Various

Letters Various Amphibian article
hides the hook
I’d like to thank James Hohman for raising a truly important issue in his article “Does Michigan really need a State Amphibian?” (8/26). Hohman baits his call for a part-time legislature with some funny, cute stories about legislative poofery. But why do neo-conservatives really want to shrink government? To create a power vacumn!
Ask yourself what other group besides government has access to millions of dollars and thousands of workers? The large corporations that Hohman is beholden to! If the legislature goes part-time, will polluters, financial hustlers, and unscrupulous developers go part-time also? Nope.
The Right never did want “one person = one vote.” More like “one dollar = one vote.” Make the legislature part time and make sure that only rich amateurs will have the time and staff to make laws. Make government weaker and give large corporations a free hand to shape society and the environment in their own greedy interest.

Eric Pyne • Frankfort

Letters Various The gauntlet thrown down
A writer recently complained that there were not a lot of conservative letters in the Northern Express, and the response of the editor was that not many supporting President Bush were received. Well, here we go!
Bush and the War in Iraq: I am tired of hearing so many people say this is a phony war, or an oil war, or a revenge war. Don’t people read or listen to news that is not based on Democratic talking points? EVERYONE THOUGHT SADDAM HAD THE WEAPONS. Hilary Clinton, October 10. 2002: “... intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock... He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Queda members...” Dick Gephardt, September, 2002: “I share the administration’s goals in dealing with Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction.” Ted Kennedy, September 27, 2002: “We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking out and developing weapons of mass destruction.” And John Kerry? January 23, 2003: “We need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime.” Bush made a decision based on information everyone agreed at the time was correct.
The Iraq/Al Qaeda connection: Read the article by Richard Miniter called “The Iraq-Al Qaeda Connections” (www.techcentralstation.com). Public records, from government reports to congressional testimony, show a clear link since at least 1994. Also try Andrew C. McCarthy’s article “Iraq and al Qaeda” at National Review Online (www.nationalreview.com).

Letters Various Compassion, please
In case anybody missed it, on August 3, Detroit voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative to legalize possession of marijuana for medical use with a doctor’s recommendation. Traditionally conservative primary voters passed the initiative by a 60- 40 margin to mandate that this type of police activity be relegated to their lowest priority.

Letters Various Fox fire
In recent weeks, many have argued Fox News is shilling for the Bush Republicans under the guise of fair and balanced journalism. Fox’s disappointing coverage of the Democratic convention couldn’t have proven the point any better.

Letters Various Never-ending lies
I recently came across the John Ramsey article (Express, 7/15) with invitation to comment. I accept the invitation.
I could not help but notice some glaring conflicts with certain facts. Granted, the investigation (of JonBenet’s death) has been and is inept to the max, but to express or imply that the ineptness was and is unjustified focus upon the Ramseys is contrary to the facts. Over two million dollars has been spent with a large part, probably most of it, spent on many interviews and other actions taken upon the notion of intruder.

Letters Various Our troops have no love for Bush
The recent letter by Marie Gallagher that talked about the pride our troops have serving under our Commander in Chief is simply not true for a large percentage of our military. In point of fact, I think it is safe to say that morale, especially in the Army, hasn’t been this bad since the Vietnam War. Like Vietnam, dishonesty at the top, a questionable mission and no viable ending is sucking the spirit from our troops.

Letters Various Outsource government
Recently on CNN, I saw an economic advisor in a nice suit insisting that, “Outsourcing was good for America.” Speaking as one of many former Lear employees whose jobs got passports and left town, I’m comforted to know we are all doing our part for the good of the country.

Letters Various Looking a gift horse
in the mouth
I found out from Steve Redder’s letter in the July 8, Northern Express that some group is going to donate a labyrinth to the Petoskey Public Library. Mr. Redder thinks that Petoskey should not accept this labyrinth because it is secretly a “Trojan Horse” that will suck our children’s minds into a “dark spiritual vortex.”
How do people come up with this stuff? Mr. Editor, please keep these comical letters coming, they are sometimes the funniest part of the paper.

Andrew Geffert • Boyne City

Letters Various Lesson on the job
Thanks for your good article, “The lesson of 2004” from the June 17 issue.
Concerning your question, “Will a college degree actually do the grads of 2004 any good...?” The answer unfortunately is “no,” if President Bush‘s new immigration plan is adopted.

Letters Various July 4th & patriotism
Patriotism, justice, freedom, values. Strong words. The Flag. You see it everywhere. These words and the Flag are, or should be, grounded in our Constitution.
The most heroic and patriotic act that everyone can do this July 4th weekend is to read the Constitution. It only takes about 30 minutes. It doesn’t sound too exciting - certainly not as exciting as watching parades, waving flags, or going to picnics - but our Constitution is the foundation of our country. Its the reason we celebrate July 4th. The Constitution is not a dusty old document to be ignored. The last Amendment was in 1992.

Letters Various Our country hijacked
Theodore Roosevelt said: “To announce that there must be no criticism of the president or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

Letters Various Repeat offender?
Well folks, the story of my legal troubles continues… For those of you who don’t remember, I was sentenced eight months ago today, for use of marijuana. My probation has been successful in every way. I’ve attended the required classes, paid the required fines and costs of the paper shufflers on Washington Street, and I haven’t missed, or failed, a urine screen to this day. And yet, disregarding all of this, I was arrested on Mother’s Day for a violation of my probation: a dilute urine screen. To all those who are in the dark, this means that I drank entirely too much water on that day. I spent a night in jail for the crime of being too clean. Here’s a history of the facts…

Letters Various Drug War prisoner

I find it disturbing that it requires photographic evidence of atrocities against prisoners of war in Iraq for my people to critically examine the American war machine.  I have been a prisoner of war in Traverse City where the Drug War is fought with the ferocity of racketeers hell bent on twisting the police and courts into a means of securing a monopoly on the vice market. 

Letters Various Israel’s war on the homeless

In the past 40 months, the Israeli army has destroyed 3,000 homes, vast areas of agricultural land and hundreds of other properties, making close to 20,000 Palestinians homeless and depriving thousands of their livelihood. Families are forcibly evicted from their homes without prior warning, given only a few minutes to leave their home and not allowed to salvage their personal possessions. “The unprecedented scale of destruction violates fundamental principles of international human rights and humanitarian law.”

Letters Various Destroy Abu Ghaib

I believe one of the things we could do to help create U.S. credibility in Iraq is to destroy the Abu Ghaib prison.  We could borrow from Israel a few of those big Caterpillar bulldozers, bought with our tax dollars that Israel uses to destroy Palestinian homes, bring them to Iraq and flatten Abu Ghaib.
 
Randy Bond • Beulah