Killing Medicare

To the Editor,

If I wanted to destroy Medicare I would do it incrementally, dividing the recipients then pitting them against each other so they destroy the program out of self interest. It’s no accident have we deficits. How better to justify program cuts?

Of those deficits, 2/3 accumulated under Republican Presidents. GW Bush single-handedly created a quarter of that debt.

First I’d complain about the deficits saying, “They’re destroying our children’s future. To solve this we must cut Medicare.” But I’d leave the current Medicare recipients and newcomer benefits as they are. Those 55 or younger would get only 1/3 the benefit as a voucher. This triples their Medicare payment. If I were 55 my benefits would go from $4,260 to $12,780 a year — double it to include my wife.

Thus those 55 and under will not be able to afford Medicare. Think of all the tax dollars we’ll save.

This is what Ryan and the Tea Party have passed in the House. The Tea Party needed your vote; so they promised not to touch Medicare.

Like my proposal, Ryan’s proposal doesn’t pay off any deficits. We must preserve the deficits to justify future cuts “to save our children’s future.” Ryan’s $500 billion a year saving is used to fund a tax cut largely benefiting the wealthy.

Since they’re buying this election, “It’s only fair.”

And here’s the best part. Those folks 55 and under will realize they will never be able to afford Medicare. So why should they support your Medicare?

We’ll organize them against Medicare and end it. “It’s only fair.”

Then we’ll invest Social Security in the stock market. No problem. Trust us.

Robert Carabas

Sonora

Be on the lookout

To the Editor,

This summer was the busiest since ‘09, decided to take a long weekend to camp at our favorite place — New Melones. 

Sometime Monday (Sept. 10) night neighbors arrived a couple sites over, it was not long before one of them approached us for hot dogs “bait for catfish.” We didn’t have any, he left. 

After securing the table that held our supplies by lowering the legs down to three feet on our easy-up we went to sleep in our camper.

I woke up at 1:30 a.m. by a noise, didn’t see anything, drifted back to sleep. 

Got up to watch the sunrise when my husband discovered someone had stolen our two ice chests, food crate, CD player and CD carrier which holds 30. 

We didn’t suspect the neighbors at first, I mean who would rip you off then spend the night with the evidence? But while we were calling the Sheriff’s Office, the “neighbors” started packing up real fast. My husband jumped in the truck, headed to the camp host, as their older white Ford Explorer (with their tents thrown in the back) approached, the host yelled ‘stop,’ but they didn’t. 

Back at their site we discovered they’d eaten our food, the items they didn’t want were thrown into the field, and they left a mess. 

What upsets me most is the loss of the player and CD’s. My hard earned dollars bought them and these low lifes steal them? 

Good people of Sonora, Angels Camp if anyone approaches to sell ‘classic rock’ CD’s from Cash to Zeppelin and a player please contact the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, reference the report made on the Sept. 11 at Manzanita campground in Tuttletown Recreation Area. Thank you.

Ramona Liebig

San Clemente

Waste of money and time

To the Editor,

As I passed through the construction zone in east Sonora Thursday morning I saw two California Highway Patrol cars posted at either end of the zone. And both officers were in their car looking down into their laps as I drove by. 

Now I’m not saying they were not doing their jobs, I’m just wondering if this is the best way to spend the taxpayers money. 

When I called the CHP office to find out what the policy was, I was told it is the policy of the CHP to post two units (although only one officer per car) and as I pressed for more info was told (rather rudely) if I had a complaint to address it to the main CHP office. 

Now I’m just saying, if there are 100 construction sites in California that means we are paying for 200 of (arguably) the finest law enforcement agency cops in the world to sit and be a presence for possible speeders.

If they spent those hours doing actual cop work I might have a chance to get my stolen bicycle back. 

In a time when we are crying out how broke the state is and how there is no money for law enforcement. How dare they waste our money and their time on things that are obviously not necessary. Let’s use our heads people, this is wrong.  

Bob Snell 

Tuolumne

Facts

To the Editor,

In response to William Bergmann’s Sept. 25 letter.

Barney Frank in the House and Christopher Dodd in the Senate, through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, were force-feeding government-guaranteed mortgages to borrowers who had no reasonable chance to keep up with monthly payments. The Bush administration was telling them it was a recipe for disaster.

But oh, I guess I just listen to propaganda.

Facts are facts, unless you hire a lawyer to twist em … or a politician.

Another fact is that most Americans did not want to raise the debt ceiling and did not want to give money (just print it) to GM or a lot of these banks.

If you think that the govt listens to people today, then you are buying their ear.

I do believe the conservatives will not destroy this nation as the liberal agenda is, but then again I don’t believe in reapportionment.

Dwan Seicheine

Sonora

The Golden Rule

To the Editor,

“Do onto others as you would have others do onto you.” Until quite recently, I always thought that this meant “Be kind and helpful to others because someday, you may appreciate others being kind and helpful to you.” I think of this as being the biblical definition.

Recently however, conservatives have been preaching a completely different definition. They say: “If you are willing to work hard, you don’t need help. You can make it on your own.” Obviously, this means if you accept help, it implies that you are not willing to work hard. It follows that you don’t want to offer to help others. It would be an insult. You would be saying “You aren’t willing to work hard.” Don’t accept help. It’s a sign of weakness. Don’t offer to help. It’s an insult. 

“Do onto others as you would have others do onto you.”

If you are convinced that you started your business without any help, try to start a branch office in Syria — or any other unstable, non-Democratic country. Don’t deny that you live in a kind and helpful country. Be proud of it. Admit that the U.S.A. is the greatest country in the world.

Bob Gould

Groveland

Beware of scammers

To the Editor,

The Windows scam is still alive and well. This time, after many other times, a different guy, “Simon,” phoned telling me he was a Windows technician and that my computer was broadcasting its IP address to the world. 

As before, the person wanted me to log on and he would help me resolve the problem. Caller ID was: ‘out of area’. 

Don’t buy it, people. Your computer must broadcast its IP address or you’d never get to the Internet. Its normal; no virus causes it. 

Again, hang up on this guy. Don’t even think about sitting down at your computer with this guy. 

Swearing at him doesn’t help — he will just call you back later. You can try to vent your frustration by adding the call to the “Do Not Call Registry” but other than perhaps making you feel better, it won’t solve the problem. How do the feds even think they will be able to manage health care? The phone company doesn’t seem to care, either — not even if you talk to their fraud people. 

I’m going to try writing the Federal Trade Commission next.

Dave Bremer 

Sonora

Free speech

To the Editor,

Free speech is in the news everyday this month.

Starting with the “Pussy Riot” girls in Moscow who used swear words to attack Putin and the Greek Orthodox Christian Church. Condemning Putin is free speech but condemning the church in their church is provocation meriting punishment. If people cannot worship peacefully in their place of worship civil society can collapse.

The American movie attacking Islam in a public forum such as a movie and YouTube is a provocation.  

Remember the standard that yelling “fire” in a movie theater is not free speech. 

Egyptian provocateurs who changed the script to provoke outrage also merit punishment.

The internet age is upon us, there is no agency or filtering medium to judge when the so-called free speech is provocation. The resulting violence in the Middle East is another sign of pent up anger against western nations and cultural differences.

But U.S. media should always remind everyone that the violence is perpetrated by less than 0.01 per cent of the population.  

In Lebanon over 100,000 demonstrated against the movie without one incident of violence.

No less than Hezbollah organized the event and asked for peaceful demonstrations. There is hope!

Dennis Schneider

Angels Camp

Not voting for either candidate

To the Editor,

It would be against my Christian values to vote for either of these two Presidential candidates, and beneath my ethical standards to vote for either of these two parties. 

But please people, do continue to attack each other. I find it amusing … like two parents in a fist fight at their children’s little league game. 

Robert Richards 

Don Pedro

Distorted view of American history

To the Editor,

It just amazes me, what a distorted view of American history many people have. I wonder if it’s due to a lack of good or complete information in American History books, or maybe it’s because they believe many politicians lies. I would suggest reading “Peoples History of the United States” by Howard Zinn to get a much more complete history of this country, and it is written from the perspective of the average person.

Many people apparently believe that the “Founding Fathers” were the most intelligent people ever born, and that their ideas should never be changed. 

Well, what about all of the amendments to the constitution. 

After reading some of the recent Letters to the Editor, I realize that many writers apparently do not understand what went on politically during the years leading to the adoption of our Constitution. It wasn’t a revelation that everyone agreed on. Rather, it took much discussion and compromising. For example, the idea of having a Senate with two representatives from each state was a major concession, much needed to get enough states willing to ratify the constitution. Incidentally, the 17th amendment changed the selection of US Senators from the state’s legislatures to the state’s voters — another victory for democracy. I don’t understand why people such as Ms. Jan Higgins and Ms. CB Maxwell seem to be so much against democracy in elections!

In my opinion, everyone’s vote should count in electing the President and Vice-president just as it does in the election of our other representatives. 

We need to eliminate the Electoral College which, by the way, has nothing to do with “states rights.” “Battleground states” would no longer exist, so one or two states wouldn’t throw the election one way or the other, and everyone’s vote would be counted. 

Yahoo!

Jerry Fueslein

Groveland

Freedom of expression

To the Editor,

RE: Group Rallies for Rights story from Sept. 24.

Two thoughtless quotes, made by notable people, were used in this article. Neither were as foolish, holier-than-thou nor as arrogant as the tone of Ms. Ruth Godbout’s comments. Godbout has the right of expression because of this nation’s fight for the Constitution. 

I, too, have the right of expression opposite of Godbout’s and we are both free to feel that we have the right idea. God bless America. 

Judy Olson 

Soulsbyville

We are bankrupt

To the Editor,

We’re bankrupt. We just don’t know it, and the government (particularly the Federal Reserve Bank) is going through all kinds of contortions to fool us into believing otherwise.

Annual spending by the federal government now exceeds the 2007 level by about $1 trillion. With a slow economy, revenues are little changed. The result is an unprecedented string of federal budget deficits, $1.4 trillion in 2009, $1.3 trillion in 2010, $1.3 trillion in 2011, and another $1.2 trillion on the way this year. The four-year increase in borrowing amounts to $55,000 per U.S. household (including the 50 percent of households that don’t pay federal income tax).

The government cannot keep spending $1 trillion plus more than it takes in.

Also, it’s fallacious to believe that the government can increase its revenues above 20 percent of the economy without destroying incentives for growth.

In addition: unemployment is at 8.1 percent and staged for growth; 23 million-plus people out of work; 47 million people on food stamps; $16 trillion national debt; $4K reduction in middle class median income; and $4 per gallon of gas.

The fixes are blindingly obvious: a smaller federal government — cutting the head count by 25 percent; entitlement, education, regulatory and litigation reform; expand trade agreements with other countries; and, the proactive pursuit of energy independence including oil, coal and natural gas — along with viable alternative forms of energy.

The current administration’s divisive governing style robs us of our can-do attitude. Pulling together is nearly impossible when our leaders persistently attempt to separate us into different groups. People are spending less because they are afraid what tomorrow will bring. And companies will not hire because people aren’t spending. It’s an Obama administration generated Catch-22.

Elections have consequences. And the outcome of 2008 has been disastrous.

The 2012 election will seal our fate.

Ray Anderson

Sonora

Leave Columbia School alone

To the Editor,

I have been thinking about writing this letter for quite awhile now. I at first wanted to use the correct grammar and etiquette and sound studious, but that’s not how I express myself in true form, so here it goes. I am so tired of these pitchfork, torch wielding hoo-ha’s voicing their insults about the Columbia Elementary Staff, and Board members. 

We have been called Kool-Aid drinkers, a cult, Pendley followers, among other things. I commend all the staff for taking the higher ground and with restraining themselves to the lower depths of those wielding piles who continue to hold personal grudges against the whole staff. 

These persons have had personal vendettas for which they feel someone related to or involved in the district has wronged them. 

Come on people! Take a long look in the mirror: if you can face the real truths long enough. All this mud slinging would become clear and the reasonings behind it to those spectators who have been one sided. Columbia Elementary’s record stands for itself. The past acts of some individuals should not define Columbia Elementary and its educators. 

We work hard for our students and they have and always will be our priority. We have never lost sight of that inspite of the bad publicity. 

Teresa Crutcher 

Murphys

Economic crisis

To the Editor,

To expect state or federal money to fund our “sustainable development,” or to assume United Nations reach into our local government could even remotely bless our people, is a disgrace to humankind. California is bankrupt and our feds are paying $380 billion (of unproductive dollars) on our $16 trillion debt.

State control, UN costs and interference have brought us to ruin. 

Before this worldwide economic crisis is resolved, there will be no more “other peoples money” that we have perniciously desired. It is said, the bankrupt nations are to hold off their crash until after our election.

We may find ourselves disobeying some unconstitutional laws and restrictions to mine our minerals and log our trees in order to care for our people. 

Thank you Supervisors Royce and Hanvelt for reading the handwriting and leading the way.

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you and pray for its’ welfare. For in its welfare you will find your welfare,” Jeremiah 28:17.

Jan Higgins

Sonora

Obama’s record is questionable

To the Editor,

Are they brain washed or stupid? I don’t understand how someone can be so adamant about a political candidate, but yet know very little about him. 

I have many progressive friends and I asked every one of them if they had read Obama’s books “The Audacity of Hope” (2006) and “Dreams from My Father” (1995, republished in 2004), not one of them had read the books, and when I offered to lend them my copies, not one of them accepted my offer. 

They just don’t want to know. Some of Obama’s worshipers are saying that we don’t know anything about Romney, but yet we can follow him from his birth, through grammar school, high school, college and his law degree, and MBA from Harvard. 

We can follow his business life, his term as governor of a majority liberal state, what bills he passed and vetoed, all of his speeches, his taking over a broke Olympics and fixing it. 

We know as much about him as we have ever known about any candidate to ever run for President. 

Why haven’t we seen one record of Obama’s grades in school? We haven’t seen one paper he has written in college or how he felt about politics or his values in those unknown years. Actual quote from “Dreams from My Father” [pg. 100-101]: “To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists and punk-rock performance poets. We smoked cigarettes and wore leather jackets. At night, in the dorms, we discussed neocolonialism, Franz Fanon, Eurocentrism, and patriarchy.”

I feel sorry for those Truman and Kennedy Democrats of the past and how they are misguided to think they are in any way like the new radical progressive Democrats. 

James Schlotthauer

Sonora

Crash happened under Bush

To the Editor,

Dwan Seicheine has “studied” economics (Letter to Editor, Sept. 13), but somehow concludes that the problems we face today are Obama’s fault even though the crash happened on the Bush watch, and the deregulation on the Clinton and Bush watches. 

No one forced the banks to make bad loans, they were supposed to be bankers, people that understood economics. 

The bottom line is that greed is not good when it is unrestrained. These same bankers are now getting million dollar bonuses extracted from the retirees’ liquidity that Seicheine mentions. 

William Bergmann 

Murphys

Better off today

To the Editor,

The Dow Jones Industrial Average on December 31, 2008: 8,776. The Dow Jones Industrial Average in September, 2012: 13,500 (approx.) 

Am I better off today than I was four years ago? Absolutely. 

Chuck Jett 

Twain Harte

Parents need to be more involved

To the Editor,

This generation’s parents are not involved enough in their students’ education. Parents are not involved enough. They don’t donate enough supplies. Parents should volunteer to help teachers. If parents helped teachers, the student(s) would get more help with homework. Parents should always check their students’ homework. Most parents tell their students they don’t know how to do the problems and make the students do it on their own. 

Some people say that parents don’t have time to help their student. Parents should always find time to spend with their students.

Your student could do a lot better if you took the time to help them with homework. So come on parents, get involved!

Alex Maxey 

Tuolumne

Free speech

To the Editor,

Just wondering, isn’t there a law against shouting fire in a crowded theater? 

Isn’t that what the guy that made the inflammatory film and smeared it throughout the mideast did? Yes, we do and should have free speech in this country, but when it causes injury and death, shouldn’t there, at least, be an investigation, if not an arrest? 

It is mind boggling that this sort of trash can incite whole populations to riot, but couldn’t, we, at least, try to reason with these people via the same Internet that it is accomplishing exactly what it was meant to do and it was the work of a small mind and not the intent of a majority of the American people. 

Myrna Doering 

Jamestown

Church has lost ‘best priest’

To the Editor,

I have known Father Michael Kelly for 25 years. I first met him as my parish priest at St. Patrick’s here in Sonora and since that time, Father Mike has become a dear family friend. 

I believe that Father Mike is innocent. 

I feel that sadly, in today’s world, many look at a priest and see a pedophile. I am terribly disappointed in how the Church dealt with pedophile priests in the past. I know there are pedophile priests but I know Father Mike is not one of them. 

My heart breaks for anyone who may have been abused by their priest. 

However, I feel it is far too easy today for attorneys and plaintiffs to walk away holding very large bags of money, leaving behind them good, honest, innocent men who have devoted their entire lives to honoring God and the Church. 

I am glad Father Mike left, not fled, to his homeland of Ireland. His health was failing at an alarming rate. Enduring tremendous stress over a four year period, all the while, knowing his own innocence. He left for his homeland and the loving arms of his family. 

His life as he’d known it for 39 years here, ended in the few moments it took for the verdict to be read. The church, in my opinion, has lost it’s “best priest ever” and now, I cannot help wonder, how many other innocent men have been or will be wrongfully defrocked. 

Lynne Brown 

Jamestown

Tears from
Iraq War

To the Editor,

We should offer sanctuary and a free airplane ride to America, for all of the women and children in Afghanistan, then remove all American troops and leave all the Afghan men to chew themselves to pieces as they seem to wish. 

We should also waterboard George Bush and Dick Cheney with the tears of all the widows and orphans they created with their Iraq War!

J.W. Smith

Jamestown

Cut them off

To the Editor,

Am I the only one who is totally against sending money (billions) to countries who hate us and murder our personnel? The U.S.A. must use common sense and to those who say there’s more to it, be real! Duh! It seems so obvious, you don’t respect us, then no money for you. We’re adding billions to our deficit, probably financing your violence against us. I say cut them off!

Mary Green

Sonora

Fire tax

To the Editor,

In response to Mr. William C. Marrs’ letter dated Sept. 13, he wonders why voters in Tuolumne County and other rural counties are not outraged over the fire tax fee being forced upon us. 

I for one am! 

He asks, “What are we going to do about it?” He suggested everyone write to Governor Brown. That’s one way.  

I suggest everyone that has a computer to go online to the web address: www.firetaxprotest.org   

If voters who want to challenge the fire tax fee and claim a refund, simply follow the instructions, fill out the forms and mail them to the agencies listed.  

If you don’t have access to a computer ask your friends or neighbors to do it for you and also let them know!

Russ Truman

Twain Harte

The rest of the
Soap Box story

To the Editor,

Soap Box Derby winner, Betsy Smith (Union Democrat, September 7) is in good company here in Sonora. In 1939 the Sonora Union Democrat co-sponsored the very first Tuolumne County Derby. 

In 1940 and 1941, before the war interrupted the event, Sonora boys qualified for the National and International finals in Akron Ohio. Neither won the event, but in 1941 Dick Davis (age 16) was awarded the title of Pacific Coast Champion. His “coaster” was sponsored by the

Union Democrat and once rolled down Washington Street between the Red Church and Coffill Park. 

It is on display at the Tuolumne County Museum along with other soap Box memorabilia.

You can learn more about this historic tradition by reading the rest of the story in the Historical Society Chispa publication Vol. 38, No. 4. Call 532-1317 to learn how you can acquire this publication or participate with the Tuolumne County Historical Society to keep our history alive.

Bob Rogers

Sonora

Sherri Brennan for supervisor

To the Editor,

Bob and Sherri Brennan are good friends and wonderful people. When we learned that Sherri was running for Supervisor in District 1 it made us excited for her and for the county. 

They have raised two children who would make any parents very proud. Their daughter attends CSU Fresno and their son is a high school senior. They are the type of parents who have taught their children good values to live by and we are confident she will bring those same values to the board. 

Our county needs new blood with leadership that will take us boldly into the future while stabilizing the economy and ensuring our quality of life. 

Sherri has the vision, the experience and the ability to do that. The Brennan roots go deep and they reflect a love and respect for the people, the environment and the history of Tuolumne County. 

Anybody who knows her like we do knows that she will make an excellent supervisor. Our county needs Sherri Brennan on that Board of Supervisors. We hope you agree and will vote for Sherri Brennan, supervisor District 1!

Carol Slicton

Sonora

Political parties

To the Editor,

America’s major political parties’ hegemonic foreign policies can only ultimately result in total failure, because those policies are based on the unrealistic attempt to limit the global spread of scientific knowledge, and the foolish objective to crush the resolve of peoples around the world to take charge of their own destinies. The historic record on this latter point is clear to anyone interested in American foreign policy research. (Example: see “Killing Hope,” William Blum, 2004) The U.S. looks out on the world and sees limitless “evil doers”; the world looks on the U.S. as an hypocritical power that wishes to maintain its own nuclear weapon superiority to deny to others what it has in abundance. It preaches “democracy,” “rule of law,” but sets itself out as the ultimate arbiter of what is “just” or “unjust.”

“You are with us or against us” (Bush 2). This simplistic mantra is totally empty of furthering any progress on a more peaceful world. So is carrying around in your back pocket a “kill list” of those we wish to eliminate without the “rule of law” or “due process” (Obama).

Others also see the transparent idea that if one possesses nuclear weapons and the systems for ultimate delivery they essentially immunize themselves from further destabilization attempts by the U.S. The corollary to this terrible policy is that in order for the U.S. to further its own “interests” abroad with such unrealistic policies it must further undermine the basic constitutional rights here at home of its own citizens. (Example: The American Defense Authorization Act 2012) 

This is a recipe for national and ultimately global disaster. We are destroying our republic for empire. 

Bert Canepa 

Groveland

Yes on Prop. 32

To the Editor,

Local polls finding that respondents would not support the Sonora or Summerville High school bond measures, caused me to write. 

Back in 2000, I helped qualify a petition that made it onto the November ballot that year, because I found in 1996 California School system ranked 49th and had over 800 “administrators” in Sacramento salaried over $100,000 a year. 

That 2000 petition was Proposition 38 for school vouchers, allowing children in unsafe schools to be enrolled out of district at another school. 

I watched the California Teachers Association (CTA) spend $26,366,491 to defeat it. The California Fair Political Practices Commission, a government agency, issued a report in March 2010 saying that the CTA had spent $211.8 million on political campaigns in California in the ten-year period beginning on January 1, 2000 and ending on December 31, 2009! 

How much has CTA spent since 1876? 

That money was from union dues and should have gone for benefits, and very few union members have much of a say of where their dues go politically; and this union has too much political power and has done too little to help the schools and our children. 

Before those who support more money for schools to be taken from us I would suggest you ask the CTA for the money the schools need. Obviously the CTA has more than enough, and what they have done with it sure doesn’t seem to help the children’s education!  

Maybe that’s why Prop. 32 made it on this November’s ballot, prohibiting unions from using dues politically unless permitted by union members; rightfully giving union members a say where their money goes.

Barry F. Wilson

Jamestown 

The rich and poor

To the Editor,

A popular conception today is, “The reason so many people are poor is because the rich have so much.” Once upon a time I believed there some validity to this argument. 

For several years I worked for a firm in clown-town Berkeley. Every day, I saw many street people and beggars on Shattuck Avenue. I helped when I could, but of course I couldn’t give them all money. 

None of them owned automobiles while up in the hills were many big, beautiful homes with numerous new and late model vehicles parked in the driveways. 

Was it fair that the wealthy all had multiple cars and trucks while the poor people down below couldn’t even have one?

Then one day a light came on! Just a few blocks down the street was auto row with dozens of new cars and trucks just waiting to be bought, the discrepancy between rich and poor had the availability of goods and services. It has everything to do with decisions people make with their lives.

I know that this letter will infuriate certain people but don’t expect a retraction from me. Truth is truth whether it is accepted for now.

David Holcomb

Groveland

Encourage voting

To the Editor,

All my life, I have heard the mantra, “Vote, or you deserve what you get!” 

So now, in 2012, 50 years after the Civil Rights Act assuring us that we are all equal, why have several states put restrictive measures on everyone’s right to vote?

In Ohio, voting hours have been cut. Don’t we all remember the long lines in Ohio in 2008, with some people just finally giving up and going home?

Pennsylvania is going to require an I.D. card, making it difficult for seniors, people living in inner cities and thousands of university students who have been told their student I.D. cards won’t be acceptable. 

After the state legislature passed this despicable measure, one legislative member gleefully shouted, “We have just made Mitt Romney President of the United States!”

Then there’s Florida where thousands have been stricken from the voter rolls. One 92 year-old man received a letter telling him he was no longer eligible, even though he had voted in every election since he was of voting age.

The people responsible for these outrages should not be allowed to get away with it. People should be encouraged to get to the polls — not stay away.

Sue Glass

Sonora

Seeking a more perfect union

To the Editor,

Will “we the people” ever see the day when we fly a flag the color of a purple united country instead of the “red, white and blue” of a sorely divided and dysfunctional states of America? Watching and listening to speeches and demonstrations at the conventions of the Republican and Democratic parties cause me to fear what the electioneering to come before November will do to divide our nation further apart. Apparently the party which gathers and spends the most money on attack ads will be victorious.

Perhaps the 50 stars should remain on the flag to give us hope for a “more perfect union.”

Ray Mellana

Sonora

Don’t use death for political gain

To the Editor,

As I watched the transfer ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base I was reminded of my father’s funeral in 1993. He had joined the Navy in 1928 and retired in 1957. His service included World War Two and the Korean War. At the graveside my father’s casket was covered with the American flag and attending the ceremony was a Navy color guard. A bugler played taps and then the colors were folded and presented to my mother in a most dignified and memorable manner.

A few years previously I had asked my father to record and write down some of his reminiscences of World War II. He did so and I have given copies to my children. In my eyes he will always be a hero. But so was my mother. Almost as an afterthought I had asked her how the war was for her.

In her words, it “was one long nightmare.” I then realized that it was the wives and mothers who were the ones who single-handedly raised their children and held the jobs that not only helped win the war but at the same time helped hold our society together.

And so it was in Libya  as four more Americans joined the ranks of those who have given their lives to their country and as it is for those in other foreign lands. 

At the same, however, injecting a political campaign into the events in Libya and Egypt is not warranted. 

True patriots would rally around our government in the face of foreign threats. 

Instead, Governor Romney and others have used the deaths of four heroic men for political gain. 

That is despicable and beneath contempt. Shame on them.

Daniel Connell

Sonora

What’s good for goose and gander

To the Editor,

I was appalled, but also amused, at the comments by Supervisor Randy Hanvelt about the Cooperstown Quarry legal settlement (“Quarry deal ends lawsuit,” September 5). Other media reports indicate that Supervisor Dick Pland also used the word “extortion” in characterizing the settlement of the litigation.  

But Hanvelt clearly won the rhetorical rant n’ rave competition, by adding to his claim of “extortion” the assertions that the settlement was “tyranny,” “un-American” and “anti-Constitutional.” 

And, as a parting shot at the Riverbank City Council, he asserted that they had violated their oaths to abide by the Constitution by bringing litigation in the first place. And he then looked inward and said that his own board members were “prostitutes” for accepting the settlement agreed to by all other parties.

Hanvelt wasn’t around when Tuolumne County supervisors, including Pland, unanimously voted in 2004 to sue Calaveras County in connection with the Oak Canyon Ranch project approval on exactly the same theory that Riverbank and two non-profit organizations used in the Cooperstown Quarry litigation — that the defendants had failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act.  

And to add a bit of irony, when Tuolumne County filed that suit against its neighbor, Tuolumne County used one of the law firms that just represented Riverbank in the Cooperstown Quarry litigation.

Apparently with Supervisors Hanvelt and Pland what’s good for the goose ain’t good for the gander. Or maybe they are just disciples of Ralph Waldo Emerson who famously said, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”  

Whatever the case, it’s clear that rampant hypocrisy is alive and well on the 4th floor of 2 S. Green St.

Kristin Sullivan

Sonora

Great job TUD

To the Editor,

I’m writing in regards to Tuolumne Utilities District. They have just completed the potable water line on Sawmill Flat Road giving potable water to members of the Sawmill Flat Water Association. Potable water — it’s been a long time coming. 

We are all very grateful and excited about this project and would like to thank those for making it possible: Pete Campa, Erick Johnson, Tom Scesa, all the board members, the crew, Brian Secora, Albert Matlock, Tim Grandbois, Keith Hockett, Todd Waelty, Louie Pazz and Les Dean for a great job! Well done. 

Also the construction company did a speedy and efficient job. Thank you for going the extra mile on getting the grant and getting the job done. 

TUD does do good things for their customers! I will be forever grateful. 

Potable water is a wonderful commodity for those of you who it be thankful you do! Thanks again!

Kathie Turgeon

Sonora

The President
dresses sloppily

To the Editor,

I’d like to comment on the current resident of the White House’s poor display of how said resident should present oneself. 

Does the man not own a suit? He looks like a schlep with his collar open, no tie and his sleeves rolled up. 

For crying out loud, he looks like he is getting ready  to wax a floor or wash his car. Everything he does is so unbecoming of the office he holds. From charging $12,000 per photo op with him (for a fundraiser! Talk about prostituting yourself), to schlepping all over the United States with his shirt sleeves rolled up. 

When President George W. Bush took office he made a declaration that while in the Oval Office he would not be seen in gym clothes (i.e., President Clinton) or any other inappropriate dress. He respected and honored the most important office in the free world. 

Chris Luckie 

Sonora

Columbia School and its trustees

To the Editor,

Once again the Columbia School Board over stresses our credulity. Board President Clark Segerstrom says a lawsuit prevents the trustees from discussing the district’s notorious sexual abuse case. This is logical. But Segerstrom adds, according to the Union Democrat, that the litigation “keeps them from providing information about the policies currently in place to protect students or prevent further sexual abuse. If this is the advice of the school’s attorney, he is advising the board to violate the California Public Records Act — as well as common sense. As a matter of law, existing policies are public record and must be accessible by any and all citizens.

It makes one wonder if there are, in fact, “existing policies” to protect the community’s children.

Michael Ackley 

Sonora