This nation was founded on religious freedom, we honor those who have fought and died to keep this nation free. Yes, we have overcome many racial barriers and finally woke up to the knowledge that all races are members of one race - the human race.

But we as a nation are faced with even bigger challenges. We must use our brains and create new jobs so the middle class and poor can work. Our borders are open too wide.

We have allowed this nation to be flooded with illegals that have taken jobs and give nothing back. Immigrants that become legal citizens deserve jobs too. Schools, welfare rolls, hospitals, illegals. We send them back across the borders only for them to return the next day.

Most everything today is imported. Whatever happened to American made?

We as parents give our kids and teens everything from cell phones to credit cards and cars, without them having to earn a part of it. Teens in summertime or after school, could do jobs the illegals do. Manual labor hurts no one, instead it instills pride in self. And there are those that feed off government programs year after year.

Instead of prisoners cleaning trash on roadsides, why not put the unemployed to work? We as a nation, though full of pride, have become a lazy nation, pushing people out of jobs because they're over 50.

Internet, keeping up with the Jones, allowing factories and jobs to disappear overseas or below the border, allowing bailouts with taxpayers money of big auto dealers. This nation is now flooded with too many cars people can't afford to buy without jobs. Bankers and insurance companies that line their pockets.

We need a freeze on bailouts. Instead we need new ideas, new programs that put legal citizens to work. For not only the middle class, but for the poor.

Catherine A. Shaw Hoyt

Venice Center/Scipio

and Pikeville, N.C.