Letters 11/23/06

Nov. 22, 2006

Green Party spoilers
Control of the Michigan Senate has been retained by the Republicans due to
two Senate races that were decided by less than 1% of the vote.
The truly interesting fact in both races is that the Green Party, which is
more closely aligned with the Democrats, may have contributed to the GOP
victories. Had the 5,444 Greens voted 67% Dem and 33% GOP, then the
Democrat Party would today control the Senate.
In the 13th Senate District, Any Levin (D) lost by 776 votes out of
116,322 or 0.67%. The Green party candidate in that race had 3,118 votes.
In the 32nd Senate District, Carl Williams (D) lost by 520 votes out of
94,432 or 0.55%. The Green party candidate collected 2,326.
As a Democrat I support many of the lofty Green Party goals, however, it’s
doubtful many in the GOP support Green values. Maybe the Greens might want
to rethink their political philosophy; or at least the candidates they
vote for.

Michael Estes • TC

Death penalty protest
In reference to the death sentence given to Saddam Hussein.
All but a handful of national governments on this planet have made capital
punishment illegal. The United States is one of the holdouts. Many people
are executed in this country each year.
I agree with Prime Minister Tony Blair of England and denounce the
proposed execution of Saddam Hussein. No nation or government should be
given the authority to take the life of its citizens.
Be it Saddam Hussein, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld who
has committed crimes against humanity... that fact should not be a license
to commit yet another murderous crime.
Furthermore, when authority is threatened, capital punishment is a tool
that will be abused by those who wish to retain their tarnished positions.

Dale S. Scott • Harbor Springs

Wasted dollars
Thank goodness the election is over. No more slanderous advertising or
annoying canned phone calls. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if each candidate
would simply put out his/her agenda (their mission statement) and leave
out the slanderous lies, half truths, and innuendo?
If only we had a law against inaccuracies -- but that would trample our
free speech.
To future office seekers out there, begin putting your mission statement
and good ideas together and sell us on your merits...do not hope to win by
tearing your opponent down. The more you attack, the less respect we
have for you.
Spend your money on worthwhile projects: the cost of the “Kalamazoo
Promise” -- college tuition for all Kalamazoo public school graduates --
is estimated to cost the “shadowy” figures bankrolling it $3 million per
year. The Michigan governor’s race cost one of the candidates as much as
$40 million of his own money.
One wonders if $40 million would have been better spent on an education
for all the public school students of Grand Rapids.

Theresa Walter • Suttons Bay

Wake up bad drivers
Would those of you who read and enjoy life, explain to your friends and
co-workers that obeying traffic signals makes you look smarter and more
respectful. Driving on the phone, when you can’t drive well in the first
place, is ridiculous, and I’m going to honk all day if those talkers
don’t pay attention, use turn signals and realize how dangerous it is when
you don’t realize what you‘re doing at the wheel. When people fly through
red lights with that company name, or school, you are degrading that
organization, and giving people the wrong idea, besides endangering lives
for the sake of a few seconds!
Let’s all wake up, USE TURN SIGNALS, STOP WHEN YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO, and
drive like you care about yourself.

Blair Hughes • TC

Willy Branch update
I was just sent an article that was published back in April 2006
regarding Willy Branch. There are some inaccuracies in the article, so it
appears that there was no research done to verify anything.
How could you print information without verifying it? The land Willy
originally owned by the Baty family, they were not refugees, there is
significant history about this black family. Do your research. Also the
cemetery land, Joyfield, was originally owned by the Davis family; they
were not refugees, they came from Ohio.
It is my understanding that Ms. Baty’s daughter was the first black
teacher in Benzie County. The definition of a refugee is person who has
been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or
natural disaster. The Davis family arrived in Benzie County in late 1862
or early 1863 and is believed to be the first black family in the county.
Please do not disrespect my family heritage.
The big question is, if what Willy did was wrong, why was he not shut
down? Everyone knew what he was doing or not doing; not one person
protested. I do not condone his methods whatsoever, but do want your
facts to be correct.

Shelley Murphy • via email

Correction:
In last week‘s “Missing“ story, it was erroneously reported that Donna
Hart paid for the billboard that advertised her daughter’s disappearance.
In fact, the billboard company, Lamar, donated it. Also, the missing
woman, Dawnette Harrell, got into a fight with her boyfriend on the day
of her disappearance, not her husband, as was erroneously reported. Since
the story was reported, it was learned that Tim
Harrell, Dawn‘s estranged husband, has fully cooperated with the Michigan
State Police in the investigation and passed a polygraph test.