Louise Andrus’s View From Concord August 2022

By Louise Andrus

It is with pleasure that I would like to congratulate some of the students I have learned about from Andover, Danbury, and Salisbury on their college achievements.

Kaitlyn Abele of Danbury graduated from the University of New Hampshire. She earned a BSET degree in Mechanical Engineering Tech. 

Madalyn Pfeifer of Andover graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy in the Graduate College from the University of Vermont.

Matthew Slick of Andover received a Bachelor of Arts degree from College of the Holy Cross.

Elizabeth Abrahamson of Andover graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences from the University of Vermont.

Courtney Nepveu of Danbury was a graduate of the Class of 2022 and earned an Associate of Science in Nursing from Vermont Tech.

Ashlynn Hatch of Danbury has been named to the Dean’s List for Spring 2022 by the University of New Hampshire. 

Deanna Holmes of Salisbury has been named to the Dean’s List for Spring 2022 by the University of Hartford.

Garrett D. Munson of Andover has been named to Husson University’s President’s List for the Spring 2022 semester.

Jadyn L. Holmes of Salisbury has been named to Husson University’s Honors List for the Spring 2022 semester.

There were very important bills passed in this House Session, but one that is an asset for all of us was passed and signed by the Governor.  The bill was HB 1439, relative to health care facility visitation policies. This law will allow a specified family member to be present and to serve as a patient advocate when a person is in a medical facility.  

This is a much needed law. For example, when my husband was in the hospital with COVID, I was not allowed in to see him, and I was not allowed to be there to know how he was being treated medically and what drugs were being administered to him. I had never experienced anything of this nature before in my life. I felt my husband’s rights had been violated. This new law will correct the deficiency in a patient’s rights.

A few weeks ago I read a letter in the Beacon, and in the article it was requesting people to take down particular signs. Then I was approached about other signs in Andover.  I will be brief and to the point on the Freedom of Speech.   The US Constitution in the First Amendment states the following:   Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The New Hampshire Constitution states: [Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and Liberty of the press are essential to the security of Freedom in a State: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved. June 2, 1784. Amended 1968 to include free speech, which is also known as Question 6, was on the ballot on November 5, 1968 as a constitutional convention referral.  It was approved by the voters of New Hampshire –Yes 185,340 and No 27,797.

Freedom of Speech is part of our rights, and the Freedom of Speech is here to stay. That means that any person can display signs whether agreeable or not to others.  That right will never be taken away from us.

I am not sure where to start, but we all need to be concerned about the raging out of control inflation inflicted upon us.  As of this writing the June CPI was 9.1%, the highest in 40 years.  I lived through the inflation of the ’70s and ’80s, but it was not as harmful as the current inflation.  We cannot sustain this rate of inflation.  

I am very worried with winter coming in a few months as to how many people are going to pay the light bill and the heating bill and buy food. I am thoroughly disgusted with our federal government not opening up the oil pipelines in this country, which in my opinion would have averted the high prices of gas and diesel. Yet we can sell our oil reserves to China. Ludicrous!

Another situation that has brought us to where we are is the new green deal.  I am in favor of working toward making our country green, but I am not in favor of the new green deal when it hurts the people of this country financially.  

The people and businesses pushing the new green deal need to take a step back and look at their own lives before pushing others toward green energy they cannot afford.  Do you own all-electric vehicles, and do you only ride in electric vehicles?  Or do you own or ride in gas powered vehicles? Is your lawnmower or the lawn mower that cuts your lawn electric and not gas powered?  Have you instituted and converted all of your electricity to natural resources?  Do you as an individual or a business use any harmful pesticides on your lawn to keep it looking beautiful? Do you fly in an electric plane?  

It is my opinion that each person or business that is pushing the new green deal needs to “walk the walk” 100%, if you are pushing green energy.

Roe vs Wade being overturned did not stop abortion.  Rather, if you believe in democracy, the decision sends the decision making back to each individual state, where it belongs.

Have a happy August!  If you have any questions or want to talk I can be reached at 603 648-2510 or L.A.Andrus21@nullgmail.com.