To the editor:

Unfortunately, I am forced to agree with (President Donald) Trump on one point: we now live in a s-hole country.

I was born, raised and educated locally. As a child I had some chores on the farm.

After moving to town I raked leaves, shoveled snow, mowed lawns and had a paper route. Summers I detasseled and shelled corn and walked beans.

As a teen I helped build a house for Hefty (Construction) and roofed for Anderson/Caulkins. I worked for Franklin Manufacturing in the reliability lab 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. before school. After that, a short stint at Modern Farms before joining the Army.

I am an honorably discharged veteran of 10 years active duty including two tours in a war zone.

After discharge I attended B.I.T. in Cedar Falls and farmed for rent.

I raised one child virtually on my own from birth to adulthood. Suffered the loss of another.

After my father was diagnosed with cancer I moved back to help do things he was no longer able to do.

WCI wasn’t hiring so I got a job painting houses for Larry Furman out of Blairsburg.

Shortly thereafter I was hired by WCI where I worked for 24-plus years. I also worked part time at Handi-Klasp from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. before work at the plant 3:30 to midnight.

Weekends I worked delivering for Pizza Hut and later for Godfathers. This allowed me to buy a home.

After the greeds, sorry, the Swedes closed the plant I opted for early retirement at 55.

To supplement our income I worked part time at Casey’s and later for Rand Mumm at his car washes, as well as driving for Ted Larson at the Webster City Community School District bus barn.

During this time my wife also worked at Casey’s and later for Van Diest Medical Center until she was able to retire.

Now, I know it may sound like I couldn’t hold a job. Not true. I have never been fired. Which brings me to my point.

Throughout all those years and all those jobs I paid into Social Security. Admittedly not voluntarily. It was taken out of every paycheck with the promise of support in the “Golden Years.” Well, they’re here now.

Do I feel entitled to get the support promised? Damn right I do.

When I hear some wealthy idiot say if you’re worried about not getting your S.S. check you should start saving now, I have to ask, how? When I hear (Howard) Lutnick

(United States Secretary of Commerce) call people criminals for speaking up and questioning their check not arriving, it prompts me to question their morals and intelligence.

Sadly, this country is no longer the country I swore to protect and defend.

I have honored the commitments I’ve made. I expect — no, demand — our government do the same.

Kevin Fletchall

Webster City