Opinion

Dear Annie: I was at home making a sandwich recently when my close friend’s wife from next door came through the back door. She called out and said she just wanted to see how I was doing. I said I was great and asked if she wanted a sandwich and a beer. She said no to the sandwich but yes to the beer, so I got her one and then sat down to enjoy my lunch.

One of the most enduring lessons of American history is that the banning of liquor sales and consumption (“the noble experiment”) was a colossal failure. Drinking didn’t go down much, but the profits ended up going not to legitimate businesses but bootleggers and the mob, while the murder rate soared to all-time highs in American history. It was the policy that made America’s most famous gangster, Al Capone, famous -- and rich.

The most tragic rhyme in American history falls in November’s time, one century apart. President Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19, 1863; President John F. Kennedy died in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.

‘60 Minutes’ and Social Security Overpayments The CBS news program “60 Minutes” ran a story this past Sunday that was critical of the Social Security Administration and the way the agency handles overpayments -- money sent to Social Security beneficiaries that they were not due. I’m going to address that issue in today’s column.

While campaigning in New Hampshire, Nikki Haley was asked about the surge of migrants at the border. “When I’m president,” the former Republican governor of South Carolina said, “we’re going to stop catchand- release, and we’re going to start catch-and-deport.”

Dear Annie: I am 67 and divorced. I raised two daughters and a son essentially on my own while I worked full time as a registered nurse and provided a decent, middle- class home for my children.

Joe Biden’s party is at war with itself. Scenes last weekend of protesters scaling the White House fence and shouting down Sen.

Today is the 312th day of 2023 and the 47th day of autumn. TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1889, Montana was admitted as the 41st U.S.

Dear Annie: While I have thought of writing to you many times, I have never done so until now. “Old Soul’s” story touched me very much -- the one about being completely cut off from a friend. A few years ago, I had a very dear friend who shared everything. Then, out of the blue, she stopped having anything to do with me. I felt abandoned and alone. The worst part was that we attend the same church, so I saw her every week, but she would snub me and look the other way. It took me a while, but I finally got over it and moved on.