Little river town
Oh well, guess I'll order some barbecued mutton to cheer me up.
CARY STEVENS
Winston-Salem
2012 elections
The 2012 elections are likely to come down to this: Will we support the re-election of Obama liberals and continue massive inflationary and deficit-spending policies in order to hire more bureaucrats and increase the size of government or will we elect people who will be pro-business (mom-and-pop type)?
DONALD R. CREWS
Winston-Salem
Blame game
Taxation without representation; isn't it time for another revolution?
GREG LARRIMORE
Winston-Salem
How can this be?
HUGH PARKER
Winston-Salem
Being in touch
Love is first expressed by mothers touching their young. Teachers pet their pupils to affirm them. Lovers hold hands, and healers touch the afflicted. Gentle contact conveys warmth of spirit. Through our senses we touch each other and the world.
People afflicted with depression suffer profound spiritual "deadness." They feel beyond the consolation of God. Life loses its meaning. Emotionally, they're "untouchable." The isolated feeling of depression is unbearable. Medical intervention is essential to prevent a suicidal tragedy.
A meeting of minds is another experience of being "in touch." An open mind supports diversity. A closed mind is shackled to its own convictions. Inflexible fixation to beliefs, whether political, theological or sectarian, closes the mind to other human realities.
Lest we forget, right-wingers effectively destroyed German democracy. Most Germans were dismissive of this fanatic racist minority. The rest is history.
Our country needs to move toward the political center to correct for party polarity and public extremism. We require congressional leaders who will serve all of the people some of the time, and we must retire those who only serve some of the people all of the time.
JOSEPH J. CUTRI
Winston-Salem
I grew up in Owensboro, Ky. I've always been proud of the little river town of only 66,000 people. Johnny Depp was born there, I bragged. But I had forgotten that the nation's last public hanging was held there until I read the article in last week's Journal ("75th anniversary recalls 'ghoulish' scene of last public hanging in U.S.," Aug. 12). It made me sad.
CARY STEVENS
Winston-Salem
2012 elections
The 2012 elections are likely to come down to this: Will we support the re-election of Obama liberals and continue massive inflationary and deficit-spending policies in order to hire more bureaucrats and increase the size of government or will we elect people who will be pro-business (mom-and-pop type)?
The more government increases, the more restrictions are placed on small businesses, which results in no jobs created. Traditionally it has been the small businesses that create the jobs and care the most for their employees. We need legislators who will stop these insane restrictions that stifle businesses such as: keeping farmers from getting water in order to protect snails or subsidizing using corn to make synthetic fuel or disallowing drilling, resulting in more dependence on foreign oil.
In addition, what makes it right for a small businessman to pour his life working 12- to 15 hours a day to build a business and achieving success only to have the Obama liberal politicians take his wealth and give it to people who are not willing to work equally as hard? We must face the reality. The more freebees you give people, the more dependent they become on them, seeing them as entitlements, which leads to anger, frustration and a lack of appreciation for the things that they do receive and eventually leading to mob violence, as we are seeing in England.
The choice is ours.DONALD R. CREWS
Winston-Salem
Blame game
There seems to be quite a bit of finger-pointing and assigning blame in Washington these days. After careful consideration, I have come up with the following observation and question.
Republicans: Career politicians completely out of touch with the rest of the country. Bought and paid for by special-interest groups and corporations. Democrats: Career politicians completely out of touch with the rest of the country. Bought and paid for by special-interest groups and corporations. Tea party: See Republicans and Democrats listed above.
GREG LARRIMORE
Winston-Salem
How can this be?
Todd Poole, the chief of staff of Republican U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, resisting an officer and making an unsafe left turn ("Foxx' chief of staff faces charges," Aug. 13). The arresting officer said that he observed Poole failing to yield to oncoming traffic while attempting a left turn. According to the officer's report, Poole "had red, glassy eyes and slurred speech, smelled strongly of alcohol and was combative and unsteady on his feet." Foxx spokesman Aaron Groen said that Poole is still on the job and that "the congresswoman is committed to letting the process run its course."
I can understand how Foxx could forgive Poole for allegedly driving while drunk and being combative with a law-enforcement officer, but come on now, making a turn to the left? I don't know how she could tolerate that. That should be a firing offense.
HUGH PARKER
Winston-Salem
Being in touch
Love is first expressed by mothers touching their young. Teachers pet their pupils to affirm them. Lovers hold hands, and healers touch the afflicted. Gentle contact conveys warmth of spirit. Through our senses we touch each other and the world.
People afflicted with depression suffer profound spiritual "deadness." They feel beyond the consolation of God. Life loses its meaning. Emotionally, they're "untouchable." The isolated feeling of depression is unbearable. Medical intervention is essential to prevent a suicidal tragedy.
A meeting of minds is another experience of being "in touch." An open mind supports diversity. A closed mind is shackled to its own convictions. Inflexible fixation to beliefs, whether political, theological or sectarian, closes the mind to other human realities.
Tea-party extremists with their death grip on the Republican Party exhibit closed doctrinaire mentality. It's "my way or the highway." Radical right-wingers get elected when robotic party-line voting supports inflexibility. Meanwhile, corporate interests finance their campaigns and buy their votes. "Hired" candidates govern by totalitarian gridlock and filibuster maneuvers. This creates dysfunctional democracy with a collapsing stock market and stagnant recession.
Our country needs to move toward the political center to correct for party polarity and public extremism. We require congressional leaders who will serve all of the people some of the time, and we must retire those who only serve some of the people all of the time.
JOSEPH J. CUTRI
Winston-Salem
You know, before the "Journal" published Saturday's LTE's, I commented to myself that it was about time for another one of Dr. Cutri's screeds to be published.
ReplyDeleteThat said, his comment about this country needing to move toward the political center is correct. But, I remind the doc that means movement rightward from the left, as well as leftward from the right.
As for the other LTE's, it's late and I tire. I will note the writer of the first LTE: Cary Stevens is a charming and genuinely nice person.
I also note note LTE writer Poole's last paragraph. Funny. I'll probably still vote for Foxx next year, but I prize good lines. My compliments.
Keith, I don't think the Republicans wish to tax the poor "even further." First, the poor get tax credits, and pay no income tax at all. I have heard no plans to change this, although I believe that zero ought to be the minimum amount of income tax paid, rather than the negative taxes paid by the poor. (I considered putting "poor" in quotes because what we call the poor are, with some exceptions, hardly poor in any objective sense. They have food, clothing, shelter, as well as many conveniences. I don't begrudge them that, but calling them poor leaves little room for those who are truly destitute.)
ReplyDeleteObama has not tried to tax the wealthy even more. He explicitly said that raising taxes in a bad economy is not a good idea (one of the few positions he has taken that I agree with, along with keeping Gitmo open--contrary to his campaign promise.).
I believe that the wealth in the country is largely held by those who have invested, taken risks, worked hard and made jobs for others. There are some who have inherited wealth (earned by their forebears). They did not steal it, however. Wealth is not fixed; it can be made, hence the term "making money." The pie grows. Anyone can participate in this process, with a bit of education (free in this country), effort and dedication.
Finally, Keith, do you think the government can do a better job with the wealth earned by others than they can? I have yet to see any proof of this. Why is government deserving of what others have earned?
"As for the other LTE's, it's late and I tire. I will note the writer of the first LTE: Cary Stevens is a charming and genuinely nice person.
ReplyDeleteI also note note LTE writer Poole's last paragraph. Funny. I'll probably still vote for Foxx next year, but I prize good lines. My compliments."
OK, Stab, I'll give you a break since it was, as you note, late, and you were tired. Obviously Poole didn't write the letter.
But the break ends when you say you will vote for Foxx…no excuses there. Foxx is one of the most worthless and hateful people in Congress, matched in her mindless and empty bigotry only by her political hero, Jesse Helms. Shame on you.
LT-1....BBQd mutton? Isn't that a hanging offense here in NC?
ReplyDeleteLTE 2...the only avenue open to Liberals is more Liberalism. That is always the solution.
ReplyDeleteLTE 3...so do you want to remove government by force or do you want to do it by literally walking them out of office?
ReplyDeleteLTE 4...so Mr Poole was too drunk to sing so he had to drive?
ReplyDeleteDear Dr Cutri, long time no hear from. I see you jumped from mental health to TEA Party to Nazis all in one swoop. A little cognitive dissonance on your part maybe? We expect better from you next month.
ReplyDeleteGood later AM, folks!
ReplyDeleteI sit corrected re my misattribution of Mr. Parker's LTE to the besotted Poole.
I will have to sit shamed re voting for Foxx. I am displeased with her in a number respects, but the only alternative will be to vote for a Dem candidate who will be in thrall to her leftwing Dem House leadership, which is in turn wholly owned by organized labor.
I actually looked at Cal Cunningham in the last election, but never could tell where he stood on card check, so I voted against him.
I actually looked at Marshall also, as I was mad at Burr for a stand he took on women who are sexually abused in the workplace (IIRC). I sent several queries to Marshall's campaign before receiving the answer, "Elaine supports the Employee Free Choice Act." "Employee Free Choice Act" belongs in my "Word watch" section, as that is as weasely and deceitful a bill title as there ever has been. Thus, I could not vote for Marshall.
I once voted for Steve Neal for House, after he had voted to suit me all during his first term. The next term, he voted the Tip O'Neill party line very consistently. I voted for no more Dems for federal office after that.
So, unless a Dem House candidate states uneqivocally that she will vote against anything that eases restrictions (what few there are) on unions or makes it easier for them to corrall members, I will be compelled to vote against her.
Stab...clear enough!
ReplyDeleteRe tanks and subs. Being in a tank is like riding in a foxhole, as its occupants are well protected, especially those in the almost impenetrable M1A2. Also, if the tank is rendered inoperable, the crew may easily leave it, not so in the case of a damaged submerged sub.
ReplyDeleteIn an M1 only the loader lacks a view outside the tank.
Posting at the Journal site is proving difficult, so here is my response to some My father-in-law is one of the most generous and loving people I know. He has been more of a father to me than my own father. And he is a staunch Democrat (his one fault, as we joke to each other--he says the same of me about being a Republican.). He tells a story about tomato plants. For many years, each year he'd grow tomato plants. Before planting them in the garden he would take several to his friend, Mr. Ingold. Seldom would there even be a thank you from Mr. Ingold. After many years my Pop decided not to grow tomatoes one year. As the planting season approached, Mr. Ingold, with much indignation, from the pew behind my Pop's asked where "his" tomato plants were. A rare event then occurred-- my father-in-law had nothing to say in reply.
ReplyDeleteThis story is intended to illustrate a few points. First, people ARE like bears, at least with respect to the reason why we are told not to feed bears. People come to expect, and demand, that things given to them never stop, and will react unkindly when they do.
Second, Democrats and Republicans can agree on some things, even though they may disagree on how to solve acknowledged problems.
Finally, sometimes, when presented with unkind words, they best response may be no response.
the tomfoolery there: