some of the comments on the Web site. Here are a few of the more colorful comments posted by one anonymous reader in response to my columns:

April 11: “Simpson reacts instinctively along party lines and doesn’t consider the issues on their own merits. Nor does he take the time to study his subject with an open mind.”

Sept. 26: “What can you learn when you live in idiocy and refuse to consider any alternatives?”

Oct. 3: “The wheels are falling off Jim Simpson’s little Yugo of Stupidity.” And, “His party is losing, and for good reason.”

November 29: “… let’s not forget that Homer consistently supported the Republicans in his idiot rants for the paper.” And, “What’s up with this idiot? Has he no life, no job, nothing positive and
constructive to do?”

It seems that this reader believes I am a Republican. Anyone who has followed my columns realizes that I am as critical of the Republican Party as I am of the Democrats. I don’t like either side; they
both support unconstitutional policies and fund unconstitutional budgets. They work the American public against each other while colluding to prevent reasonable ballot access to third parties. They fight
very hard to limit alternative views.

It is unfortunate that the older columns seem to age off the system. I would love to have read the comments left in response to some of my earlier columns.

Of course, there are some very good points made in some of the responses, as well as questions that readers have posed to me. I intend on taking the time in future columns to address some of those
comments.

For instance, on Dec. 12, in response to last week’s column, Ron Charest asks “… how the amount of money spent building bigger and better ways of killing off entire populations of our planet is justified,
but spending money providing an education for all people is not.”

To begin with, it is the duty of Congress to provide for a common defense of the United States as stated in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. However, I do not believe we should have a standing
army.

This is a view shared with many of the Founding Fathers as they were vastly aware that a standing army historically was too easy to abuse — both internationally and domestically.

Of course, Mr. Charest didn’t answer my original question (as most leftists/collectivists tend to avoid), which was: “… in today’s dollars, exactly how much money (per child / per year) would be required
to provide an adequate education.” Instead he answered my question with his own question, which was: “What is percentage of current funding directed towards public schools K-1 through K-12 as
compared to our defense industry?”

Good attempt to divert the conversation, but I still haven’t heard a single person answer my original question. Still waiting …

James Simpson lives in Lake Ridge.