Halloween is tomorrow and with the normal scary activities (haunted houses, ghoulish faces and trick or treating) going on around the country; we are all holding our breath until the elections are over. No one can predict what the outcome will be. We just have to wait. But there are other scary activities taking place that we should be informed of in our country.

In last week’s paper, Randy Wood, the general manager for CenturyTel (formerly Gulftel Communications) wrote an editorial explaining the effects of the Federal Communications Commission proposed order on the phone system. In the name of a “relief package” for the nation’s largest telecommunications providers, the FCC is proposing an order to do away with the normal revenue from AT&T and Verizon they pay to the smaller telephone carriers to complete calls. If this revenue is done away than the cost to consumers will rise significantly to compensate.

In the last month, I have written two other editorials explaining two other programs the FCC was about to implement which affected radio and television. The first is the onslaught of digital TV being forced into everyone’s home. The second is to control talk radio with the “Fairness Doctrine”. Now this third proposed order on the telephone companies seems unbelievable to me.

All three areas of communication are slowly but surely being changed. All three areas are being regulated by the government so that our freedoms are being taken away from us. Now that is much scarier than Halloween.

How can the citizens of this country get unbiased information when it is being controlled by the government? How can we trust what we are hearing if in the name of “fairness”, “more revenue” and a “clearer picture” our government will gain more control over our communication? I really don’t know what the answer is to that question. I have written letters and made phone calls but what is to stop this madness?

When there is more government involved in our lives, we lose more freedoms. When we elect officials who don’t listen to the wishes of the people, we have lost the power to keep what is important to us as a country. Shame on us for letting it go this far. Those who haven’t voted in past elections because of indifference or apathy need to wake up to the power we have as citizens of this country. Make your vote count regardless of who you are voting for by going to vote on Tuesday. That is our duty and the least we can do as citizens. Eventually Halloween will once again be scarier than our government and we can enjoy the freedoms our military have fought so hard to keep.

Loxley resident Valerie J. Steimle is the author of two books, “Home Is Where The Heart Is, A look at strengthening the American Family,” and her latest book, “Home Is Where The Learning Is” (www.amazon.com/gp/product/1403379637). Contact her at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com or visit her website at www.stengthenyourhome.com.

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