*So named because poster O. T. Rush likened himself to a leopard lying on a limb, waiting to pounce. We miss the leopard's original target, so Roblo, don't be a stranger.
The Leopard's Limb is for leftovers, off-topics, anecdotes, etc. It is sort of redundant, as the former are not at all unwelcome on the LTE page.
Leftover from yesterday: Kit
Yes, Linds. Kit is welcome here, as you are. Anyone within reason is welcome. I will not delineate what is outside of reason. We're all adults. We know what is within reason.
Mooning over the past
From NPR comes a report that the Earth may have once had two moons. Scientists think that our current Moon was created early in the Earth's history when the Earth collided with a Mars-sized planet (such collisions were not uncommon in the chaotic early Solar System). The collision knocked off a sizable chunk of Earth, along with the other planet. At first, the fragments orbited the Earth sort of like Saturn's rings, then coalesced into our Moon, and, if the theory is right, a second moon, which ultimately collided with the larger satellite.
Scientists pose this theory because the "back" side of the Moon, the side we cannot see because the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth, is markedly different from the "front" side. The rear side is mountainous and heavily cratered, while "our" side of the Moon is relatively flat. It is thought that our side is the remnant of the larger moon while the back side is the remnant of the smaller. It is also thought that the collision was relatively soft, as the two moons slowly merged.
No living creatures on Earth saw the two moons. The collision/merger of the two would have occurred while the Earth was still molten.
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/04/138954932/early-earth-may-have-been-orbited-by-two-moons
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Thursday LTE's 08/04/11
Good AM, folks! The LTE page today is mostly "Obama stinks!", "No, the Republicans Do!" Have at it.
Sense and reason
Who works; who pays? Who earns; who learns? Who knows, and is able by health and circumstance? Who collects and distributes by what power? Who benefits, how and how much?
When these and associated questions have answers with respect to sense and reason, not race nor gender, nor wealth nor advantage, democracy is achieved, fairness prevails and issues are resolved (even debt and deficits).
MARCIALITO CAM
Winston-Salem
Sum It Up:
* * * * *
JoANN DUNN
* * * * *
ANTHONY FLETCHER
* * * * *
ROMAINE POINDEXTER
* * * * *
DENNIS WINNICKI
* * * * *
If the Republicans do, then the Mayan doomsday prediction may be true!
AL BAKER
* * * * *
LINDA DIORIO
* * * * *
JAN PLEASANTS
* * * * *
MARY H. MURPHY
* * * * *
WILLIAM SAMS
* * * * *
STANLEY G. SIMM
* * * * *
DALE JARRETT
Sense and reason
Who works; who pays? Who earns; who learns? Who knows, and is able by health and circumstance? Who collects and distributes by what power? Who benefits, how and how much?
When these and associated questions have answers with respect to sense and reason, not race nor gender, nor wealth nor advantage, democracy is achieved, fairness prevails and issues are resolved (even debt and deficits).
In effect, when "We the People" means all of the people, not just the rich and privileged, the U.S. and all nations work responsibly well.
MARCIALITO CAM
Winston-Salem
Sum It Up:
The Sum It Up question from Sunday was: Will a Republican defeat Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election?
* * * * *
As we watch this president slowly destroy everything we hold dear in America, we can only pray that he is defeated in 2012!
JoANN DUNN
* * * * *
I would love to see a Republican win. But unless we go into a full-blown depression, I don't think one will. Unfortunately, it is going to take something like that to wake people up to see what Obama is doing to this country and our economy.
ANTHONY FLETCHER
* * * * *
No. Right now, the Republican Party looks a little like Humpty Dumpty after his fall, and I just don't see anyone strong enough to get it together by 2012 (but I'm always wrong about political matters).
ROMAINE POINDEXTER
* * * * *
No way. The GOP has moved to the extreme right. It was always against the middle class, it's never been more obvious since the 2010 mid-term elections. Unions, teachers, Social Security, Medicare, voter registration, same-sex marriage, Planned Parenthood - they are the enemy, according to Fox News and the GOP. All while serving their puppet-masters, Big Oil, millionaires, banks, Wall Street and insurance companies, with low taxes and loop holes. Vote GOP and you vote against your own interests.
DENNIS WINNICKI
* * * * *
If the Republicans do, then the Mayan doomsday prediction may be true!
AL BAKER
* * * * *
Obama must be defeated in 2012 or there is no hope for this country. He has single-handedly destroyed the credit, the military strength and the economy of this country in three years. He makes Jimmy Carter, with his double-digit inflation and unemployment, look like a statesman.
LINDA DIORIO
* * * * *
Surely the American people aren't dumb enough to elect Barack Obama again. He has been on the road to ruining our country. I would vote for any Republican at this point.
JAN PLEASANTS
* * * * *
No. That has been the main objective of the Republicans since Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Surely the American people will realize that the present state of affairs is a result of past Republican decisions.
MARY H. MURPHY
* * * * *
Obama will get re-elected, no doubt. He's a pretty good president. I'm thankful that he got bin Laden. Maybe we can get out of the war business for a change.
WILLIAM SAMS
* * * * *
I certainly hope so. If not, the U.S. dollar will continue to decline, along with our standard of living and our stature in the world community. Sadly, the majority of Americans don't really know about politics and don't really care about anything except their own myopic lives but, if the existing trend continues, they will soon wake up to the fact that, just like the Roman Empire, the U.S. is crumbling and degenerating from within. "Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it."
STANLEY G. SIMM
* * * * *
No. Americans are not as stupid, indifferent or lazy to vote as some hope. We can see the truth of what the GOP is about: the party of the rich for the rich. We can see that the draconian changes that have ended up on the cutting board to make us more fiscally responsible are more about every day common Americans, seniors, children, the poor and needy having to do without while continued low tax rates and benefits, loopholes, etc. for the richest Americans, especially big corporations clearly has not promoted job growth or community investments to make all our lives more stable and prosperous. They're not even interested in providing affordable health care so that their work force can be healthy, happy, stable and strong.
Shame on them all .
I sure hope the likes of Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty, Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney or another conservative religious Texan won't win. Heaven help us — I shake at the thought of going back to the George W. Bush years! That's what we'll get, though, if one should win.
DALE JARRETT
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Wednesday LTE's 08/03/11
Good AM, folks!
A couple of broadsides from the right today, including Mr. Cooke, one of the right's answers to Dr. Cutri and Mr. Ostberg.
A couple of broadsides from the right today, including Mr. Cooke, one of the right's answers to Dr. Cutri and Mr. Ostberg.
Prescient
HARRY R. COOKE
Winston-Salem
WILLIAM C. SIDES JR.
Clemmons
Civilizing mission
Rather than criticize apparently misplaced priorities, I would like to point out that both sports and the arts demand exceptional talent, imagination, courage and discipline from their participants and that they provide their audiences with experiences of uncommon skill, powerful emotion and awesome beauty. That is why we love them.
RICHARD H. MILLER
Winston-Salem
No doubt many readers were outraged by the political cartoon of July 31 that equates tea-party congressmen with terrorists and suggests President Obama employ the Navy SEALs to eradicate this annoyance. I, however, find this cartoon to be quite prescient.
In years to come, the public will remember that the SEALS afforded President Obama the two best moments of his tenure; the killing of the Somali pirates and the killing of Osama bin Laden. One can certainly make the case that the difference between Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter is that the SEALs reached their objectives, while Carter's helicopters crashed in the desert. Other than that, the same failed policies, the same poor economy, the same excuses, etc. At least poor Jimmy had Ronald Reagan to clean up his mess.
The Journal wants to provoke readers by publishing such irresponsible yellow journalism. It is laughable that this also points to another Obama failure. Remember how Obama called for civil discourse in the wake of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' shooting? Even the press takes him for a buffoon.
Conservatives can be provocateurs as well. A lesson for all those 20-somethings who voted for an inexperienced community organizer for president: They wouldn't use affirmative action to pick their heart or brain surgeon, but they used it to pick the leader of the free world. Even the vaunted Navy SEALs can't rescue them from that mistake.
HARRY R. COOKE
Winston-Salem
Washington circus
Watching the circus going on in Washington the past few weeks (or has it been years?) confirms to me that our problems in America are manifold.
We have career legislators in Congress — on both sides of the political spectrum — who have no clue as to how the real world outside of Washington operates. We have millions of people depending on the federal government to supply their needs and solve their problems, who are very comfortable with that and who have no clue as to how dangerous that is to our freedoms and liberty.
We have a president — Barack Obama, liar-in-chief, campaigner-in chief, demagogue-in-chief, class-warfare advocate-in-chief, ad nauseum — who has never run even a lemonade stand and who is the most dangerous, radical socialist ever to occupy the White House, determined to forever change this great nation into a European-style nanny state, which in effect will destroy America as we have known it. I firmly believe that we cannot survive another four years of this disingenuous liar who constantly speaks from both sides of his mouth, all the while supported in his dishonesty by the lapdog mainstream media.
I hope and pray that there are enough Americans who realize how blessed we have been with freedoms in this country to throw this man out of office in 2012, along with his radical cohorts in Congress, and elect true conservative, pro-American people who will restore the values that made us great.
WILLIAM C. SIDES JR.
Clemmons
Civilizing mission
I could not help noticing that the $2.7 million buyout package UNC-Chapel Hill may provide to fired football coach Butch Davis ("Move to cost UNC about $2.7 million," July 29) would just about cover the budget cuts to be levied on the University of North Carolina School of the Arts — cuts that will cost positions, imperil programs and challenge the institution's legislatively mandated mission of providing first-rate training in the arts to North Carolina's and the region's citizens.
Wouldn't it be heartening if some of the folks who are so generous in providing support for the university system's sports programs would recognize these commonalities and help the School of the Arts weather the current severe economic crisis and carry out its civilizing mission?
RICHARD H. MILLER
Winston-Salem
The writer has just retired from the position of dean of undergraduate programs and philosophy teacher at UNCSA. — The editor.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The Leopard's Limb 08/02/11
Leftovers . . .
Serial murderer demographics
LG, I believe compiling the demographics of serial killers would cast us straight white guys in a bad light.
RIOs and WSO's
O. T., both titles are pretty much correct. IMO. The backseater in an F4 was responsible for the operation of the AIM-7 Sparrow radar-guided (semi-automatic homing) medium-range air-to-air missile and for operating the fighter's ECM suite.
Years ago, I read a story about an unfortunate Phantom crew that had an encounter with an unfortunate bird. The impact smashed the fighter's windshield, severely injuring the pilot, and knocking him unconscious. The WSO in the rear seat had some basic controls to fly the jet (probably to enable him to keep the plane aligned so that its "radar cone" could guide the above-mentioned Sparrow missile), but those controls were insufficient to land the plane.
The WSO headed toward an airfield, but if he were unable to land before the aircraft ran out of fuel, he would have had to eject, leaving his pilot to crash. Miraculously, the pilot regained consciousness just long enough to put the plane on the runway, then lost consciousness again. I don't remember if he survived.
We bees making mischief
Follow-up from the bee thread on today's LTE page . . .
In my Jr HS days, hornets constructed a massive nest in a cedar tree in my best friend's front yard. This was a serious impediment to youthful navigation. After a time, my best friend and I decided to take care of the problem. We taped an M80 to the end of a broom handle, lit the fuse, and Jody crammed the end into the nest. The explosion obliterated about half the nest and a number of hornets. But not all, and we had to flee, as the bugs were mad as hornets. The survivors finally flew off. It wasn't safe to walk barefoot anywhere near the cedar tree for quite some time thereafter.
The story continues:subsequently (and presumably coincidentally) the cedar tree died. My friend's parents ignored the drying out cedar. One weekend night, most of the neighbor parents, who were all friends, went out for the evening, unwisely leaving us unmonitored. A firecracker war ensued in my friend's front yard.
I had constructed an incendiary device, which I lit and tossed upward, unmindful of the dessicated cedar, in which it landed. The device ignited, and the tree instantly caught fire. My friend hastily unrolled a garden hose, lest someone call the fire department (and police) and put the fire out, but not before one side of the tree had been incinerated. We finished our war, and then went our separate ways, knowing that there would be questions and punishments the next day.
Fortunately, Providence intervened, and a thunderstorm blew up in the wee hours. When my friend's parents saw the fire-ravaged tree in daylight, they concluded that lightning had struck it the night before. Whew.
Serial murderer demographics
LG, I believe compiling the demographics of serial killers would cast us straight white guys in a bad light.
RIOs and WSO's
O. T., both titles are pretty much correct. IMO. The backseater in an F4 was responsible for the operation of the AIM-7 Sparrow radar-guided (semi-automatic homing) medium-range air-to-air missile and for operating the fighter's ECM suite.
Years ago, I read a story about an unfortunate Phantom crew that had an encounter with an unfortunate bird. The impact smashed the fighter's windshield, severely injuring the pilot, and knocking him unconscious. The WSO in the rear seat had some basic controls to fly the jet (probably to enable him to keep the plane aligned so that its "radar cone" could guide the above-mentioned Sparrow missile), but those controls were insufficient to land the plane.
The WSO headed toward an airfield, but if he were unable to land before the aircraft ran out of fuel, he would have had to eject, leaving his pilot to crash. Miraculously, the pilot regained consciousness just long enough to put the plane on the runway, then lost consciousness again. I don't remember if he survived.
We bees making mischief
Follow-up from the bee thread on today's LTE page . . .
In my Jr HS days, hornets constructed a massive nest in a cedar tree in my best friend's front yard. This was a serious impediment to youthful navigation. After a time, my best friend and I decided to take care of the problem. We taped an M80 to the end of a broom handle, lit the fuse, and Jody crammed the end into the nest. The explosion obliterated about half the nest and a number of hornets. But not all, and we had to flee, as the bugs were mad as hornets. The survivors finally flew off. It wasn't safe to walk barefoot anywhere near the cedar tree for quite some time thereafter.
The story continues:subsequently (and presumably coincidentally) the cedar tree died. My friend's parents ignored the drying out cedar. One weekend night, most of the neighbor parents, who were all friends, went out for the evening, unwisely leaving us unmonitored. A firecracker war ensued in my friend's front yard.
I had constructed an incendiary device, which I lit and tossed upward, unmindful of the dessicated cedar, in which it landed. The device ignited, and the tree instantly caught fire. My friend hastily unrolled a garden hose, lest someone call the fire department (and police) and put the fire out, but not before one side of the tree had been incinerated. We finished our war, and then went our separate ways, knowing that there would be questions and punishments the next day.
Fortunately, Providence intervened, and a thunderstorm blew up in the wee hours. When my friend's parents saw the fire-ravaged tree in daylight, they concluded that lightning had struck it the night before. Whew.
Tuesday LTEs 08/02/11
Good AM, folks! It is said that there is nothing new under the sun. There is certainly very little new in the LTEs, though the LTE re salaries at the NCSA is a new wrinkle.
Support for Kaul
BRAD NIVEN
Winston-Salem
Shared sacrifice
JON YELLIN
Kernersville
Fever pitch
The clamor and furor over debt and budget has grown to fever pitch. A recent letter, "Last-minute dilemma" (July 29), laid blame on the president: "… we would not be in this last-minute dilemma if he had done his job." I ask: Where was the letter writer 30 years ago? Or even 10 or 20?
The debt and many other issues we face didn't mushroom over the past two and a half years. It has been decades in the making. We are reaping the results of policies and actions sown over the past 30 years. Take time to research what actions our elected officials in Washington took in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s that had short-term appeal but long-term consequences. Make your own decision about what worked for the long-term good of our country. Then look at who voted which way at that time for tax cuts or increases, loopholes or supplements, foreign aid or war.
Who is still in Washington, and what are they saying now? If someone we voted for five, 10 or more years ago is still there, they are likely part of the problem. Take time to look at a candidate's long-term record, look past their words.
We do need to demand that our government get balanced — but help it do so with patience and respect. Let's just make sure we have elected people who will do the job, not just say they will. Where will we be 30 months or years from now?
FELIXA SOMMER
Kernersville
Creating jobs?
Regarding the July 28 letter "One indication," I couldn't have said it any better. How can we pass bills to create jobs when we first demolish more than 10,000? Isn't it rather hard to dig ourselves out of that hole? And I'm investing my 17 cents per day in my IRA.
LINDA C. McDERMOTT
Winston-Salem
Not wrong
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners was not wrong for having prayer before its meetings and praying in Jesus Christ's name ("Ban on sectarian prayer upheld," July 30). The Bible states it's better to obey God than man.
NORMAN NELSON
Advance
In response to the July 26 letter "Replacement," I must support columnist Donald Kaul. Let's face it, Kaul's columns are not for everybody, as he comes from a liberal point of view, and that is understandable. Myself, I do not care for the columnists who give a conservative point of view, and do not spend any of my time reading them.
Back to Donald Kaul. I find him to express the feelings that I have about most issues in a readable, interesting, down-to-earth, comical style that leaves me amused, and wiser, every time I read his column. Thanks to the Journal for publishing Donald Kaul's columns, and for giving us readers a good variety to choose from.
BRAD NIVEN
Winston-Salem
Shared sacrifice
It was gratifying to read that despite budget cuts of more than 10 percent, the UNC School of the Arts has determined that it will not be necessary to eliminate its film program, as previously threatened ("UNCSA loses seven staff jobs to funding cuts," July 22). Instead, the school has taken a more balanced and mature approach to budget reductions.
Nevertheless, the notion of shared sacrifice, which is often talked about in dealing with the national budget deficit, has not taken root at the School of the Arts, particularly in the chancellor's office.
It is a matter of public record that Chancellor John Mauceri and his COO, George Burnette, each is paid a salary in excess of $200,000. These are large sums for an institution with a relatively small budget of approximately $25 million.
According to statistics from the National Association of Business Officers, these salaries exceed those of many college presidents whose schools have twice UNCSA's budget. Rather than having to reduce faculty positions, which directly impact the students, reductions in the salaries of the school's top officials and contributions by the more well-to-do board of directors would obviate the need for faculty cuts.
Where is the shared sacrifice? The school's dedicated and talented students who have already been hit with increased tuition deserve better.JON YELLIN
Kernersville
The clamor and furor over debt and budget has grown to fever pitch. A recent letter, "Last-minute dilemma" (July 29), laid blame on the president: "… we would not be in this last-minute dilemma if he had done his job." I ask: Where was the letter writer 30 years ago? Or even 10 or 20?
The debt and many other issues we face didn't mushroom over the past two and a half years. It has been decades in the making. We are reaping the results of policies and actions sown over the past 30 years. Take time to research what actions our elected officials in Washington took in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s that had short-term appeal but long-term consequences. Make your own decision about what worked for the long-term good of our country. Then look at who voted which way at that time for tax cuts or increases, loopholes or supplements, foreign aid or war.
Who is still in Washington, and what are they saying now? If someone we voted for five, 10 or more years ago is still there, they are likely part of the problem. Take time to look at a candidate's long-term record, look past their words.
We do need to demand that our government get balanced — but help it do so with patience and respect. Let's just make sure we have elected people who will do the job, not just say they will. Where will we be 30 months or years from now?
FELIXA SOMMER
Kernersville
Creating jobs?
Regarding the July 28 letter "One indication," I couldn't have said it any better. How can we pass bills to create jobs when we first demolish more than 10,000? Isn't it rather hard to dig ourselves out of that hole? And I'm investing my 17 cents per day in my IRA.
LINDA C. McDERMOTT
Winston-Salem
Not wrong
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners was not wrong for having prayer before its meetings and praying in Jesus Christ's name ("Ban on sectarian prayer upheld," July 30). The Bible states it's better to obey God than man.
NORMAN NELSON
Advance
Monday, August 1, 2011
The Leopard's Limb 08/01/11
Aircraft carriers
O.T. Rush explained a problem confronting our Navy in its flight operations. An aircraft carrier is capable of round-the-clock operations in theory, but carriers staff only one flight deck crew, so around the clock operations are not really possible, as the deck crews must rest. A carrier flight deck is one of the most dangerous work environments there is.
This draws a question: how busy would a carrier be at night. Night landings are scary and dangerous. I would think that the Navy would be reluctant to step up the pace of such. I invite commentary from those more knowledgable about night operations. Now I understand that flinging aircraft off carriers into the dark is quite another matter, so launching in the wee hours, with the planes returning after sun-up, then operating till dark, still makes for a long workday.
Nitpicking word watch
The debt deal made last night elicited the now-overused "kick the can down the road" phrase from a reporter this AM. In fairness to the reporter, the deal does appear to put off really dealing with the issue, and the automatic spending cut provision of it lets our spineless legislators off the hook for not being able to come to a long-term agreement.
On the same topic, commentator Cokie Roberts said that the leaders who made the deal the now must convince wary legislators to vote for it. No, Cokie, they don't. However, they must persuade wary legislators to so vote in favor of it, convinced by the arguments for it or not.
O.T. Rush explained a problem confronting our Navy in its flight operations. An aircraft carrier is capable of round-the-clock operations in theory, but carriers staff only one flight deck crew, so around the clock operations are not really possible, as the deck crews must rest. A carrier flight deck is one of the most dangerous work environments there is.
This draws a question: how busy would a carrier be at night. Night landings are scary and dangerous. I would think that the Navy would be reluctant to step up the pace of such. I invite commentary from those more knowledgable about night operations. Now I understand that flinging aircraft off carriers into the dark is quite another matter, so launching in the wee hours, with the planes returning after sun-up, then operating till dark, still makes for a long workday.
Nitpicking word watch
The debt deal made last night elicited the now-overused "kick the can down the road" phrase from a reporter this AM. In fairness to the reporter, the deal does appear to put off really dealing with the issue, and the automatic spending cut provision of it lets our spineless legislators off the hook for not being able to come to a long-term agreement.
On the same topic, commentator Cokie Roberts said that the leaders who made the deal the now must convince wary legislators to vote for it. No, Cokie, they don't. However, they must persuade wary legislators to so vote in favor of it, convinced by the arguments for it or not.
Monday LTE's 08/01/11
Good AM, folks! Only 61 days till October.
Five LTE's today, with not a whole lot new. I note the frequent placement of LTE's complaining about those wascally Wepublicans, but seemingly no one seems motivated to write re the Democrats, who are equally culpable in our current situation. Odd.
Congrats to Boehner and company: they have managed to make Harry Reid look like a statesman, which is comparable to making chicken stew out of chicken end product. Nice job, guys. Make sure the Speaker's office is nicely cleaned for Pelosit to reclaim in January 2013.
The LTE's:
A tragedy
GEORGE BRYAN
Economics
However, for the penny I saved, I'm reading that thousands in our state are losing their jobs. Boy, those so-called "conservatives" surely do understand economics well.
I will sleep a little better tonight because come re-election time, those guys are the ones to be hitting the unemployment lines.
THOMAS WILLIFORD
Winston-Salem
Confidence
Confidence in voting is not the issue; the real need is confidence in those elected to serve.
Forge a path
By the time this letter appears, I hope our government will have arrived at some sort of deficit reduction deal. But let's go back to where the current deficit problems began in earnest: It was 9/11. If one listens to the talking heads, it is all due to our leaders spending money like irresponsible drunken sailors.
WENDY D. SCOTT
Winston-Salem
Hard decisions
Judges make hard decisions that affect the lives of people every day. Judges are called upon to make those decisions based upon three things: the facts of a case, evidence presented in court and the law.
JERRY JORDAN
Kernersville
Five LTE's today, with not a whole lot new. I note the frequent placement of LTE's complaining about those wascally Wepublicans, but seemingly no one seems motivated to write re the Democrats, who are equally culpable in our current situation. Odd.
Congrats to Boehner and company: they have managed to make Harry Reid look like a statesman, which is comparable to making chicken stew out of chicken end product. Nice job, guys. Make sure the Speaker's office is nicely cleaned for Pelosit to reclaim in January 2013.
The LTE's:
A tragedy
On July 23, Vernon Thompson ("Babe") in his wheelchair was killed as he traveled near his favorite byway, Northwest Boulevard. I have known Babe for over 20 years. When I first met him he was quite mobile and often helped out around my office building. I enjoyed greeting him nearly every day.
Babe had many severe health problems and over the years used a variety of services, but never seemed as comfortable as with his friends and acquaintances on Northwest. We endured robberies, near-death situations and wonderful spring days together. If I didn't casually run into Babe, I would look him up. We always spent some time together around Christmas. Babe loved to kid, and I loved to give it back to him.
Babe's death was a tragedy that didn't have to happen. Behind that story is a sentiment that I am sure I share with others — we are going to miss you, Babe!GEORGE BRYAN
PRESIDENT, THE CHILDREN'S HOME
Winston-SalemEconomics
This morning I received a one-cent savings at one of my favorite breakfast restaurants. I want to thank all those brilliant Republicans in Raleigh for my gigantic tax savings.
But wait, they let the gas-tax increase remain, so now I'll pay 2.5 cents more for my next fill-up. There goes the penny I saved and another 1.5 cents per gallon out of my pocket.
Doesn't this sound like what those guys from the same party want to do in Washington? Let's see: Cut Social Security and Medicare for us seniors but not touch the richest Americans' tax breaks. Wow, how heartless, arrogant and downright stupid can one get?
THOMAS WILLIFORD
Winston-Salem
Confidence
In the AP article "Perdue voter-ID veto upheld" (July 27), the writer states, "Republicans argued the photo-ID mandate would discourage voter fraud and build the public's confidence in voting."
Nothing happening today in either the state legislature or the federal government is doing anything to help build that confidence that is so badly needed. Only personal agendas and the desire to make the "other side" look bad seem to be foremost in the mind of the elected individuals. None seem to have the desire to do what is best for our state and our nation.
TED AND LOIS STANLEY
DobsonForge a path
By the time this letter appears, I hope our government will have arrived at some sort of deficit reduction deal. But let's go back to where the current deficit problems began in earnest: It was 9/11. If one listens to the talking heads, it is all due to our leaders spending money like irresponsible drunken sailors.
I do not accept that as factual on either side. There's plenty of blame to go around for everyone. Surely Osama bin Laden would be laughing maniacally at the havoc the events of 9/11 are still causing this country a decade later.
It is far too late now to go back and discuss whether America did "the right thing" after 9/11. Some totally backed George W. Bush's eagerness to go to war, others thought it was exactly the wrong thing to do, many are somewhere in between. Now we, collectively as Americans, must forge a path to put America's finances back in order. It will take time, and it will mean sacrifices for all of us, but with a solid plan it can be done. That's what Americans do and do well, and that's what Washington can't seem to understand.
WENDY D. SCOTT
Winston-Salem
Hard decisions
Judges make hard decisions that affect the lives of people every day. Judges are called upon to make those decisions based upon three things: the facts of a case, evidence presented in court and the law.
Judge William Graham of Forsyth District Court has served this community for over 15 years on the bench and has rendered thousands of rulings based upon those three things. If Judy Masters did not want her husband to be next door, she should have said something to her lawyer, and her lawyer should have objected ("A close-range protective order," July 21). If that had happened, I assure you that Judge Graham would have taken that into consideration in his ruling.
It is easy to armchair-quarterback and criticize, but unless you were in the courtroom, let's trust that Judge Graham did what he thought was right given the things presented to him in court.
JERRY JORDAN
Kernersville
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