Winston-Salem Journal LTE TU 10/09/12

Gone too far

I am a Republican. The Republican Party nominated Mitt Romney to run for president. Some have signs in their yards and bumper stickers on their cars. Romney himself, in a more obscure portion of his now infamous candid remarks to donors, stated “...you and I, we spend our day with Republicans ... people who agree with us.”

Not quite. I accept as fact that 47 percent of Americans pay no federal-income taxes. I agree that this fact is a political issue, the consequences of which are worthy of debate. But Romney goes too far and his logic is callously flawed. He carelessly declares that those same 47 percent are unwilling to “take personal responsibility and care for their lives.” As a result, Romney’s dismissive rhetoric unapologetically demeans, among others, our poor or disabled brothers, fathers, neighbors and friends.

This is where I draw the line. If you demean my family and friends, expect a challenge with consequences. I sincerely hope that others feel the same.

If he ever had it, Mitt Romney lost my vote when he recklessly took aim at 47 percent of our people. Ich bin ein 47-percenter.

JOHN KNIGHT

Winston-Salem

Reason for confusion

To the letter writer who could not understand the Democratic mindset (“Democratic mindset, Oct. 1), of course he would be confused.  Why would a president continue to willingly ruin our country by recklessly spending like we don't have a $16 trillion debt?  Why would a president continue to allow the country to go his whole term without a budget?  Why would the president turn away cheap oil from Canada by way of the Keystone Pipeline and continue to buy from OPEC, which supports terrorists who kill Americans?  Why would the government continue to hammer small businesses and energy developers with regulation upon regulation until they cannot be profitable and close down? Why would our government continue to destroy our free enterprise system that made our country the wealthiest in the world? Of course he doesn’t understand because it is all illogical.

The president and his minions want the United States to be financially destroyed. They want us to be brought to our knees so we have no other option than to ask the government to save us. Then the government will have complete control over our lives in every respect, as those who control the gold make the rules.

Those who are shocked and disturbed with the path our country has taken in the last four years should ask themselves what it will be like once Obama doesn't have to worry about being reelected. Heaven help us!

DANA EASTON

Elkin

Owe an apology

Through the years, the Journal has published articles that have been disgusting and repulsive, but you reached a new low on Sept. 30 when on the obituary page, under the name “LeCompte (RubyLu LeCompte)” you put the death of an animal. Animals may be loving and precious to many people, but they should never be equated to a little human child. If the Journal is so hard-up and desperate for money, just have a separate section for the death of pets and charge whatever you want for listing their deaths.

You owe everyone who had a family member or friend’s obituary in the Sept. 30 edition of your paper an apology. Clearly, many people have pets that they love, but surely you should make a distinction between animals and human beings.

JAMES R. BURROW

King

President seemed lost

As I watched the first presidential debate on TV, I saw a president (Obama) who seemed lost. He seldom looked at Mitt Romney, while Romney made eye contact the whole time.

Obama was hesitant and muttered. He didn’t have his teleprompter in front of him to give him the answers to say. Romney was direct and to the point with his answers.

Obama didn’t shine at all in the debate. He has done nothing in his first four years in office, why give him a shot at four more? Trillions of dollars spent, borrowing our children’s children will have to deal with. I can’t see anyone with an open mind voting for Obama.

Jobs? Gas is more than twice the cost now than when he took office. The economy is awful. Wake up, people, and vote for change, vote for Romney.

With Obama, that’s about all I’ve got in my pocket — change.

JOHN LAMBETH

Winston-Salem

Reallocation

The reallocation of $716 billion in Medicare funding proposed by President Obama was mentioned several times in Wednesday’s presidential debate.

The proposal to initiate this taxpayer-funded subsidy to insurance companies, ostensibly as an incentive for insurance companies to offer increased provider reimbursement to hospitals and nursing homes via their Medicare Advantage insurance plans, was crafted by lobbyists for the insurance companies, presented to the then-Republican-controlled Congress, and signed into law by President Bush.

Time has shown that these dollars have mostly ended up lining the pockets of insurance companies.

President Obama, and also Rep. Paul Ryan in his own budget proposal, reallocate these funds for other purposes.

During the debate, we learned that Mitt Romney would keep the subsidy in place.

Checks from insurance-company executives to the Romney campaign are in the mail.

DR. JAMES McGRATH

Yadkinville

Respect

Most pundits gave Mitt Romney the edge in Wednesday’s presidential debate.

What I saw was an extremely rude bully who didn't have enough respect for his opponent, the moderator, or the rules of the debate to allow his opponent, the president of the United States, his allotted time to finish speaking. What I saw was a spoiled rich kid who is so used to getting his own way, and so out of touch with reality, that he can't contain himself long enough to exercise the most common of courtesies, even to the current leader of the Free World. That's what I saw. It's a matter of respect.

PATRIC P. HAMILTON

Winston-Salem

Flawed format

The format of the Oct. 3 presidential debate was flawed. The moderator, Jim Lehrer, was unable to control the debaters’ constant surpassing of their allotted time. I recommend that a buzzer sound at the end of two minutes and the microphone be turned off. Using this procedure, each debater will get an equal share of debating time and with a turned-off microphone the ability to jump in out of turn will be silenced.

Let's make the procedure automatic and not involve the moderator. If necessary, make the allotted time 2 1/2 minutes.

WILLIAM McKENNA

Clemmons

Being called on it

President Obama looked tired and worn down from being the president in the Oct. 3 presidential debate. He can give speeches, with teleprompter, and say anything he wants without being called on it. But he is most uncomfortable when confronted with his own record.

That never happens, but it happened in the debate and the country saw it ... finally.

ANTHONY FLETCHER

Lexington