Winston-Salem Journal LTE SA 11/03/12

True spirit

I support Elisabeth Motsinger’s congressional bid because Elisabeth Motsinger is truly dedicated to uniting the 5th Congressional District of North Carolina. I believe in her positive message and her desire to represent all of the 5th District and not just those who are able to support her monetarily.

Her vision is exactly what we need representing us in Congress. She's the true spirit of North Carolina.

FERNE EMERY

Kernersville

Time to let go

I read the article concerning those opposed to demolishing the remainder of the old Griffith High School with astonishment (“Call to arms,” Oct. 26). The major part of the building was demolished in the 1970s to make room for the new elementary school. The only reason for leaving the part that still exists is that the junior high that operated in the newer building until 1984 needed the space for classrooms. The part closest to the road was part of the original building, but the rear part was added much later, to accommodate the post-war baby boom. The other building was built in 1953.

How do I know all of this? I was a student at Griffith from grades 1-12 and graduated from the high school. Ten years after graduating, I came back to Griffith as an eighth-grade teacher and stayed until reorganization closed it in 1984.

I see absolutely no reason to save that old building. The integrity of the structure was lost long ago. There were many who wanted to save it in the ’70s but that did not happen. It is a sad remnant of what was a very imposing structure. It is past time to remove that building.

JANET T. DOUB

WINSTON-SALEM/FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS (RET.)

Winston-Salem

Disastrous

I am not surprised that an ideological newspaper such as the Journal has endorsed President Obama.

Obama has been the single most disastrous president in American history. The recent book by Bob Woodward, “The Price of Politics,” shows the disdain shown by his administration for meaningful bipartisanship and how his lack of leadership has thwarted deals to address the deficit and runaway spending.

Obama’s administration passed a health-care bill that does not address reduction of health-care costs and takes money from Medicare.

His constant ideological and, oftentimes, ill-informed policies have encouraged American companies to hoard capital at home and abroad because of the uncertainty created by this vagueness and ambiguity. We will not mention the waste of taxpayer funds on his “pet” companies.

The national debt held by the U.S. public has increased from $6.3 trillion to $11.3 trillion, almost doubling the amount generated by the first 43 presidents.

Obama’s administration has thrown every single American ally under the bus. Poland, Columbia, Mexico and Israel are but a few. He has also coddled dictators and encouraged the Muslim brotherhood in Syria and Egypt. Some of his domestic policies such as rejecting the Keystone pipeline have helped cement Hugo Chavez in Venezuela.

President Obama has demonstrated the unique ability of making the wrong decision at every turn. The American public should vote for Woody Woodpecker for president if his name is on the ballot.

LUIS M. DOMINGUEZ

Winston Salem

No one better

The Nov. 6 election is especially exciting for me because I will have the opportunity to vote for Elisabeth Motsinger for 5th District U.S. Congress. One thing I like about Elisabeth is that she has a special knack for problem solving; she will help to break through the gridlock in Congress and pass legislation to move our country forward.

Elisabeth is smart, kind and caring, and I can think of no one who would be a better representative in Congress for the voters in District 5.

JEANNIE (SPRAGUE) GRIMES

Kernersville

Not this year

As a former life-long Republican, I want to share why I will not vote that way this year.

The U.S. Senate GOP candidate in Missouri, Todd Akin, defined for the first time “legitimate rape.” The U.S. Senate GOP candidate in Indiana, Richard Mourdock, says if rape causes a pregnancy it is God's will. A pastor in southern North Carolina, Charles Worley, wants to herd all gays into a cattle pen.

And where is the uproar and condemnation from the GOP and the religious right? Nowhere to be seen or heard, except for some isolated comments.

Does the GOP know what they are saying, and how utterly dumb they are? I am ashamed that I was one of them, but never again.

Every woman should vote Democratic just on principle to show they will not live with this. If a woman votes for the GOP, she is accepting the stated viewpoint that gays, choice and women's rights mean nothing.

DON WITTE

Advance

Making a difference

I am voting for Elisabeth Motsinger for U.S. representative from the 5th District. I have known Elisabeth for more than seven years and have come to rely on her wisdom and compassion. I'm lucky to count her as a friend.

Elisabeth's decision to run for Congress is an example of her selfless caring for others. She knows she can make a difference for our community and our country and she is willing to do the difficult work it will take.

The 5th District needs smart, responsive, compassionate representation. The 5th District needs Elisabeth Motsinger.

JANET OWEN

Winston-Salem

Seeing the Big Picture

What a disappointment to read the Journal's Obama endorsement. Throughout this election process I have been struck by the inability of people to see the Big Picture.

The Journal's recent financial problems with declining ad revenues due to the economy should alone be a wake-up call. Our country is not too big to fail.

We are headed down a very irresponsible path. The middle class is disappearing. President Obama's initial focus on passing his misnamed Affordable Care Act showed his poor choice of priorities and his misunderstanding of America's economy.

Our small businesses are what have made America prosper and they are being strangled.

Humana's CEO Michael McCallister stated that the bill does not do much to help with health-care costs that are rising too fast. Health-care costs that are far outpacing inflation are rising due to expensive new technology and treatments, our aging population, and our rising obesity. There is no way that our economy or America as we have known it can survive if the current regime is reelected.

JO ANN GUSTAFSON

Winston-Salem

The best candidate

I believe Elisabeth Motsinger is the best candidate for Congressional District 5. Why? Because she is a person who can see other people's viewpoint and does not vote against them to spite them. For one, she would not vote against a jobs bill for veterans just because a Republican was the president. She is far, far better than Rep. Virginia Foxx.

KATHLEEN SALKIN

Winston-Salem

Our caretaker role

As usual, the annual reminder to motorists regarding the increased activity of the area’s deer population is most welcome, especially for newcomers (“Rutting deer endanger drivers,” Oct. 29). It might be useful to think about the viewpoint expressed in the wording of the story’s headline. Since the survivor of these encounters is almost always the vehicle’s driver, and not the deer, it would have been more accurate to use, “Drivers endanger rutting deer.”

We are fortunate to live in an area of our country not encased in concrete and not devoid of the rest of nature’s creations. It is important to remember our caretaker, rather than exploiter, role with regard to the natural world; after all, the deer were here first.

Vehicles in motion are akin to weapons and should be handled accordingly, no matter who or what is crossing the roadway.

JEFFREY HIGHT

Winston-Salem

Checks and balances

The Nov. 6 general election offers an excellent opportunity for Wilkes County voters to provide a set of eyes and ears to a board of commissioners that is currently representing just one political view.

The board increased county property taxes by 8 percent just two years ago in the middle of the Great Recession. One has to assume that Grover Norquist has not passed through Wilkes County lately.

I encourage Wilkes voters to support Michael Holleman on Nov. 6. Mike is an educator and will be a voice of reason and common sense for all.

LARRY PENDRY

North Wilkesboro

Don’t vote Democratic

After watching the Democratic National Convention, how could any Bible-believing Christian vote Democratic? They had to vote three times to include a reference to God in their platform, and they endorsed same-sex marriage. There were featured speakers who need a lesson in morals: Vice President Joe Biden, who is rude and uses vulgar language; Bill Clinton, who disgraced the Oval Office by an immoral sex act with a young female intern and then denied it. Sandra Fluke, a single female law student who wants insurance companies to pay for contraceptives. The Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke to the N.C. delegation. These are all undeniable facts, sad but true.

President Obama, who has failed to keep many campaign promises. The most fearful act, not supporting Israel. They are God's chosen and we better be their friend.

How could one support a party that seems to be so tied to the ways of Satan and call himself a Bible-believing (practicing) Christian? May God bless America.

MITCHELL R. DAVIS

Winston-Salem

Invaluable insight

Most people in the 5th District will agree that we need a change in government on most levels. We have an opportunity in Elisabeth Motsinger to introduce a new person to the political stage that has for overly long been represented by long-time politicians.

Elisabeth has no personal agenda; she excels at seeing both sides of an issue. Thought Elisabeth, by virtue of running in this race for Congress, is a politician, she has none of the baggage that is associated with a long-term political agenda. She comes with a clean slate, a sharp sense of duty and a keen awareness of the needs of the community that makes up the 5 th District.

Elisabeth’s long-time experience as a direct health-care provider gives her invaluable insight that will be needed to confront problems associated with the national health-care plan from the perspective of us common people.

MARY LISA HAMMON

Lewisville

A driving force

After reading David Bare's column about Community Roots Day (“A green success,” Oct. 19), I could not help but think fondly of Drane McCall and how she was a driving force behind that community activity. It was one of her many pet projects and she always made sure to spread the word to members of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Garden Club Council whenever Community Roots Day was approaching.

She was a vital force for beautification and civic pride in our city and this is a good time to remember her for all that she did for Winston-Salem.

ELIZABETH MARTIN

Winston-Salem

Capable community service

I’m pleased that the Journal has chosen Elisabeth Motsinger as the better candidate to represent the 5 th District in Congress. You have done so, knowing her public record of capable community service. I have, for also knowing her as a caring person, very aware of real family needs and what makes our community a desirable place to live.

I hope that Elisabeth Motsinger will be given the opportunity to take these values to Congress, where they are sorely needed.

ROBERT C. HUBER

Winston-Salem

Catching up

A couple of comments as a result of the letter barrage and the endorsements you have issued. First, I found it hard to believe that the Journal editorial board endorsed President Barack Obama after the financial problems, staff cuts and circulation losses over the last two years. The Journal found a “white knight” in Warren Buffett to thankfully save our paper. I'm not sure that the savior, China, courted by President Obama is going to be quite as generous to the American people.

Rep. Virginia Foxx needs to be a bit more open to change and compromise, but she is bright, honest and helpful if you have a problem. Her opponent, Elisabeth Motsinger, is listening to different music than the rest of us. Her trip to the Oregon commune with her husband’s ashes does not fill me with confidence (“Dem had ties to guru,” Oct. 20). Let's not take a big chance here.

Obama chastises Mitt Romney for his wealth, but Romney earned the money he made working hard and smart. Romney has done exactly what the president tells all of us to do: Work hard and prosper.

Finally, the author of the Oct. 19 letter “Crying wolf” offended me greatly. No sensible thinking American wanted us to lose 3,000 in the 9/11 terrorist attacks or the four lost in Libya. Shame on her for writing what she did.

TOM D. JONES

Winston-Salem

What we want

If this is what we want:

Nearly half the population (47 percent) labeled as irresponsible and dependent on the government even though some of them are veterans, senior citizens and even the rich.

A Medicare voucher system.

Social Security turned into a 401(k) type plan invested in the stock market.

Cuts in programs for children, veterans and senior citizens while the rich get a $5 trillion tax cut.

Health care with limited availability, or maybe Romneycare.

A man who thinks it is all right for middle-class taxpayers to pay a higher tax rate than him. Oh, I forgot, only the "little people" pay taxes.

A man who will not or cannot give specifics on his tax cut and balanced budget plans. That will be left for Congress to act on.

The possibility of two new wars with maybe Iran, Syria or Libya.

A man who picked a running mate who voted for sequestration and then blamed the resulting spending cuts solely on President Obama.

A man who cannot decide which side of the issues he is on.

A man who will say or do anything to get elected (per Newt Gingrich).

Then Mitt Romney is certainly the man we should vote for.

THOMAS WILLIFORD

Winston-Salem

Honest and compassionate

I know that my friend, Elisabeth Motsinger, is honest, compassionate and hard working. I know that she will listen to all of her constituents and represent us well in the U.S. Congress. Please vote and please vote for Elisabeth. We can and will go forward together.

NORMAN HILL

Lewisville