Phargo's Phunnies WE 10/31/12

Winston-Salem Journal LTE WE 10/31/12

America and free enterprise

I believe in America and free enterprise. Free enterprise grows best with limited government and sustains the American dream. Washington currently suffocates the American dream.

Our strength is mandatory for our well being, and for the world’s. If we aren’t the leader of the free world, then who will be? Countries in South America? We have been governed by the same constitution for 236 years and we have never been overturned, like other countries. These countries esteem America’s president as the leader of the free world.

We are facing a giant economic crisis, with more worldwide uncertainty. Obama’s policies have made us weaker and less free. His first term was disastrous. Do we want a repeat?

America needs a businessman who launched or rebuilt over 100 companies. The 2002 Winter Olympics were saved from collapse due to Romney. As governor of Massachusetts, the budget was balanced every year with no tax increase — and a $3 billion budget gap he inherited was closed.

President Romney will enable America to grow new jobs and keep the middle class viable. After all, doesn’t the middle class keep America moving forward, and more free?

ELIZABETH S. SMITH

Lewisville

Moving forward

I am writing on behalf of Elisabeth Motsinger for 5th Congressional District.

As a believer in moving forward, it is time for a new perspective. Elisabeth has been my doctor advisor and friend for many years and I can attest to her inclusive and compassionate heart.

Elisabeth Montsinger's work ethic is a huge reason to endorse her. I know she will be working for the good of all and not just her own agenda.

Please, let's shed a new light on our prospects.

JOYCE TETA

Winston-Salem

A fair judge

This letter is to endorse Judge Victoria “Tori” Roemer for re-election as Forsyth District Court Judge. Judge Roemer has been a 21st District Court Judge since she was first elected in 1996.

I have known Judge Roemer since she was attending law school. On weekends she would ride on patrol with me as well as other officers of the Winston-Salem Police Department to learn first-hand the problems facing officers and our citizens. Judge Roemer took these lessons learned to become a fair judge of cases presented before her.

Her opponent, Andrew Keever, is an assistant public defender. To me this is like putting a fox in charge of a hen house. I encourage voters to continue supporting Judge Victoria Roemer when casting their vote for District Court Judge for the 21st District.

GARY LLOYD

WINSTON-SALEM POLICE DEPARTMENT (RET.)

Tobaccoville

Global trade

Webster defines global as: “sphere-shaped.” I don’t believe what is being called “global trade” in our society has a sphere shape. Much of the current definition involves unfair profit and political agreements in which our country should never have become involved. The end results have become loss of U.S. jobs, loss of income for U.S. citizens, loss of taxes locally, state-wide and country wide and have caused global debt and major problems.

It’s past time to pull the dictionary back out and stop destruction everywhere.

HAROLD D. PARKER

Clemmons

Important election

The election on Nov. 6 will be one of the most important elections in generations. The differences in the presidential candidates as well as the two parties have never been more clearly defined. Among the many emotionally laden issues so vigorously debated, there are two that will determine the direction of our country more than all others combined.

First, which of the presidential candidates and their respective parties will be more inclined to preserve and sustain the middle class as well as increase avenues for the poorest of our country to rise to middle class status? Emboldened by Citizens United, the wealthiest individuals and the most powerful corporations of our country have provided hundreds of millions of dollars to the Republican Party as a down payment on a more plutocratic government. Since the Gilded Age in the late 1800s, we have not witnessed as vigorous efforts by the wealthy to gain control of the direction of our country. The survival of a thriving middle class is of paramount importance to not only our economic recovery, but to a secure democracy.

Second, who will appoint the next justices to the Supreme Court? Another Republican appointment will set an even more conservative course for the high court for the next two decades. Can we survive many more decisions like Citizens United?

The words of President Lincoln defined our crisis well when he said, “…that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Vote Democratic!

CHARLES FRANCIS WILSON

Winston-Salem

A sincere public servant

Judicial elections are hard, due to the fact that only limited information (including even party affiliation) is available to most voters. I want to urge everyone to vote to re-elect Justice Paul Newby for North Carolina Supreme Court.

I am not a lawyer, but I have heard Justice Newby at a candidate forum and have briefly met the man twice. Justice Newby struck me as a sincere and humble public servant. I have also heard from some lawyer friends that he is a fine person with an impeccable professional reputation, and I understand that several former chief justices of our N.C. Supreme Court and many attorneys, Democrats and Republicans, have endorsed Justice Newby. Please remember to vote for Paul Newby for Supreme Court.

JOE BURNS

Winston-Salem

Determination

Having known Elisabeth Motsinger for many years, I want to express my hope that this thoughtful, caring individual will be elected to Congress. Her determination, intelligence, resourcefulness and courage were evident to me when I watched her, a young widow with two small children, put herself through a demanding program to become a physician assistant. In recent years, on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board, she has impressed me by her care in listening to all parties, including those who disagreed emphatically with her, as she worked tirelessly against measures that have resegregated our schools and hurt the most vulnerable among us.

If she is elected, I am confident that she will take carefully considered, nuanced positions that will exemplify her good will for all in our district.

JANET S. ZEHR

Winston-Salem

Better judgment

While economic issues are important, we need to consider who has better judgment and will avoid unnecessary wars and who will foster better health care for our citizens.

Before the 2008 election, with the country in economic turmoil, the Federal Reserve turned to the one candidate who had the intellect to truly understand what was happening: Barack Obama. He proceeded to support the middle class with a stimulus and a jobs bill. He championed the Affordable Care Act, expanding health coverage. He saved General Motors (Mitt Romney would not). He will end the Afghanistan War in 2014. He kept American boots off the ground in Libya while still helping.

The other choice is Romney/Ryan. To demonstrate his foreign-policy skills, Romney flew to Israel, where he proceeded to alienate the Palestinians, who said he was out of touch with the realities of the Middle East. In England, he criticized the British’s ability to manage the Summer Olympics. Especially disturbing is that Romney lied about the president in one of his first ads, yet when confronted with the falsehood, he continued to run the ad.

Rep. Paul Ryan then blamed the president for a plant closing that occurred while George W. Bush was president. Ryan also blamed Obama for the debt crisis without mentioning that he, Ryan, voted to increase the debt.

The lies, deceit and lack of poise offered by these men show clearly what a mistake it would be to put them in the White House.

JOHN G. PALMER

Winston-Salem

Name-calling

Did Scott Sexton recently attend a Rush Limbaugh journalism seminar? The name-calling in his Oct. 23 column (“Trader Joe’s came to town without incentives,” Oct. 23) seemed reminiscent of the mean-spirited Limbaugh style. I do not have much firsthand knowledge of Trader Joe’s, but I do know lots of people who are enamored of it and I would not call them “doofuses” or “doofi” or “hipsters” or “yuppies.” In fact, I would not call anybody those names and “yuppies” is a little outdated, by the way.

Possibly Sexton wants to present a “man of the people” image by calling others derogatory names, but name-calling is simply mean and cowardly. Perhaps it was meant to distract from the fact that the two businesses he was comparing in his column are so different, one planned for a tourist part of town (Mast General Store) and the other being in a thriving shopping center (Trader Joe’s). It seems to me that name-calling and labeling is frequently used in the media these days to distract and hinder critical thinking about the issues.

KAREN L. BYRD

Winston-Salem

Deep compassion

Good for Elisabeth Motsinger for making what some individuals would call mistakes in her 20s that have led to her deep compassion and the willingness to devote her life to its service (“Dem had ties to guru,” Oct. 20). To make “mistakes” and then have a track record of constantly reaching for the good for the following 30+ years strikes me as exactly what I'm looking for in a candidate for 5 th District representative.

JENNIFER SNOWHITE

Winston-Salem

Voting for good

Sometimes when I vote, I feel like I'm choosing between the lesser of two evils. When I voted last week, in the race for the 5th District, the choice was clearly between good and evil. I chose good and cast my vote for Elisabeth Motsinger.

KEVIN MUNDY

Winston-Salem

More effective

I have known Elisabeth Motsinger for several years and admire her character, her intelligence and her genuine commitment to good government. While she has been criticized by some as too liberal, her understanding of most important issues is not only broader, but also much closer to the center, than that of her opponent.

For these reasons, Elisabeth would more effectively represent the people of the 5th District.

MARK DULANEY GLEN

Winston-Salem

Sexton good

I really do not care if the Journal places Scott Sexton's columns on the front page, the back page or the middle of the newspaper. The only thing I care about is that they continue to print his columns or “opinions” as some have stated.

ILA HESTER

Winston-Salem

Church support

I was surprised to see a full-page political ad, paid for by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, in the Oct. 21 Journal. It is so obviously an ad supporting the candidates of the Republican Party.

Mitt Romney is pro-life (at least he was last week) and President Obama is pro-choice — how could one miss that? It is OK for the Graham organizations to support whomever they wish (no one is forced to contribute to the organizations); however, if they are going to be political, then their tax-exempt status should be examined. It is a direct violation of church and state separation.

I feel sure this ad appeared in other publications in addition to the Journal, and could only wonder how many shoeboxes Franklin Graham could have filled with that ad money.

President Obama did not get my vote four years ago, but he will get it this year.

JO H. KEY

Winston-Salem

Obama must go

For four years, President Obama has tried to impose upon America his progressive, Utopian vision, one where income redistribution, fairness of outcomes and class warfare are elevated above Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. In Obama’s world, more government programs, regulation and confiscatory tax policies are vital to U.S. success, while his “hope and change” slogan has proven to be merely empty political rhetoric.

Obama’s $862 billion stimulus has failed; his $82 billion bailout of GM and Chrysler benefited organized labor over taxpayers; his $180 billion bailout of AIG primarily rewarded Wall Street; he used $90 billion in taxpayer dollars to prop up now bankrupt “green energy” companies like Solyndra, Beacon Power, Ener1 and Abound Solar, and Obamacare has increased medical costs, and thanks to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, has led to an all-out assault on the U.S. Constitution unprecedented in its 225-year history.

President Obama is not well suited to address the monumental challenges facing our country, like the sagging economy, the threat from a potentially nuclear armed Iran, and a soaring and unsustainable level of national debt. With $6 trillion of additional debt, 23 million unemployed or under-employed Americans, a moribund national economy, business owners who are afraid to expand, lack of real entitlement reform, and mindless federal spending leading our country down the path to financial ruin, I believe that on Nov. 6, all Americans should elect Mitt Romney as our new president.

JOHN S. DALLAS III

Winston-Salem

Political/religious system

Recently I saw where Mitt Romney paid a visit to Billy Graham. Graham pledged his support to help elect the Republican nominee.

I’ve often wondered why the religious right automatically favors the conservative agenda — small government, minimal social safety nets, limited programs for the less well off, etc. I’ve always had the notion that the Christian message was to help the poor and less well off. So I’ve always felt this disconnect with our political/religious system.

To be clear, I personally can live and thrive under this conservative agenda. I’m healthy, educated and have a pretty good work ethic. I do OK for myself. I was born into a nuclear family. My parents were blessed with a ton of common sense. They taught their children well.

But here’s the deal. Not everyone is as blessed as I have been. Members of a lower social and economic class usually have to overcome many obstacles. They often times need some assistance.

I want my government to help those people. I believe that ultimately, the whole of society benefits.

I am my brother’s keeper, I feel, and it sure seems to me that the Democrats embody that ideal.

No real offense intended to my conservative friends.

GARY McCOY

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem Journal LTE TU 10/30/12

That group

I'm trying to remember — what's the name of that group that wants to replace civil law with religious law? And what's the name of that group that wants to curtail voting by people who don't agree with them? The Taliban?

No, these things are being done by our own Republican Party. Think before you vote.

MARQUIS WILLIAMS

Winston-Salem

She sees clearly

Elisabeth Motsinger is the one candidate from North Carolina's 5th District who has the intelligence, integrity and foresight to help begin to restore faith in Congress. I have known Elisabeth for about 18 years and have observed her as a friend, mother, professional and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board member. To each activity in her life she applies herself with dedication and compassion.

Frankly, I have no idea why she isn't exhausted all the time; but she's always friendly, warm and appealing. Yet Elisabeth Motsinger is not a starry-eyed optimist. Let's call her a starry-eyed realist. She has no illusions about the difficulty of working in a legislative body that is now so dysfunctional. But it is precisely because she sees so clearly how our world could be better that she should be elected in the 5 th District, to put her heart, hands and head to the task of legislating for the greater good.

DAVE MOFFATT

Winston-Salem

Several things

The national debt will continue to spiral and the country will keep sliding toward socialism as long as people, communities and businesses scramble for more government handouts rather than make an effort to help themselves and others. What happened to responsibility?

If Mitt Romney is elected, he will blame President Obama for the mess he inherits, as Obama has blamed President Bush before him. Only Bush has been sadly silent in not putting the blame where it started and that is with the Democratic Congress he contended with during his last two years.

I hope and pray there will be more bipartisan cooperation. “Come, let us reason together.”

Finally, my personal greatest concern is the backsliding of our country morally and spiritually. The Almighty must be disgusted with his people, who are called by his name.

“In God We Trust.” But in God do we obey? Please keep praying for America, “One Nation Under God.”

BOB G. TANNEHILL

Winston-Salem

Found to be fair

I am a retired probation-parole officer and have observed Forsyth District Court Judge Victoria Roemer while she was a district attorney and a judge. I currently reside in Davie County, but, if I was eligible to vote in Forsyth County, my vote would be for Victoria Roemer. While her rulings did not always go my way, I always found her to be fair, compassionate and supportive of family values.

C.W. “BUBBA” SOUTHERN

Advance

Grateful for Motsinger

A few years ago Elisabeth Motsinger had the opportunity to speak from the pulpit of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem on Robinhood Road. She spoke from her heart, and she was so moving that immediately after the service I expressed to her how grateful I was that she represented my children on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board.

This week I will be voting for her to be my representative in the U.S. Congress. I believe that she is the most capable, the most worthy candidate for the position, and she will represent all of us ably and with heart. Please vote for Elisabeth Motsinger.

JOY IRWIN

Winston-Salem

Allred and Keever

I have practiced law in Forsyth County for over 21 years. I appear in court about every day. I have had the opportunity over the years to observe both Andrew Keever and Amy Allred as they learn and grow in their practice of law. They both exhibit patience and knowledge in handling a wide array of both civil and criminal matters. They show clear skills in communication and understanding of the laws of North Carolina and the constitution.

Justice requires that a District Court judge should be able to stand as a neutral impartial finder of facts in contested matters. A judge’s only master is the laws of North Carolina and the constitution. They are not police officers and they are not court administrators there to clear the docket. Their job is a constitutional task to fairly and impartially hear every person who comes before them, apply the laws of North Carolina and show the patience and respect every person deserves.

Being a good District Court judge is a difficult job that must be carried out with dignity and respect for the law, the lawyers and the citizens. You see, our system of government and our very freedom depend on it.

Andrew Keever and Amy Allred are the right people to do that job for the people of Forsyth County. Vote for Andrew Keever and Amy Allred for District Court judge.

JOHN BARROW

Kernersville

Endorsing Obama

So, let me get this straight, just to ensure the facts are out there for everyone to see. Warren Buffet’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, now owns the Journal and the Journal endorses President Obama. Yeah, we never saw that coming, did we?

But hey, these political endorsements from newspapers just don't have the lure they used to have and all the Journal accomplished by endorsing Obama was to turn even more paying customers away, because Mitt Romney is going to win North Carolina.

MAURICE ATWOOD

Advance

Berkshire Hathaway leaves editorial endorsements up to local editorial boards. Other company newspapers in Omaha and Richmond endorsed Romney.

— The editor.

A great commander in chief

As a U.S. Marine veteran, I would like to thank President Obama for keeping his pledge to close the war in Iraq and bring our troops home. The next step is to close the other long war was soon as possible. We must take care of our returning veterans by helping them get good health care and jobs and help take care of all our heroes.

I would like to thank the Obama administration for helping Winston-Salem obtain a new Veterans Administration outpatient clinic in Marketplace Mall and the announcement of plans to build a new VA facility in Kernersville in the near future. This will bring a lot of good paying jobs and be a boost to Forsyth County and our local economy.

I’m grateful to the president for being a great commander in chief. His actions speak a lot. I hope the people will give him four more years to complete the needed work.

JAMES ROYDICE JONES

Winston-Salem

A good person

I have already voted for Elisabeth Motsinger for 5 th Congressional District and I encourage others to do so as well.

It's not just because we need to remove Rep. Virginia Foxx, who is an embarrassment to North Carolina, but because Elisabeth is a good person with good ideas who listens, engages in civil discussion of issues, and really is concerned about the welfare of all the constituents in the 5 th District and beyond.

Please join me in supporting Elisabeth Motsinger.

ED CARLSON

Winston-Salem

Private interest

Judge Sam Ervin is one of the finest, most knowledgeable judges this state has ever known. I know him personally and he is not a political person, but has dedicated his life to the pursuit of the law. He is fair and firm and does not lean either way in his rulings. He definitely deserves to be elected to the N.C. Supreme Court in this nonpartisan race.

Every voter should be appalled, as I am, that a private interest group is trying to buy this election for Paul Newby, the opponent. He took public financing and is prohibited from taking more donations. How can he be fair when this outside interest group dumps huge amounts of money into his election? It is one thing to buy political elections, but our judges should not be for sale. We need an independent judiciary.

I hope voters will join me in voting for Judge Sam Ervin for N.C. Supreme Court and keep our courts fair and independent.

WILLIAM H. FREEMAN

SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE (RET.)

Winston-Salem

Heart-warming story?

Thanks for your heart-warming story “Saying goodbye to the old digs” (Oct. 14) and bringing to our attention the plight of the Christensens in our community. A tear came to my eye as I read how this couple has no choice but to auction their stately 14,000-square-foot Georgian residence, with a listing price at a paltry $3.99 million.

My heart sank as I read their woes on parting with 20 years of warm family memories in the formal dining room and exquisitely decorated great room. To make matters worse, the Christensens risk fetching a low opening bid of maybe $1.5 million, because selling at auction may not result in the full listing price. Little wonder that neighbors are concerned that selling at auction with these low figures might render the property as a “distressed, have-to-sell sale” — thus making their own multi-million dollar homes seem troubled. This couple has had to suffer in this grand home several years after sending all of their children off to college, because the market was lacking for their needs in 2009.

Though you could have reported on thousands of homeowners in our community who have lost their jobs, struggle to make their mortgage payments, or have lost their homes altogether, you chose to bring this terrible situation to light. Though you could have reported on the scores of homeless in our community, you decided instead to bring to the attention of the public the plight of the Christensens. Thank you, Journal.

LINDSEY AND EMILY CARTER

Yadkinville

Let's try Romney's plan

The plan for a stronger middle class includes more jobs and higher take-home pay is one reason to vote for Romney/Ryan. The other plan created a deeper recession and hampered efforts for our nation to recover, increased spending and allowed debt to skyrocket. The middle class has been crushed. More than 23 million Americans are out of work and struggling to find jobs; many have stopped looking.

Mitt Romney plans to preserve and strengthen Medicare by restoring the $716 billion in Obamacare cuts to Medicare. This will strengthen the program for future beneficiaries. He also plans to end Obamacare and replace it with a common sense health-care reform — unless we want 21 more taxes to fund this socialized medicine called Obamacare. Anyone interested in more taxes?

We would all like to see America strong again. Bigger government does not mean better government. Bigger government has gotten us nowhere, only further in debt. I care deeply about our history and our future. I am tired of big government printing money we don't have to pay for programs, bailing out failing businesses that should fail all with borrowed funds from China. Our children are left to pay these debts. And the beat goes on. Our future is mortgaged and our children’s' future is in jeopardy.

Americans cannot afford another four years of fiscally irresponsible leadership in our White House. We desperately need strong leadership.

LINWOOD JONES

Winston-Salem

Motsinger’s core values

I agree with the Journal’s editorial board (“Motsinger is best choice for 5th district”, Oct 16). When she decided to run for Congress, Elizabeth Motsinger considered core values of the U.S. Constitution “.... to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity....” Motsinger notes that the common defense comes not only from military might, but also from developing relationships with people of other nations. And that the general welfare includes affordable, effective health care for all Americans, an essential for a good and stable society.

Rep. Virginia Foxx has different core values. Foxx's website says of the Jan. 1 defense sequester, “the consequences will be ‘devastating,’ leaving the United States with its smallest ground force since the World War II era.” Foxx voted against Obamacare when it came before the House in 2010, and has voted 30 times since to repeal, defund and dismantle portions of the law.

Our nation's needs and the nature of threats to our nation have changed since World War II. President Bush responded to the 9/11 attacks with the Iraq war. President Obama ordered a carefully-planned raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. We need a representative who is aware of the current needs of Americans and one who believes our common defense includes diplomacy.

Elizabeth Motsinger's priorities are consistent with our country's needs in this century.

CHARLES E. WILSON

Winston-Salem

An ideal representative

I am writing to support the candidacy of Elisabeth Motsinger for Congress. I have known Elisabeth for many years. Her honor, sense of fairness and diligence make her an ideal representative for us, especially in these times of such great political strife. We in the 5th Congressional District have not been well represented for many years, and I am excited about the possibility of sending Elisabeth Motsinger to Washington, D.C.!

ELLEN BETTMANN

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem Journal LTE MO 10/29/12

Proud to know her

I have known Elisabeth Motsinger and her husband John for a number of years through our membership at the same church. She is one of the finest people I know and would truly be a credit to the people of North Carolina as our 5 th District representative in Washington. I am proud to know her, proud to support her and proud of her for working so hard and so honorably for the good of all the people in our community.

I firmly believe that we deserve the high quality of personal integrity, intelligence and good will that Elisabeth Motsinger represents. She deserves our votes.

CAROL EMMET

Winston-Salem

Representation

I am supporting Elisabeth Motsinger for Congress as she will finally represent the people here. Our current representative is totally out of touch with our area; she represents people with a broad range of incomes and an average of about $50,000 a year, yet she votes to cut support for programs that working people need and supports tax cuts for multi-millionaires. They may support her campaign, but few live in our area.

Please look at the records and vote for Elisabeth Motsinger for the 5th District, so we will finally have representation.

DAN BEAM

Mocksville

Elusive truth

Unfortunately, I have not been able to dodge all of the political ads and biased reporting of this election. What I have seen is that the Democrats mislead and lie. The Republicans just outright lie. In fact, the Republicans have shot themselves in the foot so often, the NRA might run out of bullets.

Are the candidates so incompetent that they feel the only way to get elected is to mislead the public or is it that they are so out of touch with reality that they wouldn't recognize the truth if it jumped up and smacked them in the face?

If the voters only voted for honest candidates, no one would be elected.

RICHARD SIMMONS

Winston Salem

A better place

This election I will cast my vote for Elisabeth Motsinger for 5 th Congressional District. I have known Elisabeth for over 25 years and during all that time she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to making the world a better place.

She listens respectfully to all points of view, but maintains her core values of integrity, compassion and justice. She is truly “of the people,” someone who understand the struggles of the middle class and what it takes to raise a family in tough economic times.

Elisabeth Motsinger will serve the people of the 5 th District well. I am proud to call her my friend; I will be even prouder to call her my representative.

GERALDINE ZUREK

Winston-Salem

She genuinely cares

Empathy is an increasingly rare commodity in politics, but voters in the 5 th Congressional District have an opportunity to elect a representative who genuinely cares about her constituents.

Elisabeth Motsinger’s two terms on our Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board clearly demonstrate not only her ability to understand the needs of those she represents — students, parents, teachers alike — but to work creatively and collaboratively to further their interests.

Wouldn’t it be refreshing to have that kind of representation in Washington?

I’ve known Elisabeth for nearly 15 years through church and community involvement, and strongly encourage anyone interested in a representative who listens, who cares and who will actually work to get things done, to vote for Elisabeth Motsinger.

JACK CAMPBELL

Winston-Salem

A voice of reason

I am writing about our choice for the 5 th Congressional District. Early in her campaign, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Elisabeth Motsinger. I was impressed with her understanding of the issues that face us and with her calm and congenial demeanor. Elisabeth is my choice for U.S. representative.

Let’s send a voice of reason and civility to represent North Carolina in the U.S. House. Vote for Elisabeth Motsinger this election.

AL BURCHETT

Clemmons

A balanced solution

Please add my name to those endorsing Elisabeth Motsinger as our 5th District representative. We need a responsible representative willing to work across the aisle to achieve a balanced solution to our current challenges.

I have known Elisabeth for 15 years as a caring and responsible parent, and have been proud of her centrist approach in her service on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board. She has run a positive campaign focusing on her positions and political outlook, a strong indication of how she will serve us in Congress. We need a change for the better.

R. HARRISON MARKS III

Winston-Salem

An internal threat

I cannot imagine a greater internal threat to America than electing President Obama to a second term. He, his cabinet and his czars have worked overtime to bring America down in every way possible. My prayer is that the American people will see through his rhetorical, slick-talking, spin-weaving, hateful, divisive ways.

America desperately needs a godly, responsible leader who loves America and can really lead us in these unsettling times. Mitt Romney is America's only hope for the next our years. May God bless America!

BONNIE B. SMITH

King

The real issues

I write in support of my dear friend and role model, Elisabeth Motsinger, who is running for 5 th Congressional District. I am inspired by her seemingly endless energy, her ability to connect authentically with people of all backgrounds and her commanding poise in the face of adversity.

Most noteworthy, however, is Elisabeth's uncanny ability to keep her campaign clean. Try as I might to get her to hop on the opponent-dissing bandwagon, she simply will not go there and guides me back to the real issues at hand. Sounds like a skill-set fit for Washington, yes?

ANNE MARIE STOTT

Winston-Salem

Character

This election comes down to character: Mitt Romney has character, President Obama is a character.

Romney is confident and competent because he stands for something larger than himself. Obama is insecure and incompetent because he stands for nothing except himself and his self-promotion. He's had no budget, no plan, takes no responsibility, won't be held accountable, calls lies truth and truth lies.

The shine of the “golden calf” has tarnished. We find he is not the savior, the leader, the unblemished, the “God incarnate” he and his followers thought he was. We unfortunately have found him to be an empty vessel, vain but empty.

DAVID MOBLEY

Winston-Salem

A welcome change

I believe that Elisabeth Motsinger will be a welcome change to represent our area in Congress. Her positive political campaign speaks volumes about her character. In addition, her fresh ideas and solid experience demonstrate a willingness to serve responsibly.

I urge a vote forward, a vote for Elisabeth Motsinger.

BURNITT BEALLE

Winston-Salem

Phargo's Phunnies SU 10/28/12

Winston-Salem Journal LTE SU 10/28/12

No one’s perfect

This year as the election approaches, many people are extremely opinionated in which way to vote, while another set are not thrilled with anyone running for president. This year, the election will be very close and will be one year in which we can probably say our votes will truly matter.

No person will ever be perfect. The people running are just people.

Voting is a privilege many people around the world would be happy to have and many in our own country have fought for our right to do so. If you care about what happens in our country, and I believe most people do, please, take a stand. Pick the candidates who are least offensive to you on issues that are important to you and vote.

LISA AYERS

Winston-Salem

A fresh perspective

All organizations I have known reach a point where inertia takes control, and those organizations are unable to escape doing what they have done in the same old ways. The inertia is not intentional, it just happens. We have to be intentional, though, in correcting what so inevitably becomes ineffective, wasteful or even useless.

The Forsyth County commissioners need new ideas and a fresh perspective to get them out of the ruts they have created. Gail McNeill is the person to introduce practical, common sense ideas to make our county government more taxpayer-friendly. In these times, we can’t afford to continue to do things the old way.

For instance, when it’s time to gather information to create a new budget, in addition to the usual parade of program directors and CEO types, the commissioners should seek information from the people on the front line of service. Ask the teachers, public-health nurses, caseworkers, deputies and landfill employees, “What is working and what is not as you fulfill your mission as an organization accountable to taxpayers?” As Gail writes in her platform, “This process (creating a budget) should involve research and study beyond the usual formal presentations and requests.” The county employees actually doing the work — currently largely ignored — will offer points of view essential in evaluating both existing and new budget proposals.

This sensible approach to collecting information is only one of many ideas Gail McNeill has outlined in her platform at www.mcneill2012.com. Vote for Gail McNeill for Forsyth County commissioner.

MYRA GROZINGER

Winston-Salem

Romney’s taxes

Everyone seems to be hung up on the fact that Mitt Romney only paid 14.1 percent of his 2011 income in federal taxes. Generally, the media and certainly the Democratic ads say that is a much lower rate than the “middle class” pays. Not so!

The 14.1 percent is calculated by dividing the taxes he paid, $1,935,708, by his adjusted gross income of $13,696,951. It also makes sense, since almost all of his income is dividends and capital gains, both of which are currently taxed at a
maximum of 15 percent. His percentage tax actually is a little lower since he still has exemptions and deductions such as taxes paid and charitable contributions (the latter amounted to 16.4 percent of his AGI by the way).

If middle-class taxpayers check their own percentage rate on the same basis, I daresay they pay a much lower percentage than 14 percent. I checked mine for 2011, and it was just under 8 percent, and I consider myself middle class. The low percentage is partly explained by my exemptions and deductions offsetting a substantial amount that would otherwise be taxed. But even if I just claimed the standard deduction, my taxes would probably still be around 10 percent of AGI.

Perhaps people think, “But I’m in the 25 percent tax bracket.” That, however, doesn’t mean you pay 25 percent in taxes. Think about it and consider which is fairer, what Romney pays in taxes or the president’s ads on that subject.

PAUL McELROY

Bethania

Very fortunate

I worked with Forsyth District Court Judge Victoria Roemer from 1988 until my retirement in 2010. She has always been an outstanding individual, both personally and professionally. Forsyth County is very fortunate to have a District Court judge with the compassion and dedication she brings to the bench every day. Not only is she honest and fair, she shows the utmost respect for each and every person who appears before her.

She certainly gets my vote and I will be proud to be working for her at the polls.

SHARON S. REAVIS,

N.C. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (RET.)

Winston Salem

No more disaster

In the Oct. 23 letter “An important election,” the writer says he will be 98 years old in November. I wish him a happy birthday, but I respectfully question some of his statements.

When President Obama took office, the United States was losing 700,000 jobs per month. In the last 30 months under Obama, 4.5 million people have gotten jobs.

Standard & Poor’s, the credit rating agency that lowered the rating of the U.S., did not blame President Obama. It blamed the politicians who refused to work together on raising the debt limit.

The letter writer blames the president for the recent riots in the Middle East. What about the Islamic terrorists and the negative film about Muhammad, “Innocence of Muslims”? It was in the news. President Obama is not responsible for everything that has gone wrong in the world since he became president.

The writer is right in saying this election will determine the kind of country we will have. With 17 of 24 of Mitt Romney’s advisers being from the George W. Bush administration, we can guess where they would lead us.

As a young man, the writer must have seen the Great Depression during the administration of Republican President Herbert Hoover. As a senior citizen, he has seen the Great Recession from the administration of Republican President George W. Bush. I hope he does not see another Republican disaster. Please vote for President Obama.

LEON M. MARTIN

Kernersville

Our Washington representative

I have had several opportunities to meet with Rep. Virginia Fox and have concluded she is a dedicated, hard-working common-sense individual with outstanding character. I certainly don’t believe Elisabeth Motsinger is qualified to replace her.

With what I have read in this paper of Elisabeth Motsinger’s background and experience, I would not trust her judgment in the political arena or anywhere else.

LUCIA WALKER

Winston-Salem

Correspondent of the Week: 545 excuses

545 excuses

One hundred senators plus 435 representatives plus nine Supreme Court justices plus one president equals the 545 plutocrats who are responsible for 100 percent of the excuses for the mess we are now enjoying. If both Democrats and Republicans are against deficits, high taxes, trade imbalance and a weak dollar, then how do we have these problems?

Here we are, a nation of some 310 million souls, and we have allowed 545 to create a mess that may take us generations to cure. Who bears more responsibility here — the 545 taking special-interest money or the nation that has utterly gone to sleep?

There is equal blame. The system is good but the representation is abysmal.

In the normal process, a president proposes a budget to Congress. Then the House and Senate are responsible for approving appropriations and levying taxes. If the House and Senate agree, they can pass a budget over the president's veto. So how is that we have not had a budget for the last four fiscal years? Absolute incompetence is the only answer.

There is no domestic problem that can be attributable outside the 545. If problems exist it is because they want them to exist. The 545 committed our armed services to war, allowed Social Security to become a Ponzi scheme, took special-interest money and if that was not enough, created their own elite retirement plan.

Do not let them hide behind political terms — vote them out.

HIL CASSELL

Lewisville