Letters 6/22/06

June 21, 2006

Our beach is not a land fill
I walk to work every day on the TART Trail in Traverse City and then along the beach during the summer months. Last Tuesday was a beautiful, heavenly day in Northern Michigan -- blue sky, sun shininig, breeze blowing and piles and piles of crap littered our gorgeous beach.
I was saddened and disgusted by peoples‘ lack of respect for nature and other people‘s enjoyment of a public space. I tried to ignore it but couldn‘t. I went backlater with four large garbage bans and filled ALL OF THEM with dirty diapers, pop cans, liquor bottles, cups, Styrofoam, socks, a tank top, water bottles, a decapitated doll, carboard beer cases, Burger King bags and bottle caps.
Not only was it revolting to pick up someone else‘s garbage -- I have better things to do with my time!
So, for all of you idiots who left your filth on the beach:
1. Don‘;t ever come back; you don‘t deserve to enjoy the beach.
2. If you do, throw your garbage out next time -- there are trash cans everywhere.
3. If the trash cans are full, take your garbage with you.

Susan Ruoff • TC

Dick DeVos‘s bad record
I wonder if people watching Dick DeVos’s political ads have noticed that he started running them in March, eight months before the election? He must have money to burn or is trying hard to brainwash the public. At least he has dropped the early ad about how he “rebuilt Grand Rapids” since, in fact, he did not do that. His dad and dad’s partner did it over 20 years ago.
People need to know more of the facts: In 1998 when Dick was head of Amway he cut 410 Michigan jobs at the Ada Michigan plant, but invested over $100 million from 1993 to 1998 in plants in China. In May 2000, Devos cut another 900 jobs at Amway headquarters in Ada, Michigan, but invested another $120 million in China in 2003, increasing the Amway investment there to $220 million.
The October 22, 2004 Detroit Free Press stated “Because of DeVos’ decision to move the focus of the company from Michigan to Asia, Amway now admits it ‘ considers itself an Asian company, with nearly 70% of its sales coming from the region.’”
Sounds like a type of outsourcing of our Michigan jobs to me, and I judge a man on what he has actually done, not what he says he might do. (Note that he has not told us of his actual plan to fix what ails Michigan; he is part of the problem, not the solution.)
He says in the ads that he would never move out of the state. No, instead he has moved our Michigan jobs and money out of the country. No matter how much money he has to spend on TV ads, the facts speak for themselves. He is not worthy of governing our state.

Evelyn Petersen • TC

Fire the State Senate
Plants are closing, factories are down-sizing, jobs are being eliminated, gas prices are up, and everyone is struggling with increased expenses.
Yet we continue to support two legislative chambers for our state. Two chambers which, according to our state constitution, have EXACTLY the same responsibilities!
Maybe it’s time for a change. The group Unicameral Michigan, dubbed by the press “Fire The Senate,” thinks so, and is spear-heading a petition drive for a ballot proposal in November to eliminate the State Senate.
The advantages are many; first, it would save the taxpayers an estimated $80 million annually. It would eliminate questionable 37% raises. It would eliminate legislative decisions in closed conference meetings. And we would gain a more streamlined and transparent legislature.
Since both House and Senate are elected on the basis of population, everyone would still have representation, and in the same proportion. And with the present political make-up of both houses, neither political party would profit from this action.
This reduction in government expense would help offset the loss of income when the Small Business Tax expires.
And it would also show that when everyone else is cutting back, the legislature can do so also.
To learn more, or to circulate petitions, go to www.fire-the-senate.com, or write to PO Box 117, Hastings, MI 49058.

Harland Nye • Hastings

Told it like it is
My hat’s off to the Northern Express for their article about Traverse City’s daily newspaper (“Open Season,“ 6/1). I applaud you for writing the story everyone’s been talking about for two years -- and for doing it fairly, something we see far too little of in our local newspapers.

Luke Haase • TC

(Luke Haase is the new publisher of the Grand Traverse Business News.)

He fought for a change
Candidate for Congress Mike Huckleberry fought for change after Electrolux moved 2,700 jobs from Greenville to Mexico. Trade agreements supported by Rep. Dave Camp have hurt all but the very rich.
Camp’s record shows his blind support for Bush’s failed agenda. Record energy prices are crushing America. Overspending by this irresponsible Congress must stop.
Huckleberry will help bring our troops home from a war based on lies. Despite the death and billions wasted with no end in sight, Camp wants to stay the course.
With Congress awash in corruption, nothing is getting done. Huckleberry will defend your gun rights and support environmental policies that will create jobs.

Dean Sheldon • TC