Reader imagines the future

The year is 2052, the date, July 4. I'm sitting, leaning against a permanently padlocked middle-school watching a parade pick its way through the rubble of a torn-up street that goes beneath a bridge that's been closed for some time, too dangerous, I'm told, to move any type of commerce over.

As usual I tear up when I see the flag in a parade. I think of our founders: I think of the document they signed this parade is celebrating; I think of the war they fought for the independence they declared, and of other wars fought since to preserve it.

The parade passes. I'm still reflecting on those statesmen from before. If there was a way to get into this closed-up school, I'd be curious to see who this district wanted to inspire its students, who they venerated with pictures on the walls and in the halls.

I crawled through a busted window just off the entry. Peering through the dim light of a cloudy day outside, I slowly made my way down the hall.

I was surprised by a picture of ALAN GREENSPAN, former head of the Federal Reserve, as I recall.

I remembered, GROVER NORQUIST, bellicose author of a "no tax increase under any circumstance" pledge he intimidated congressmen into signing. His goal: Reduce government to a size small enough to flush down the toilet.

Where was Washington, Jefferson, or Lincoln? Where was Roosevelt, Eisenhower, or Reagan?

No wonder this school is closed. Probably explains why the airport never got rebuilt after the dam burst and washed it out.

Next to Norquist, Congressman, PAUL RYAN. They called him a budget genius. "Don't pass debt to our grandchildren," he coined.

Finally, radio broadcaster, RUSH LIMBAUGH's portrait appeared in the gloom. His "keep your money in your own pocket" seduced members of the working class into voting for candidates his wealthy boss wanted, often against their own best interests.

I have to admit, I was shaken. I would never have believed that those persons most responsible for "taking our country back" in 2012, however well intentioned, would have replaced our founding fathers as examples of inspiration to our nation's school children.

My eye caught a framed "CITIZEN'S UNITED" Supreme Court Decision. I've got to get out of here!

Daylight almost kept me from seeing a tattered old US Senate seat campaign sign: Republican WEYERHAUSER CORP. challenges incumbent Democrat Senator MICROSOFT CORP.

Darrell Moss

Moses Lake