Embryos and souls

To the Editor,

Regarding Mr. Dorroh’s Nov. 14 Letter:

I see you have taken the time to express your opinion, exercising your right to freedom of speech. However, you are mistaken regarding a particular point you expressed, that it is an “absurd belief that every embryo, a cluster of microscopic cells, has a soul.”

My question to you would be, “Is the idea of an embryonic soul absurd because you cannot see it?”  

Show me, then, Mr. Dorroh, where my own soul is and where is yours? As a student of science, I can reason that a cell from a male human being and a cell from a female human being combine to create another human being. And, by reasoning, I can understand that a human being has value — not based on what he or she looks like, not based on his or her age, not based on what he or she can do — but, rather, a value based on what it is — a human being.  

In my work, my goal is to demonstrate the value of every human being — woman, man, child. Our country and our world currently believes it has the right to decide the value of a human being based on where the person is located — in the womb or out.  

What’s next? Could there come a day when our country and our world believe they have the right to decide a person’s value based on the strength of a person’s mind or body? 

Based on what that person can or cannot do? If that day comes, Mr. Dorroh, I and perhaps more than a few of the “right wing extremists” you address in your opinion will stand to protect your value as a human being — regardless of what you can and cannot do, regardless of whether we actually see your soul or not.

Karen Robertson, RN

Tuolumne

Freedom of expression

To the Editor,

Isn’t it great that folks can express themselves freely, no matter how angry, critical or opinionated they are?

On the other hand, it is very sad that they often blame others for all of their woes and their own extremist views. 

Very interesting.

Thank goodness for those with moral values, standards and truth who stand-up for their beliefs and do not waver when assailed. 

Yes, they are still around. 

Look up. Then look to your left and then look to your right. 

Hopefully, you can see the difference. 

Pat Loring

Columbia

Law and Justice Center road name

To the Editor,

I note that the County Board of Supervisors is asking for input on naming the approach to the Law and Justice Center. Following are a few suggestions:

1. Boondoggle Boulevard.

2. Bureaucrats Cul-de-Sac.

3. Wasteful Way.

Or, using the dense, verbose language of government, how about combining parts of all three suggestions to read: Bureaucrats Wasteful Boondoggle Boulevard.

Charlie Norton

Sonora

Obama is unqualified

To the Editor,

Congratulations Obama, your campaign was based on personal attacks and lies. 

It worked, you are not qualified to be president of the United States of America.

Bob DeCristoferi

Sonora

Stop criticizing the Christian Right

To the Editor,

Democrats should quit criticizing the Tea Party and the Christian Right and praise them for their crucial role in the reelection of the president and ensuring a Democratic majority in the Senate. 

They rolled out extremist senatorial candidates like Sharon Angell, Christine O’Donnell, Todd Akin and Richard Mourdack to lose senate seats that were there for the GOP’s taking. And mostly, they deserve enormous credit for destroying the myth of “White Superiority.”

I was tempted to be more diplomatic and less harsh in writing this letter, then on second thought I decided the heck with it. 

I’m angry and fed up with the right-wing extremists who have taken over the Republican Party of which I was a member for 26 years. 

I am a paraplegic who is appalled by those who oppose embryonic stem-cell research because of the absurd belief that every embryo. a cluster of microscopic cells, has a soul. 

This research could lead to cures of MS, ALS, juvenile diabetes and other diseases and catastrophic injuries like my own. 

Why should I sacrifice my health because of your ignorance and superstition? 

Why do you hang on to myths that prolong the suffering of others? 

We can no longer afford to accept propositions without rational justification. 

I have a friend who is a college biology teacher. She says some students walk out of her class when she teaches evolution. 

The Arctic is melting, glaciers in our national parks are disappearing yet millions of Americans deny man-made global warming. 

Compare the intellects of liberals like the Obamas, both Harvard graduates, and news commentator Rachel Maddow, a Rhodes Scholar, with college dropouts Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck. The latter three make millions of dollars doing what they do best: making people with neanderthal attitudes think they’re smart.

Robert Dorroh

Sonora

Votes and the election results

To the Editor,

Robin Zeutzius finds it “dumbfounding” that Romney/Ryan lost the election because of “how many states actually voted for them.”  

In fact, Romney/Ryan won only 24 states, and Obama/Biden won 26 (and the District of Columbia).

Plus, I don’t think it would work if the winner of the presidency was decided by whoever won the most states. The combined population of the 26 smallest states is less than 54 million people, so they would be able to out vote the two largest states (California and Texas), which have a combined population of over 64 million.

Also, Obama/Biden won by “popular opinion” since they won a majority of the popular vote as well as a majority of the electoral vote. 

I do agree that perhaps we should consider doing away with the Electoral College. If we had, Al Gore, who won the popular vote, would have won in 2000, and we all would have been spared eight years of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and their wrecking crew.

Charles Ralston

Mi-Wuk Village

Move doesn’t save schools or state

To the Editor,

Joe Silva and the Tuolumne County Schools Office trustees were justly caught trying to circumvent California Education Code, in a scam. They had planned to stick taxpayers with a $25,000 pay raise to Superintendent Silva by sticking the California State Teachers Retirement System with the cost of his newly inflated salary. 

This is just the City of Bell retirement scam in a different format. 

Superintendent Silva and the trustees who supported this plan should be fired for attempting to break the law, sticking taxpayers with more expenses, and giving Silva an illegal raise by renaming it “saving our schools money.”

Further, the County School’s lawyer, Byron Smith, is the same lawyer who advised John Pendley and his gang in the cover-up of the Columbia Elementary School sexual predator scandal. Perhaps school district trustees should pursue better legal advice, before getting caught breaking the law.

Randal Lee

Sonora

Citizens want moderate gov’t

To the Editor,

Whether Republican, Democrat, or independent, the lesson learned not only from the President being re-elected, but from the Senate seats increasing for Democrats, is that citizens want a moderate government — not extreme on the left or the right.

The GOP has allowed the “tail to wag the dog” with its adherence to too-far right ideology promoted by its Tea Party wing. Mitt Romney in order to secure the acceptance of that increasing faction, had to feign being a “severe” conservative, which he wasn’t. He moved more to a moderate position once he secured the nomination of his party, but by then it was too late. His position swings lost credibility with the electorate, along with never being free from the stigma of Wall Street’s Bain Capital and the infamous video disparaging the 47 percent.

The final poll figures show how out of touch the GOP is with groups other than a declining percentage of white people. The vast majority of “minority groups” belonging to a struggling middle class and lower class saw no champion to their plight or aspirations by voting for Romney.

To see Democrats winning in strong red states along with the polling percentages increasingly going towards the Democrats should send a strong message to the GOP that they need to put their house in order. They can start by realizing that so-called big government is not the enemy but rather those like Grover Norquist, Karl Rove, and unlimited, unnamed funding sources that distort democracy and believe compromise is a dirty term.

We’ll see how three aging white men, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, and Harry Reid pick up on the relevance of this election and act in the interest of the country, not in the interest of their parties.

Wayne Kirkbride

Twain Harte

Romney lost because arrogance

To the Editor,

A few thoughts about the results of the presidential election: Romney, the “Tea Party” and the GOP suffered a devastating defeat despite the expenditure of millions of dollars in the campaign. Romney had a sense of entitlement to the Oval Office because of his successful career at Bain Capital where he reportedly relished the power to “fire” people as the head of Bain Capital, taking over struggling business and thereby enriching himself.

The result of this arrogance of power is clearly demonstrated in the words of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Henry Kissinger: “Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.” May Romney rest in peace applying his power over millions of dollars in the Cayman Islands of the Caribbean. 

Ray Mellana

Sonora

The electoral college is important

To the Editor,

I like the Electoral College. Its original purpose was to spread the vote impact more evenly between the more populated and the less populated states. Without the Electoral College, the entire country would be controlled by the top 15 or 20 major metropolitan areas. Without the Electoral College our two largest metropolitan areas (New York and Los Angeles) would have the same voting clout as all of the people in 15 of the less populated states (AK, MT, ID, NV, UT, WY, ND, SD, NE, IA, KA, OK, MO, AR and NM).  The residents of those states have very different needs and concerns (fishing, forestry, mining, farming, cattle, oil, etc.) than people living in large metropolitan regions. I don’t want the country to be controlled just by “big city folk.”

The Electoral College also compartmentalizes the votes so only a few states usually end up doing recounts. Could you imagine if the winner was determined solely by popular vote?   Every state in the Union would be having recounts from now till doomsday with both sides trying to squeeze out another thousand votes for their candidate. Lastly, to abolish the Electoral College would require a change to the Constitution and that requires ratification by 3/4 of the states. Do you really think the 15 states listed above are going to surrender the little extra clout they have? I may be in the minority, but I like the Electoral College.

Ted Hall

Jamestown

More about the electoral college

To the Editor,

Robin Zeutzius finds it “dumbfounding” that Romney/Ryan lost the election because of “how many states actually voted for them.”  In fact, Romney/Ryan won only 24 states, and Obama/Biden won 25 and probably will also win Florida (and the District of Columbia). Plus, I don’t think it would work if the winner of the presidency was decided by whoever won the most states. The combined population of the 26 smallest states is less than 54 million people, so they would be able to outvote the two largest states (California and Texas), which have a combined population of about 64 million.

Also, Obama/Ryan won by “popular opinion” since they won a majority of the popular vote as well as a majority of the electoral vote.  I do agree that perhaps we should consider doing away with the electoral college.  If we had, Al Gore, who won the popular vote, would have won in 2000, and we all would have been spared eight years of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and their wrecking crew.

Charles Ralston

Mi-Wuk Village

Is this what we really want?

To the Editor,

The Tax Foundation, which has analyzed taxes in America since 1937, recently published a report on sources of federal income tax. In 1980, the top 20 percent of U.S. income-earning households paid 65 percent of federal income taxes. Their percentage rose steadily until, in 2012, the top 20 percent paid 94 percent of all federal income tax!

President Obama says these folks need to pay their fair share. He especially focuses in that top 5 percent of earning households. Several recent studies have pointed out that, if ALL the earnings of the top 5 percent were confiscated by the government, the government could run for  a year.

Do these numbers sound strange to you? Do they seem to add up? They don’t! This administration now borrows 40 percent of the money needed to run the government. Mind you, that 40 percent of the money you need just to pay daily expenses you incur to run your household. How long could you remain solvent if you did that? It would be a formula for personal bankruptcy. So, too the administration’s is a formula for national bankruptcy.

California — take notice. Just as our federal income tax depends overwhelmingly on a small slice of wage earners, California has based its system on a small population of high earners. Those folks can vote with their feet and move to Nevada, Texas, etc. where they would pay no state income tax. Governor Brown’s Prop. 30 to lay more taxes on that small group is an invitation to leave. Already, many businesses and wealthy individuals have left the state to escape our high taxes and excessive regulations. Is that really what we want?

George Kellerman 

Sonora

Do away with electoral college

To the Editor,

It’s amazing! Last night I went to bed in the United States of America, and this morning woke up in a third world country. The sad part is there is no end in sight to the high unemployment numbers, the lack of strong leadership and pride in our country, or the out of control government spending for another four years.

This country has turned into a place where the majority of people want things given to them instead of actually working and earning them. Well they got what they wanted yesterday in re-electing Obama.  

My opinion is that we need to do away with the electoral vote, and go by popular opinion. Its as if our vote doesn’t even count. Look at how many states actually voted for Romney/Ryan, and they still lost the election. 

Dumbfounding!

Also, we need to keep an eye on the middle east. I think that the troubles there have only just begun. If Obama is not held accountable for what happened in Benghazi, our credibility as a country goes down the drain and shame on the politicians in office at this moment!

Robin Zeutzius

Sonora

Sore losers

To the Editor,

I have the distinct feeling that after the election is over, whoever the loser is, is going to decry that there may be too many folks in the northeast and mid-west, that were not able to get out to vote. 

Watch and see if there isn’t a cry for a re-vote! 

This could be a rather unique election, to say the least. Realistically, how many folks really can’t get to the polls? 

Makes you wonder, huh? The election should have been postponed for at least a week, to eliminate the possibility of such an event to take place. 

We’ll see.

Wally George 

Jamestown

Prop 37 was
a good idea

To the Editor,

As consumers, we have the right to know what is in the food that we eat. Prop 37 required that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) be labeled in our foods. Fifty other leading countries have already required this labeling to insure their consumers know what they are purchasing in their food products. 

GMOs are foods that have been genetically engineered at the lab level extracting and sharing genes between various plant or animal organisms which artificially alter the DNA of the given organism. The species barrier is subverted; nature could never randomly do this. There have been no long term studies indicating whether these foods are safe to eat. As consumers we have the right to know what is in our foods with clear labeling so we can make choices as we already do with other existing food labeling.

Recently, I received a flyer in the mail funded by the multinational corporation, Monsanto, advocating the opposite of voting yes on 37. The flyer’s approach was to undermine our better judgment by sowing seeds of doubt and growing fear and confusion. Nearly $1 million a day, by some accounts, was being spent by many chemical corporations to kill this “right to know” amendment. It begs the question, “What is it that they don’t want us to know?” Make them tell us.

Jennifer Aguirre

Sonora

We still Occupy

To the Editor,

Readers may have noticed that we Occupiers continue to stand Saturdays midday at Courthouse Square, as we have now for over a year. Our modest aim is still to call attention to — raise consciousness about — the vast gulf in personal income in America, most notably the enormous and increasing amassing of wealth at the top. 

As we know, 80 to 90 percent of the nation’s wealth (estimates vary) is in the hands of just about 5 percent of the populace. 

Nobody doubts that big money, from individual millionaires a well as corporations, buys candidates and offices. Legislators, thus beholden, secure financial advantages for the rich, and limit opportunities for the rest of us. 

Rich elites, for example, spend unlimited resources on their children, while public schools are starved for funding. 

How could the citizenry have allowed this level of economic inequality come about? This can’t be the America we want.

What’s the future? One scenario: As inequality hardens, upward mobility falls, and with it the open system that made the country great in the first place. 

Another prospect is mindful that world history since the Middle Ages is riddled by frequent rebellions, large and small, usually driven by economic desperation and hatred of rich, despotic rulers. 

Such an uprising seems inconceivable in the U.S., given the safety nets in place, our tradition as a peaceable, orderly society, and Americans’ usual reluctance to join in mass protests. 

Yet, who can say?

Dick Peterson

Sonora

Building permit fees

To the Editor,

Annually, Duncan Associates publishes a survey comparing fees levied for the construction of a 2000 square foot home. In 2011, the national average was $8,689 outside of California.  California hit an astonishing average of $32,531. These fees are a tax, the most regressive kind of tax hitting the young and less affluent the hardest. Mostly, only large developers can afford these kinds of regulatory fees.  It leads to the proliferation cookie-cutter housing developments. 

Regulations and fees are equally burdensome for small business and are being used as powerful weapons by big business and interest groups pushing for “stack and pack” smart growth plans like the “Blue Print” just approved in Tuolumne County.  

These regulations and plans drive out smaller competition, inhibit new competition and force families into high density developments. We never hear about the down side of these plans, but it can be seen in the 80 homes that just burned in New Jersey. Packing people together can be very hazardous. 

The bureaucracies that have developed with increased regulation are grossly over-extended on salaries and pensions. The public pays for these regulations through higher fees and prices, lack of choice, lack of opportunity and watching their children and grandchildren leave. 

Most regulation is under the guise of “health and safety.”  

Much of it, though, not only fails to improve conditions but is detrimental because of the adverse economic impact. Governor Brown just removed some of the commercial kitchen requirements that are a huge barrier to new businesses. Are we in more danger now? No. Nor are we safer because we mandate septic system checks twice a year instead of every two years, but it sure props up some businesses and discourages people from living outside of “developments.”

Thank you Evan Royce for being the lone vote against this nonsense.

Heidi Fuller

Columbia

Thank you

To the Editor,

I want to express my profound gratitude to the individuals who came to my aid when I fell in the Walmart parking lot on Sept. 11, receiving a severe leg injury. I’m sorry I do not have your names. The first to help said he had 25 years experience in first aid, the second was a nice lady who reassuring me said “I’m a nurse.” There were others. 

The Sterns who saw that my pet dog was returned to my family, and those who aided in getting my automobile returned. Also I want thank the Sonora Regional Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Center for their treatment and the outstanding care given by the staff. 

Jere Calef

Sonora

The joys of
running a business

To the Editor,

A young man came to us Jan. 23 asking for work. We were not advertising for help but decided to give him a chance. 

On May 7, he sent a text message saying he could not afford gas to come to work and quit. In three months he had missed four days of work. He then applied for unemployment and was denied partly due to this text message. 

He appealed and we received a package of 42 pages from the California Appeals Board regarding a hearing in Sacramento. 

The employee was a no-show. Twenty days later he appealed for a second time claiming he was out of town working. 

We received a package of 42 pages regarding a hearing in Sacramento. Again the employee was a no-show. We now received a 42 page package regarding a third hearing. The employee was allowed to appeal for a third time even though he did not appeal within the required 20 days and was a no-show time before. 

Is this the way California helps small business? Is this a responsible use of taxpayer’s dollars? 

I think I’ll be a no-show!

Tom Molinari Sr.

Sonora

Thanks to good samaritans

To the Editor,

Regarding good samaritans, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Snyder, of Sonora, and Wayne and Son Automotive, of Angels Camp:

I am writing to thank and acknowledge good samaritans — my son was driving his girlfriend home to Angels Camp and the car overheated.

First, the fire department responded fast with dutiful kindness. 

Second, Wayne and Son Automotive stored the car “free” while I took my dad to Florida and he was in the E.R.

I had a stroke and traumatic brain injury and the Snyders picked up the car and took care of the car — because I could not get the car due to my stroke.

I want to thank everyone for their kindness, compassion, devotion and care for others.

Thank you, bless you, thank you for the kind people in the world — thank you for helping my son and myself.

Donna Raposa

Aptos (Santa Cruz)

Occupy and
political parties

To the Editor,

A gentleman stopped by the park the other day to ask about my sign which says “In With Regulation, Out With Corruption,” and asked me if I was for Romney to which I replied no, but I should have clarified my statement. 

The 99 percent is not about political parties, it’s about righting what we see as wrong with this country. The reverse of my sign says “Reinstate Glass Steagall,” which was repealed by Bill Clinton in 1999 and is the law that separated commercial banks from the speculation of Wall Street. 

Myrna Doering 

Jamestown

One bad apple

To the Editor,

I have just returned from my local and favorite grocery store. I do almost all my shopping there, love the workers and love the selection and prices. About twice a month I ask the nice produce workers if they have any boxes of lettuce they are throwing out, we give a few handfuls to our chickens every morning when they are let out of the coop. It is good for them and it helps to keep them quiet. 

I was told they no longer can do that as someone was stuffing things down into the boxes and stealing from the store. 

Thanks a lot thieves, one bad apple really does spoil it for everyone.

Unfortunately, now the produce will be thrown away in the garbage, instead of feeding animals.

Nancey Kearney 

Sonora

How do burglars sleep at night?

To the Editor,

This is to the young man that broke into my home in Ponderosa Hills. The moment that we looked into each others eyes as you were exiting my dining room window and the last time you looked over your shoulder as I was chasing you will be forever etched into my mind. 

So many questions come to mind. The first is why? Why our house or anyone’s house for that matter? I have worked my butt off for what we have, which as you witnessed is not that much. 

Why can’t you? 

For you to come and take what we have away is just unfathomable to me. What you stole from us is of minor monetary value, but huge sentimental value. 

However, the act of breaking into our home has forever changed my family. My children refuse to remain at home alone because of the actions that you took. Even if they agreed, I would not let them. You stole our wedding rings. How do you sleep at night?

Matt Ashe 

Tuolumne

Hurricanes and God

To the Editor,

I know how to be popular. Ha Ha.

Hurricane superstar Sandy has plunged New York (our industrial capital), Washington, D.C. (our nation’s capitol), New Jersey (Jersey Shore playground), and many nearby states in that area into devastating suffering, destruction and despair. 

Also, remember the earthquake that unexpectedly hit our capitol and the Washington Monument Aug. 23, 2011?

These are not the first nor the last judgement by God.

An it is Halloween time, isn’t it? 

Some of our local people are leading so many of our young people into unknowingly worship of weird Satanic rituals, personal makeup and costumes. Why not abstain all appearances of evil?

Downright sin (offense of God) is rampant and prevalent in America. How can anyone expect blessing and prosperity from God (our Creator), when so many people are blaspheming (swearing) the name of Jesus and his word, the holy Bible?

Repent, repent — Mean to change your way of thinking. 

Bible text, “Humble yourselves … turn from your wicked ways … and God will heal your land.”

Remember, that God is a good God and wants good for everyone. 

Blanche Aphecetche

Sonora

ACA promotes healthier America

To the Editor,

Some policymakers, candidates and members of the media have claimed that the Affordable Care Act (ACA or “Obamacare”) cuts $700 billion from Medicare. These claims are simply untrue. In fact, the nonpartisan Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) all agree that the ACA strengthens and improves Medicare.

MedPAC was established under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 as a nonpartisan agency to advise Congress on Medicare issues. For five consecutive years, MedPAC advised Congress to pay Medicare Advantage plans at the same rate as traditional Medicare plans, because Medicare Advantage was costing the government about 14 percent more than traditional Medicare. The ACA is now implementing this recommendation. The CBO estimates that equalizing Medicare Advantage payments will generate at least $170 billion in government savings over the next decade. 

With the ACA, the Medicare Trust Fund is expected to remain solvent for at least the next eight years. The Medicare Trustees report states that there is still a lot of work to be done to guarantee Medicare’s future. However, the CMS administrator wrote, “The Affordable Care Act is giving CMS the ability to do this work, with tools to lower costs, fight fraud and change incentives so that Medicare pays for coordinated quality care.”

The ACA is not relying on Medicare recipients to pay its way. There are many provisions in the ACA that provide revenues. But, most importantly, the Congressional Budget Office persistently reports that the ACA will actually reduce the budget deficits over the next decade. The CBO predicts that all spending on healthcare — by government, corporations and individuals alike — will stop rising so quickly. All nonpartisan reviews agree: the Affordable Care Act will promote a healthier America — and a healthier economy.

Kay Bargmann

Sonora

Vote No to bond Measure H

To the Editor,

I teach economics and government at Summerville High School; therefore, it is with sincere regret that I must encourage members of the district community to vote no on Measure H.

Upon the expiration of Measure Q, property taxes were to reset to the normal level; consequently, to continue property taxes with Measure H, albeit at a lower rate, still represents a tax increase.

For almost two decades I have complained that my classroom heating/cooling unit does not work properly. It puts out cold air, even in the dead of winter, so that some of my students are actually shivering in class. I was assured that Measure Q was going to remedy this unacceptable situation. To date nothing has changed.  

Instead, much of the Measure Q money went to “window dressing” types of projects like athletic fields and an overly lavish theatre for the performing arts. 

Once again, the community is being asked to “buy a pig in a poke.” 

Before taxpayers are required to shell out more money, they have the right to know with a reasonable degree of precision exactly for what the money is going to be used. It is true that absent the passage of Measure H desperately needed upgrades to the campus may go begging, but I would prefer that situation to the community giving the district more money that is, once again, misused on relatively questionable projects.

While I do not hold the present administration and school board responsible for the way in which taxpayers’ money was used in the past, any repeat of past misjudgements may be avoided by simply holding the Summerville High School District accountable before the fact. Demand the list of priorities first to see if your money will be well spent. Vote No on Measure H. 

T. Edward Christiansen

Twain Harte

TUD election

To the Editor,

I support anyone willing to get involved. But, if you’re going to run for the TUD board, you better do your homework, considering it involves: 53 miles of an open ditch system (if fails, could cut off service for up to 3 months. Ask what it takes to fix a section located on a wooden trestle 50’ off the ground in the middle of winter); 17 treatment facilities that require compliance with State/Federal Clean Water Act standards; being obligated to take over water companies that can no longer meet standards; being on the hook to provide sewer where failing septics impact ground and surface water; and, appealing to the state to secure “adequate” water supply in order to sustain existing needs/future economic development opportunities.

As a TUD customer (home, business, and Algerine Ditch user) I am well aware of rate concerns. The fact some running for the board believe employee costs are the only issue facing TUD is far more troubling.

These individuals say we have “abundant,” “more than enough” “clean water”. For the record, we don’t and neither does the State. We have no adjudicated rights to any waters that originate in our county.

“Fairness” is subjective at this point; dealing with reality is what’s at stake.

This board needs to be able to work towards integration of these issues and to understand the connectedness of this system as it relates to the State Water Plan. For this reason, I’m supporting the TUD Board incumbents, Behee, Dahlin and Ringen. I have worked with these men and know they have the knowledge and presence of mind to know that the decisions they make today have far reaching consequences for us all. 

Remember, when it got tough, Retherford resigned; these men stepped up.

Stephanie Suess

Sonora

Don’t support
S’ville bond 

To the Editor,

I’m an alumni of Summerville Union High School District. I’ve attended both Summerville Elementary and Summerville High.  I’ve taught kids for a total of 39 years, 29 at Summerville.

In 1998, the district passed $9.9 million Measure Q. History reflects leadership oversight and accountability in 1998 were non-existent. The taxpayer expected truth and honesty from our trustees. The situation now is very similar. 

More than $2.2 million was squandered due to the District’s incompetencies. The public was expecting athletic improvements, a library and new gymnasium. Instead money was used to remodel the administration office, build a library, theatre, construct a charter school and build a smaller practice gym.

The positive for SUHSD employees is looking forward to June 30, 2013. My hope is that SUHSD will have successfully eradicated two principals, a superintendent and hopefully refused to rehire David Johnstone (Dave Urquhart’s replacement).

In the past two years SUHD has paid over $154,000 for legal advice. Work at Thorsted Football Field has surpassed $70,000.

In conclusion, California is imposing a fire tax, we are paying on Measure Q and the Columbia College bond. 

Increases are certain in food costs, healthcare, fuel and sewer rates. Tuolumne property values are depressed, 401Ks have not recovered, jobs are scarce and tax hikes are inevitable at both the state and federal level. 

Nepotism continues at Summerville, while once prospering programs have been decimated by poor personnel choices and kids have been damaged.  

That’s why I’m voting No on H.

Lynn Culver

Tuolumne

Vote for Obama

To the Editor,

Don’t let Romney take credit for our turnaround.

Our country came extremely close to a financial meltdown under eight years of Bush.  Something the GOP and Romney both wish all Americans would forget, evidenced in part by the absence of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell and Rove at the Republican convention.  

They want you to forget the huge cost of the two Bush wars, deficit piling tax cuts, tax breaks for companies going overseas, removal of banking regulations, which were put in place after the 1929 crash to prevent a financial disaster from happening again. 

Lastly we were losing 800,000 jobs per month.

Romney says he will create jobs. Look at his record at Bain Capital. It shows a different story.  

Romney makes money for investors — he does not create jobs.  

Google “GST Steel” or “Sensata” to see firsthand the American jobs lost or transferred to China under Bain Capital.

The economy is turning around. The glass is half-full people. Small business optimism rising, home building rising, construction rising, jobless rate dropped from 10 percent to under 8 percent, and the Stock Market is back to where it was in 2008, something that took 25 years after the 1929 crash.  

There are financial indicators showing we may very soon experience a “Supercycle Bull Market.”  

In the last two months, foreign investment has amounted to $170 billion into the American Market. The rest of the world is very positive about America and the direction of its economy and the leadership of President Obama.

The president worked hard turning our country around. Don’t let Romney take credit for all the hard work President Obama did to get our economy back on the right track. Allow him a second term to finish the job. Nobody said it would be easy.

Ed Gorth

Sonora 

Say No to Romney

To the Editor,

Quote: “I would never do anything to hurt the auto industry,” Mr. Romney. 

He and his partner Paul Singer bought bonds from a company called Delphi. They make parts and were owned by G.M. The partners extorted Delphi on withholding steering columns from G.M. and refused to pay pensions and medical care for the employees. The U.S. Government paid for these pensions, etc. lost by this extortion. This money was suppose to save these jobs also. This money went to Romney’s buddies, Elliot Mgt. Corp. where he was a partner. As a result of this predatory capitalism all of the Delphi plants were closed and jobs sent to China.

The result: The Romney’s pocketed a minimum of $15 million to more likely up to $115 million. Do you wonder why he won’t release his tax returns? It’s a small example of how this guy works. Just last week he gave a speech on how he’s going to be tough on China while one of Bain’s plants closes and sends these jobs to China. Lost, over 100 $17 an hour jobs went to China for $0.19 cents an hour at Sensata, Freeport, Ill.

Is this the man we want for President? Not me! 

These two, Romney and Ryan, are the most dangerous people running for President since Goldwater. They’re both unqualified for the job.

Just a note. You can view both Obama and Biden’s tax returns on the Internet. 

All 11 years’ worth for those who want to know.

I loved the remark about Jeremiah Wright and Obama. How soon these evangelicals forget their own house. Remember Jimmy Swaggart, Ted Haggard and the illustrious Terry Jones from Florida. You remember the Koran burner. Check these facts for yourself and see if you still want these two anti-American right wing Capitalists in the White House. 

Jim Hassay

Groveland

TUD race is complicated

To the Editor,

This year’s Tuolumne Utilities District race is more complicated than past elections. While the word incumbent appears by their names, Mr. Dahlin and Mr. Ringen were appointed this last year, to blame them for past decisions is unfair. 

For several decades the TUD has been using one-time hookup fees to cover its operational costs, not a sound business decision.

The economic downturn has forced a change in policy. In a panic, a major rate increase was proposed last year. The incumbents, the ones now under attack, voted down that large increase in favor of a balanced approach of serious cuts and smaller rate increases.

The result is clear: TUD now has a balanced budget. Their plan worked.

The challengers were stirred to action by the proposed large rate increase that the incumbents vetoed. None of them had been interested in the TUD before, they did not attend meetings or invest the time to find out what TUD actually does. 

The crisis that they formed to curtail has been averted: the TUD has a balanced budget; no large rate increases are coming. 

How do they propose to provide us with a secure water supply?

With band-aids and shortcuts.

What does TUD do? They repair nearly 300 mainline breaks annually for one.

They have to patch an outdated system that will fail if not revamped. TUD operates more than a dozen treatment plants. A plan to consolidate them and upgrade the pipes is under development now. This will lead to significant long-term savings.

Behee, Dahlin, and Ringen for TUD — No band-aids, no shortcuts.

Isaac Kight

Chairman, Gold Country Leadership Group

Jamestown

Just in from Libya

To the Editor,

It came down to the final inning last night at Kuvverupp Stadium located in Benghazi, Libya after the Benghazi Giants knocked 4 out of the park in the top of the ninth. The Midgets came up in the bottom of the ninth after what seemed like weeks, sending Susan Rice to the plate who promptly struck out.

Next up was H. Larry Clinton who was hit in the head with a fastball and was taken away babbling incoherently. Joey G. Biden was the pinch-runner, and while waving to fans, was picked off first base. Two outs.

Candy Crowley came to the plate carrying six bats. She was ejected from the game when she refused to relinquish the five extra bats and play by the rules.

To the plate strode Barry H. Nobama, the last hope for the Whitehouse midgets.

Barry’s had a tough year said manager Clint Eastwood,” he’s lost on all his investments and is being treated for delusion and depression by team psychiatrist George Soros.”

Mr. Eastwood said Barry showed signs of promise as a youngster and was the only player to go right from Little League to the Majors.

Three swings and three misses later Barry and the Midgets were out.

Coach Eastwood was quoted as saying, “ these guys are our employees and if they can’t do the job we just have to let them go.”

Later in the evening Eastwood said that Barry, Larry, Candy and Joey’s contracts would all be cancelled Nov. 6.

Ridge Schneider 

Sonora

Save us from
the Tea Party

To the Editor,

Barry Wilson in his October 18 letter compares the debt levels of 2007 with the current situation and hopes that the Tea Party will take over the Senate and “do what is obvious.” Oh, please. Selective amnesia is not a good basis for important decisions. 

Did he forget what happened in those “glorious times” four and five years ago? 

There was crisis that threatened to crash the whole financial system and the whole economy in its wake. 

I support what President Bush did: he pumped $700 billion into the banks to keep them from collapsing. Remember TARP? And we are still in recovery mode. We are trillions of dollars of dollars in debt — not because we like to spend but to stimulate an improving but still not exactly robust economy. Please save us from Tea-Party ideas. 

Klaus Kraemer 

Sonora

Vote Rodefer for Supervisor

To the Editor,

This is in response to a Letter printed Oct. 25, authored by Mike Macon. Macon essentially endorses Domenic Torchia as an opportunity to move the entire county government into a new direction of fiscal responsibility and “out in the open” government. Macon adds that Domenic will shine the light into the dark corners. Macon closes by saying Domenic will restore fiscal responsibility and transparency to our county government.

Regarding Mr. Torchia, I have several probing questions: Why has Domenic only raised 14 percent of his reportable funds in Tuolumne County?  This begs the question, if we are truly shining the light, what are Domenic’s donors from out of county buying with all that money?  Next, why has Domenic only spent 54 percent of his reportable campaign expenditures in this county ($5,000 spent out of county)? 

Talking about transparency, what’s all this money from out of county trying to influence in our local election? All these numbers are from the latest campaign filings to our own County Elections office.

Here’s real transparency: Karl Rodefer, candidate for County Supervisor, District 5, has raised 93 percent of his donations in Tuolumne County. Likewise, 99 percent of Karl’s spending has been made in this county ($400 spent out of county).  

So Karl’s not just running for local office, he practices “buy local,” as the chamber of commerce reminds us.

So, if you truly want fiscal responsibility, to shed light on the county’s processes, and transparency, a vote for Karl Rodefer for Tuolumne County District 5 Supervisor is a vote for principled leadership, uncompromising personal integrity, and accountability in our local government.

Let me know if there is anything else needed to confirm my submittal.

Michael Ayala

Sonora

Illegal rural fire tax

To the Editor,

I would be more than happy to pay my rural fire tax as soon as those along active seismic zones pay their earthquake tax, those in the floodplains of Sacramento Delta pay their flood tax, and for those foolish politicians that dream up this dribble, a hot air tax to boot.

Jeff Phillips

Sonora