Good coverage
Thank you for your coverage of the Occupy Wall Street movement both locally and nationally ("N.C. Occupy activists plan assembly," Feb. 24). This is a movement that has changed the debate and awakened people to the very real problem of Wall Street's influence over our government.
For those who still think the movement has no message, here it is: End corporate influence over our government. Got it?
ANDREW L. BREWER
Winston-Salem
Faith and health care
John F. Kennedy said: "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute; where no Catholic prelate would tell the president — should he be Catholic — how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote."
This year, GOP candidates often cite "faith" when opposing President Obama's initiatives. Targets include the Affordable Care Act, designed to provide health care for more Americans and prevent the worst of abuses by insurance carriers. Although the Catholic Health Association CEO, Sister Carol Keehan, stated, "The Catholic Health Association is very pleased with the White House announcement that a resolution has been reached that protects the religious liberty and conscience rights of Catholic institutions," GOP candidates still oppose birth-control availability.
Columnist Cal Thomas wrote, "The problem for presidential candidates ... is that fewer people are listening to the voice of God, or to voices claiming to speak for him" ("The God gap," Feb. 29). He goes on to note: "The first Christians took care of each other and did not rely on government to sustain them." Is Thomas telling us that God is against health-care improvements and government programs to help those in need?
And one GOP presidential candidate, Rick Santorum, said that Obama subscribes to a "phony theology, not a theology based on the Bible" (The president is a Protestant, and his faith is similar to that of most Americans.) It is time to stop using religion as a wedge issue.
CHARLES E. WILSON
Winston-Salem
Animal abuser
As soon as I saw the headline "Dog's death plays out in courtroom" (Feb. 16), I knew if I was going to read it I'd surely be angry by the end of it. There are few things in this world that are more reprehensible and barbaric than inducing physical violence on an innocent animal that cannot defend itself.
Growing up taking in abandoned dogs, I've seen several that have been abused, and their behavior is completely different from one that has grown up in a loving home. Any quick movements cause them to wince as if they know they are about to be hit, and that is one of the most pitiful things to see.
The fact that Pedro Lamont Hill would inflict physical pain on Brandi Howell's dog shows that in reality he isn't much of a man at all. I was extremely disappointed that his ex-girlfriend was reluctant to testify against him at first. If he could do this much damage to a puppy over it messing a little on the floor, imagine what he could do to their child when he or she makes a mess. Personally I wouldn't let him near anyone or anything I loved, and I think that woman is crazy for not being more willing to help the legal system prosecute this brute.
The only thing that made me happy was the semi-harsh sentence he received. However, I think some jail time would have been a good fit for the crime as well.
JESSICA ELMORE
Roaring River
Catholics and contraception
Wow, what a difference 62 years can make in American conservative political thinking.
When John F. Kennedy was a presidential aspirant, the American conservatives were appalled at the prospect of a Catholic in the White House, and the prospect that public policy would be dictated by the church.
Now, we see virtually all of the Republicans (and some Democrats as well) demanding that Catholic orthodoxy trump public policy with reference to the provision of contraception options by employers.
How times change.
JAMES McGRATH
Yadkinville
Tabor's filing
Nathan Tabor would be a good 6th District congressman ("Resigning GOP chief to appeal ruling," March 1). He is qualified, knowledgeable and knows lots of good contacts — locally and in the state.
I do have a minor concern as to why he waited until 11:59 a.m. on the final day to file, since one minute is not enough time to have a little cushion to complete a form and meet people and look out for going to the wrong building.
Procrastination and waiting until the last minute are not always reliable traits.
PHILIP BOUTWELL
Winston-Salem
Good coverage. Your "Occupy Movement" changed the debate? No it hasn't. It has served as a distraction for a President that needs continual distraction from the only issue that matters right now---the economy. This "movement" is part of the Obama re elect campaign and is in collusion with the usual Leftist ranters that make up his base...and includes the major media too as this friendly "media" recognised it right off the bat with open arms and its blessing. Orchestrated agitprop. Corporate influence over government? Works both ways. Both are in bed together so deep that neither bothers to close the blinds or change the sheets.
ReplyDeleteTwo LTEs about those darned Catholics daring to stand against a President that is trying to overstep the bounds of the Constitution that he took an oath to uphold. As a result we are treated to more orchestrated muddy water about the entitled right of some to contraception and anything else they want, if the President commands it so. This side show has been in the works for months and only needed to be triggered by one debate moderator asking an out of place question about it. This was done two months ago and the circus was let loose. Still more orchestrated agitprop for a President that needs more of it. "It's the economy, stupid".
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mr. Tabor needs a new watch?
ReplyDeleteWatch. What is a watch? I'm sure he tells time with his iphone. He just needs to download an app for being on time.
ReplyDeleteWordly, that's pretty good! Brother can you spare an app?
DeleteKnowing Tabor he probably waited to the last minute so something like this would happen, and he'd get publicity. He wouldn't have a snowball's chance of beating Coble anyway, so he might as well get copy and portray himself as a victim. Know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteThe iphone already has an app for being on time...it's called a calendar alarm.
ReplyDeleteTabor's problem would be figuring out how to use the calendar and being aware that there is a deadline.
I'm sure that Congressman Coble is quivering with fear at this mighty challenge to his incumbency.
and this guy, Tabor, is supposed to be a leader. First of all, he didn't know where he was going and second, the didn't give himself enough time to deal with unforeseen circumstances. No successful person would follow that lead.
ReplyDeleteBob, quit picking on poor Nathan. It's not his fault that he's never known where he's going...god made him dumb because she loves dumb people so much.
DeleteAnd this "unforeseen circumstances" business is a perfect example of liberal bigotry. How can you expect a person to deal with two consecutive "big words" (7 syllables total) when they have trouble managing "a", "an" and "the"?
LTE1: Corporate influence? It's union moguls who have the run of the WH and departments and agencies.
ReplyDeleteNow who would have guessed that we would see a post like this from Stab?
DeleteLTE #1 is right on the money. Here's the campaign contribution scorecard from the 2011-2012 election cycle, Jan 1, 2011 through now as published by the Federal Elections Commission:
Corporations: $627.7 million
Others: $173.6 million
Unions: $32.9 million
And don't forget, by declaration of the totally impartial US Supreme Court, corporations are people, too. Poor little things...bless them.
Those unions launder money, and they still have the Executive Branch as a collection of locals. Moreover, they have corporations in the form of national media corporations, shilling for their puppet.
DeleteOIC...corporations don't launder money. Nor do they hold trillions in taxable profits overseas. Nor do they bludgeon the military into buying ultra-expensive weapons systems that they don't want.
DeleteIn fact, corporations are our best friends. They always do what is right for everyone. Never forget: What's good for General Motors is good for the country.
As to puppets, its a good thing that we have had Presidents in the past, real, independent thinking men like Reagan and W, who were not puppets.
LMAO
Say what you will, unions have the run of the Executive Branch. And their prime mission is to have Obama's administration to allow coerced membership. Freedom of Choice, so beloved by the Party of the People, is conveniently ignored.
DeleteOh, unions don't need to spend their own coerced money. The taxpayers will pay their way, as in the suit against Boeing.
Tabor is one of the reasons I left the R party.
ReplyDeleteGood news elsewhere. The one-time bankrupter of Cleveland, Dennis Kucinich, lost his primary election for a USHR seat.
Anytime I think about a person's ability to be a congressman/woman. I just think about Nancy Pelosi(D), the incompetent, dizzy woman from California, and I think, if she's one, why can't so and so be one?
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