Letters 09-17-2012

Sept. 16, 2012

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Man without a plan

Mitt and Ann Romney have five sons who have never served in the military but Mitt wants to expand the military budget. Mitt was of age during Vietnam but he didn’t serve either.

Since the Bush era, we have been in two wars, for what? Iraq isn’t fixed and the Afghanistan people have been fighting since well before Jesus was born and it’s never going to end until they end it themselves. Most times, the reason for going to war is to enable the manufacturers of munitions (and now services) to make money.

The Republicans have made it their mission to replace Obama. Not only is he a Democrat but he’s black. When you overhear someone in a crowd of very well-dressed, deck boat shoe-wearing, bling-dripping Americans say that he and his wife are just "uppity n____s," it does not bode well for our country.

I really do want to see more tax returns from the Romneys. I’m also wondering whether the reason he’s not providing these returns is that he would owe more to his church for his tithe.

I don’t believe he’s a bad man, but he believes that he and his party can continue to climb to the top of the ladder on the backs of people who are trying desperately how to figure out how to feed their children or purchase their medications. Jobs for any American who wants to work would certainly be a welcome change, but I haven’t heard a plan from Mitt.

I believe the Republicans are about gold and the Democrats are about people. What do we do when we can’t eat gold?

David Petty - Charlevoix

Obama’s bad influences

I read with interest Stephen Tuttle’s article, "Ayn Rand Resting Peacefully," and was amused at a progressive’s worry of the influence of an anti-communist atheist on the Republican candidate for Vice President.

I can see why someone on the Left might be concerned with a philosophy of Objectivism (limited government that protects an individual’s rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness) instead of Collectivism, but it is time to look at who has had influence on our current President.

Let’s start with Frank Marshall Davis’ mentor relationship with a young President Obama. This relationship was acknowledged in President Obama’s own memoir and it is interesting to note Mr. Davis was a card-carrying member of the communist party.

Or how about Jeremiah Wright, the Obama’s pastor for almost 20 years who married them, baptized their children and spews his anti-white and anti-American rhetoric. He had the audacity to blame America for the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Even Hillary Clinton commented, "You don’t choose your family, but you choose what church you want to attend."

How about taking a look at President Obama’s relationship with the convicted felony terrorist Bill Ayers? He co-founded the Weather Underground which was a self-avowed communist revolutionary group that bombed public buildings. Ayers held a fundraiser for Obama at his house and donated to his political campaign.

We should also investigate his relationship with the radical professors Roberto Unger, Derrick Bell and the anti- Israel professor Edward Said. I find it disheartening that proper vetting has not taken place with our current president as it seems to be with the candidates of the other party. The relationships above should cause more concern to Americans than the anti-communist value systems espoused by Ayn Rand.

Gregg Schlender - TC

Ryan & Rand

I can’t help but respond a "Spectator" column by Stephen Tuttle attacking Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan and Ayn Rand’s philosophy.

The column was one of the most distorted and disinformation-filled essays I have ever read. It follows the all-too-common ruse of taking snippets out of context and extrapolating them to completely unrelated extremes, misrepresenting, for example, attempts to establish regulations protecting the public while eliminating those stifling progress and free expression, as moves to end all regulations. Attempts to eliminate wasteful government projects and to find a sensible mix of affordable and sustainable programs that foster job growth and serve public needs are characterized in Tuttle’s propaganda as attacks on the poor.

Representative Ryan did indeed speak of the "fight of the individual against the collective." I wonder how Tuttle would feel if the tactics he used in his column were employed to paint Obama as a disciple of such collectivist heroes as Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong, or Pol Pot? We know, of course, how their approaches played out.

Sadly, Tuttle’s column is all too typical of the mean-spirited campaign by the president and the Democratic Party to divide and mislead the public with dishonest arguments and personal attacks aimed at anyone supporting a different point of view, all apparently intended to intimidate opponents and divert attention from the administration’s dismal record.

A "divide and conquer" strategy coupled with hate-filled personal attacks may prove successful in winning the election, but it will not in any way lead to a better country.

Paul Seybold - Beavercreek, Ohio

The drivel-mongers

I’m touring western Michigan by boat each summer. Look forward to your publication. That is, save for the likes of columnists Robert Downes and Stephen Tuttle. Their current pieces - "War on Women" and "Ayn Rand" - are drivel. You must be able to do better.

George Mitchell Whitefish Bay, WI

A Day of Peace The International Day of Peace is observed each year on September 21. Veterans for Peace Chapter 50 is chairing the observance in Traverse City.

Beginning this day of peace will be a sunrise Peace Greeting at the Open Space at 8 a.m. At 9, Mayor Michael Estes will issue a Peace Proclamation at the Governmental Center. A forum presentation will be held at the Heritage Center from 11 to 1, including local peace and justice activists and representatives of different religious beliefs. An evening celebration will be held at Inside Out Gallery with a potluck, music and speakers. Childrens’ peace-creative activities are also on the schedule. Veterans for Peace will present a Peace Pole to the city during the day.

The United Nations established the International Day of Peace in 1981 with the intention that the entire world would observe a day of peace-building and nonviolence, with individuals committing to work for peace and justice in their own lives and communities, thus building sustainable peace in the world.

John Lewis - TC

(See this week’s Northern View column by veteran Pete Moller for more info.)

Good museum story

I just want to say thanks for Kristi Kates’ great article on the Little Traverse History Museum . It was well written and this kind of publicity is terrific for an organization such as ours.

Yesterday alone we had three separate groups of visitors who mentioned having read your article and, based on it, decided to see for themselves.

Michael Federspiel, museum director - Petoskey

Not walking the walk

Melinda Lautner, who represents District 7 on the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners and is running for re-election, has long been a stalwart fiscal hawk. She consistently opposes government spending and the taxes that support it. For example, she was one of the most outspoken critics of public funding for farmland preservation in Leelanau County.

Given her record as a county commissioner, I was surprised to learn that she receives federal subsidies for her farm. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in recent years more than $70,000 in crop supports have been paid for the farm she and James Lautner own in Leelanau County. Apparently she opposes public spending, except when she benefits from it.

David E. Harris - Glen Arbor

Give Mitt a pass on taxes

Seems the Northern Express and some of its readers are concerned with Mitt Romney’s tax returns. Let’s remember his most recent two returns revealed he met all tax requirements on a large income and also showed a huge contribution to church and charities.

But wait... Harry Reid claims Romney has not paid any taxes during the past 10 years. If Harry and his "unnamed source" are right, it must mean, a.) our normally aggressive IRS is giving millionaires a free pass, or b.) Romney is adhering to the tax guidelines that are set by Congress, including Harry. I’ll bet "b" is the correct answer.

It’s very obvious this tax return rumble is just one of many distractions attempted by an administration that does not want voters to think about the real issues. We have an economy that is in the dumper, an exploding national debt, unemployment out of control and rising prices on everything including food and gasoline. This is no kind of record to run on so here we go with the smoke and mirrors.

Ken Rule - Eastport

Vote yes on bargaining

The recent tragic loss of life (283 dead) involving two Pakistani clothing factory fires was apparently due to poor workplace safety conditions. If this story made you a little misty-eyed remembering the good old days of pre-union America, then by all means vote against the constitutional amendment to protect collective bargaining in Michigan on November 6.

Without collective bargaining, Michigan, like Pakistan, would become a "Right to Work" state, and also a "Right to Die at Work" State.

Bob Ross - Pellston