Reece Gardner: The second GOP primary, socialism and big buckets

I want to first expand on my comments in last week's column about the upcoming GOP second primary to be held July 9. Early voting will begin June 19 and run through July 5, with polls open each of those days from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Keep in mind that here in Lenoir County, as with most of the other 16 counties in the 3rd Congressional District, voters must cast their ballots at one central location. In Lenoir County that location will be at the Election Board office, 110 S. Heritage St., Kinston.

If you are a registered Republican, you are eligible to vote in the second primary. If you are registered unaffiliated, you can also vote in this primary provided you did not vote in either the Democrat or Libertarian primaries on April 30.

This second primary will culminate on Tuesday, July 9, on which day all 22 polling places in Lenoir County will be open and the Republican candidate for this very important position will be chosen.

Folks, it really is all about turnout. If a significant number of those voters who have expressed support for Dr. Joan Perry come out to vote, then she will be the GOP Nominee. This same scenario applies to Dr. Greg Murphy's supporters. Whomever prevails on July 9 will then move on to the general election on Sept. 10 to face Allen Thomas (Democrat), Tim Harris (Libertarian) and Greg Holt (Constitution Party). Let's make our voices heard. There is really no excuse not to do so.

In our Sunday School Class this past Sunday, the discussion turned to how blessed we are to live in this wonderful country of the United States, which should be obvious to all of us who live here. And yet, there is this constant talk coming from some so-called leaders about the so-called good aspects of socialism. 

These people need to listen to and heed the advice given by the late Adrian Roge, who described socialism thus: "You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not take from somebody else. 

“When half the people get the idea that they don't have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, then that nation is in trouble."

Now to close on a humorous note: An elderly gentleman was considering whether to go to a long-term care home. He wasn't sure, so he decided to ask his doctor about it.

He asked, "How do you determine whether or not an older person should live in a care home?" 

"Well," said the doctor, "We fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the person to decide how best to empty the bathtub." 

The older man said, "Oh, I understand. A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup.' 

"No," the doctor said, "A normal person would just pull the plug." 

Then he asked, "Do you want a bed near the window?"