Your Opinion: American Dream alive and well

Dear Editor:

The cartoons that appear in each section of the Opinion Page impress this reader very much. They just seem to flow continually with their clever and appropriately worded sayings. They fit the news-making events going on in this community and the world as well. Congratulations to you, Jim Dyke.

The American Dream is alive and well and is very much available for those who want to work hard to achieve their dreams and goals in life.

Featuring the poor and rich cartoon points out the problem confronting so many households in today's society.

Instead of saving money in order to buy a nicer home in the future demonstrates how some families have to have everything at once without putting money aside. This is where the problem develops.

They go into debt to finance the house with bills accumulating right and left, two cars that they can't afford, and a swimming pool that is not needed.

When my husband and I married we lived in an apartment for seven years before we could build our dream home on this street. But it was worth it. People marrying today, if they marry, want everything right now. It doesn't work that way and it never has.

My mother and stepfather were quite different. They built up a successful business, treated their customers with fairness and honesty and were extremely intelligent and business savvy. In fact, a few short years after papa Joe passed away, my mother took over the business and sold a flour mill to a wealthy rancher in Australia. This gentleman flew here from that country, was impressed with my mother's intelligence and invited her to come to his land and spend some time with his wife and him. He came here to see to the mill and have it shipped back to his ranch. Mother later told me it cost more to have it shipped back than she got paid for it. Shipping price; low five figures.

So, bend your head to the grindstone and you can achieve your dreams. It may take awhile but anyone can do it if you want to.