Romney and Bush

To the Editor,

It’s hard to tell Mitt Romney and George Bush apart. Wealthy parents (Doesn’t it always seem that the senior does the work and the children get the free ride?)

Mitt wants you to believe how tough he has had it. 

When asked how to start up a company when banks won’t lend, his reply was “borrow from your parents.”

Not all of us have millionaire parents. Both wanted to appear tough to make up for lack of experience in foreign policy and diplomacy — George got us into a war and Mitt seems to want to do the same. 

Both supported the bailouts for banks and Wall Street and less rules for business, (which got us into trouble in the first place) but Mitt did not vote for the car bailout. 

Obama did and saved thousands of jobs, got the money back and created a better result.  (Yes, it may have been best to have no bailouts and Obama voted for the bank bailouts as well, but look at who Romney was concerned with: his buddies in Wall Street but not the workers in the auto industry. And he knows about job creation?)

Mitt said he wants to eliminate Obamacare, which is Romneycare. The only discussion should be if this is viable as a federal program versus a state program, not the program itself. The Republican Party already said that their primary goal was to defeat Obama — not help the American people!

Voted against a job bill for veterans so the Democrats won’t get credit! Who are they representing? Not the 47 percent, which includes those on Social Security, veterans, etc.

Charles F. Marangio

Jamestown

Support Brennan and Torchia

To the Editor,

Voters in Supervisorial Districts 1 and 5 have an opportunity to move the entire county government in a new direction of fiscal responsibility and toward “out in the open” government.

Sherri Brennan and Domenic Torchia will shine light into the dark corners, filled with debt,  that our county government has led us. 

I know each of these individuals to be above the rubber stamp mentality that has allowed our board to make ill-advised decisions. Some decisions have led to land purchases we cannot afford and into land sales that are best described as sweetheart deals.

Domenic and Sherri are clear thinkers and while they hold divergent points of view, they understand a supervisor’s responsibility to act according to the best interest of all the people rather than taking predetermined courses of action that benefit a very limited number of citizens.

I believe they have a vision of what government can be when supervisors are independent thinkers. I know them both to be dedicated to fiscal responsibility with demonstrated experience in standing for the values that support the good of all citizens.

Electing Sherri Brennan and Domenic Torchia will restore fiscal responsibility and transparency in our county government that we need at this time more than ever.

Mike Macon

Sonora

Measure H concerns

To the Editor,

In a recent letter to the Union Democrat, the writer makes a valid point in regards to allegedly misspent bond funds, but that there are a different administration and school board trustees and the new bond should be approved.

I have serious doubts because: A year ago, the Summerville High School administration hired an out of area business to make a phone survey, asking people how they felt about a new bond measure. Several people I know also received this phone call but no prior information was published to have anyone voice an intelligent opinion. I brought this to the attention of the school board at that time.

Recently a member of the school board asked me if I had received a mailer on the bond issue. I am still looking in the mailbox for this alleged mailing. 

Superintendent John Keiter was quoted in the Union Democrat three times that a priority list of projects would be drawn up, if and when the bond issued passed.

How can anyone make an intelligent decision to vote yes or no on measure H, if the project list is still not in a priority format and bond proceeds are spent on less important items first?

A bond oversight committee should be in place before the election, that the voters can make an intelligent decision about proper and diligent spending.

And one last thing: Everyone I have talked to tried to assure me that this is not a tax increase. This may be correct on first blush but fails to mention that we pay for the bond for a longer time and in the end pay more in the aggregate.

Peter Jelito

Tuolumne

Vote Wright
for Supervisor

To the Editor,

During the early October debate Calaveras County Board of Supervisors District 2 candidate Bryce Randall repeatedly falsely attacked Chris Wright in a futile effort to gain ground in his failing bid for supervisor. 

Bryce accused him of being part of a Socialist movement, of not attending meetings and, in a bizarre misunderstanding of water rights, of giving away Calaveras water rights because he was involved with stream restoration in Amador County.

We have been working with Chris for the past 5 years on both the CHIPS project and the campaign to Save the Mokelumne River. He has been one of key leaders in the community throughout the time he has been Executive Director of the Foothill Conservancy. 

While Bryce was living in Silicon Valley and building his dream retirement home, Chris was hard at work for the residents of District 2. 

Bryce seems to think that if you simply attend meetings that you are somehow getting things done. It is critical that our next supervisor has a broad understanding of the issues, how to work with people of diverse political views and know how to get things done. 

Chris Wright is the only candidate that had proven record to do just that.

Suzette Ariza

West Point

Support S’ville bond

To the Editor,

I appreciate Jerry Morrow’s effort to write a letter to the editor as part of the public discussion at election time. However, I feel it necessary to correct several of Mr. Morrow’s misstatements. Our Summerville High School board has never said that the Measure H bond is not a new tax. 

Our Board has made it clear that the extension of the current bond is an extension of the current tax rate, one that property owners are already paying. In fact, the extension will be at a lower tax rate than the current tax rate. Our Board purposely structured the extension this way to reduce the burden on our residents, particularly our seniors and others on fixed incomes. 

When the old bond is paid off, the tax rate to Measure H will go down to $30 per $100,000 assessment, less than what property owners are currently paying. Also, to set the record straight, the Board does not owe $70,000 to Greg Isom of Isom Advisors to run our bond campaign.

If Measure H passes, Isom Advisors will be paid a financial advisor fee when bonds are sold, just like every other district in California. I really hope voters decide based on facts, not scare tactics by an opponent who doesn’t understand the mechanism of how this all works.

I began high school at the existing Summerville High campus in 1968, graduating in 1971. My wife and our daughters also completed high school at Summerville High School and as a third generation student, our grandson just began his freshman year at Summerville High. Over the period of our own 3 generation attendees, the facilities need updating. I am not a registered voter in the district, however, I do own properties that are assessed this tax. Please vote Yes on Measure H!

Mark Kraft

Tuolumne

What about the unemployed?

To the Editor, 

Has anyone besides me noticed this general election omits any discussion of the 23 million presumed unemployed? 

The ones that need help: the working poor, disadvantaged, homeless or otherwise poverty stricken. If all mankind is indeed created equal, tell me Mr. President, if you embody the realization of that dream — why all this talk about taxing the middle class and upper income brackets when the battle is over ‘entitlements’ claimed by the destitute. 

Not over a college education, or Medical prescriptions — but survival itself.

With possibly over as many as 43 million Americans now dependent on food stamps, and your opponent claiming this to be considered a failure of the last four year term.

Let’s talk about such discrimination. Not of race or color, or religious affiliation, but over the failure of our economy to keep pace with the population — something no administration has ever had control over. 

Instead of discussion about affordable health care or a college education, what about high school dropouts, or the fact we have lost the “war on drugs,” and the next generation is going to pay for it — in the barrios, the ghettos, the rural farms, and amongst the illegal immigrants where crime is often the alternative to prolonged unemployment or deportation.

Fox News channel after last week’s debate, said “Everyone has a goal” in response to Presidents Obama’s remark equating criminality with mental illness: “We can’t help everyone that is mentally disturbed.” 

And why can’t you?

A large part of the jobs lost in the mega-recession were high paying jobs, requiring high skill preparation. 

But are those numbered amongst the 23 million disadvantaged still seeking work?

Tim K. Fitzgerald

Sonora

Vote for Measure H

To the Editor,

Summerville High School has done a terrific job weathering the recent and prolonged financial crisis that has hit our schools.  

As funding from Sacramento diminishes, teachers work tirelessly to continue to provide our students with a top rate education.  

Our superintendent and board of trustees continue to be fiscally responsible, while recognizing that “maximizing student achievement” is the primary goal.

Measure H funds will be used to renovate and upgrade our current facilities, modernize our classrooms, make our campus safer and more accessible, and introduce a 21st Century learning environment to our students.

Tuolumne County folks have been supportive of our students and our schools in previous generations. Please continue your support by voting “yes” on Measure H.

Cheri Farrell

Board President

Summerville Union High School District

Support Measure J

To the Editor,

The character of a community, I believe, is reflected in how it educates its young people.

In the late 1930s, Sonora High School trustees made excellence in the classroom a priority, paying more than $100,000 to construct the Centennial Building and auditorium. The school board and community renewed their commitment to education in the late 1960s, when proceeds from a voter-approved tax override built the campus library, cafeteria, and Humanities building.

Trustees of those eras should be commended. The classroom buildings they approved have served tens of thousands of students. They were sound investments that have paid handsome dividends over multiple generations. But time has taken its inevitable toll and these venerable landmarks need help.

It is now our turn to step forward and vote yes on Measure J, a $23 million bond issue aimed at renovating and modernizing Sonora High School’s campus and classrooms. If passed, J’s proceeds will assure that our 21st Century students will have every advantage, ranging from state-of-the-art computers and technological access to energy-efficient heating, cooling and plumbing systems that will last for decades.

Sonora High trustees have a long record of fiscal responsibility. Measure J is the first bond issue they have ever put before district voters, and it deserves our support. Monthly costs for the average homeowner are estimated at about $4 — less than a Big Mac with fries, a movie ticket, or one of those fancy gourmet coffees.

Please join me in voting yes on Measure J, thus assuring that decades hence Sonora High School parents, students and graduates will look back on what we did on Nov. 6, and agree that our priorities were in line and that we had our community’s best interests in mind.

Chris Bateman

Columbia

Ballot propositions

To the Editor,

The proponents of Propositions 32 and 30 predict dire results if their proposition is defeated. 

Personally, I am tired of hearing about how schools will suffer with overcrowded classrooms, fewer or no extra-curricular activities and a general decline in educational standards. 

We have heard it all before and we voted for higher taxes and bond measures — ad nauseum — with no change in the status quo! 

Yet, the increased revenue was collected and went ... where? 

Remember the cigarette tax that was supposed to benefit Head Start? 

The record shows little difference in children entering Kindergarten from a Head Start program to those coming in from home without any pre-school experience. 

Meanwhile, the tax revenue is still collected. 

Schools are in need of basic supplies — I know my grandchildren’s parents supply such things as anti-bacterial wipes, tissues (Kleenex), pencils, paper, etc. 

Schools cannot afford to purge well-worn textbooks because there are no funds to replace them. 

What is most upsetting, is the constant threat to cut out enrichment programs, such as music, drama, visual arts and even sports. 

We have excellent, dedicated teachers in Tuolumne County who are bound by so many politically correct restrictions that I marvel at their steadfastness to teach in today’s environment. 

Californians are taxed enough! 

Neither Proposition 32 nor 30 will produce the utopian fantasy the ads proclaim, nor will schools suffer any more than they already do. 

I say, re-evaluate where the money is going from the lottery, cigarette tax and other funds supposedly dedicated to education. 

Millions of dollars expended on something — and from the hue and cry, it is not the schools for which they were intended.

Grace M. Alvarez

Twain Harte

Empiricists

To the Editor,

Re: Letters to the Editor for Oct. 15, in “Tipping Point,” Ray Anderson says, “Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are empiricists.” 

Hilarious is closer to the truth. 

Anderson’s letter made sense all the way until he finally came clean and made his absurd claim. He then went on to cite all of the old, tired Tea Party dogma as though they were facts. 

It is this kind of thinking that got us into this fix, eight years of “asleep at the wheel” Bush results in a choice of a man who is trying to restore some sanity, all while facing opposition that pledges their support to a political operative instead of the American people. 

If you want to vote for reality, you cannot vote for Romney.

William Bergmann 

Murphys

First Amendment and Libya

To the Editor,

I appreciate Myrna Doering’s exercise of her First Amendment rights in her response to my earlier letter regarding the First Amendment. However, she concludes with an error, asserting that an offensive film was “responsible for the deaths of our embassy officials” in Libya. 

The Obama administration knew this was untrue the day after the Sept. 11 anniversary terrorist attack. Still, and for days, administration officials continued their “offensive video” prevarication. If any persons — other than the terrorists — are responsible for the deaths in Benghazi, they are the administration officials who denied repeated requests for more protection for embassy personnel in Libya. 

As for the above-mentioned film, I repeat: If you surrender your right to comment because somebody offended might commit murder, you will end up surrendering your rights entirely. We cannot submit to blackmail perpetrated by savages, either at home or overseas. 

Michael Ackley 

Sonora

Vote Rodefer for Columbia El board

To the Editor,

After attending the Candidates Night in Columbia, I think Jo Rodefer is definitely the best candidate for the Columbia School Board position.  

She’s a clear thinker and speaker and will tell it like it is. Also, I think it’s important to have someone on the board that doesn’t have a child in the school and will be able to be objective without worrying about how her actions will affect her child.  

Jo is appalled at how the John Pendley case was handled and isn’t afraid to say so. 

The other two candidates wouldn’t take a stand on how the board handled the case which indicates to me that they wouldn’t be able to stand up to the other members if need be.   Their answers were that they didn’t have all the facts due to this being a confidential personnel matter with an impending lawsuit.  

The known facts are that when the very serious inappropriate actions by Pendley’s son came to light, the young man was transferred to another school.  

Pendley’s son was convicted of illegal sex with a minor student under his supervision. When it came time for sentencing, Pendley asked the victim’s counselor (who is his employee) to write a character reference for her predator, she did so.  

The counselor suggested that the victim (her counselee) was not a victim but a willing participant in the unlawful sexual intercourse with the  perpetrator who was 10 years her senior and in a position of authority.  

Pendley’s “doctorate” comes from a diploma mill which indicates, again, poor judgment at least, if not fraud.  

These are the indisputable facts.  

I can’t imagine what “confidential personnel issues” could mitigate these facts.  

Please vote for Jo Rodefer for Columbia School Board.

Kathy Andreini

Columbia

Consolidate county school districts

To the Editor,

Now that school has started, we are seeing bond issues starting to pop up for schools in Tuolumne County. Instead of asking for money for bonds and further burdening the taxpayer, now would be the time to consider collaborating and combining our precious resources. We have 31 schools in Tuolumne County with around 6,500 students being served. Many of our school districts don’t even have four hundred students enrolled.

We have seven superintendents in eight districts, including Joe Silva, Superintendent of Tuolumne County Office of Education, which cost the taxpayers $1,410,560 for the 2011-2012 school year. This figure does not include the salary of the Deputy Superintendent at the Tuolumne County Office of Education. It also does not include the salary of Jim Frost, a retired superintendent from another school district, who is in charge of Special Education at the County Office of Education. 

We don’t need all these superintendents and districts … One is enough! We do not need to be spending over a million and a half dollars on administration. 

Most regions in California that serve 6,500 students have one superintendent, an assistant superintendent, a personnel director, a business department, a transportation department and a maintenance department.

I believe the time has come to consider putting on the ballot a measure to combine all the school districts in Tuolumne County into one district and centralize services.

Think of the money we could save. Maybe we can save enough to get art and music back into schools.

Lillian Cravens

Groveland

College remodel
is wasteful

To the Editor,

The Columbia College Manzanita building is slated for remodeling to create “a centralized location for students to receive academic support.”  

Isn’t it currently functioning as just that? How will remodeling administrative offices at Columbia College benefit the students? Or the community? Why no public discussion?  

Is this a proposal or a multi-million dollar done deal? 

Are college building/maintenance staff being utilized for the remodel? If the college is determined to spend every last cent of taxpayer bond money, why not build a theater/concert hall? The tiny (Dogwood) Forum lecture hall is a pretty pathetic stage for the world class musicians who come to play with the jazz band.  

Remodeling recently remodeled offices will not enhance the student learning experience, and with a shaky accreditation status, the college needs to prioritize spending on a plan that will.

Mary Tune

Twain Harte

Pedestrians have right of way

To the Editor,

It was with amazement that I read the letter to the editor from Maiya Morrison (Safe Street Crossing, Oct. 8). 

She states that pedestrians have an equal responsibility to be aware and alert to vehicles and use caution when entering a crosswalk.

Caution and common sense says pedestrians should always be alert to their surroundings and make sure that they have made eye contact with the drivers coming up to a crosswalk before they venture out in front of an automobile. 

However, the driver of the automobile bears all of the responsibility when it comes to avoiding a collision between 100 or so pounds of flesh and 3,000 pounds of metal. It’s the law. 

My concern is more with drivers who do not have the driving skills or the vision to react to these situations, not with pedestrians who might be texting or talking to their friends as they enter a crosswalk. The driver has no risk of injury. 

I was involved in a crosswalk incident last February. My business partner and I had crossed almost all the way across in front of a car that was stopped at a crosswalk. The driver suddenly started off and launched my business partner into the air. 

I pounded on the hood of the car as I danced backward. I ended up on my back 15 feet into the middle of the intersection, with only a few scrapes. My business partner, however, fractured three ribs and is just now recovering. 

I don’t really see how pedestrians share responsibility. 

Dave Bonnot 

Tuolumne 

TUD election
is important

To the Editor,

This Tuolumne Utilities District board election is important to ratepayers.

The Candidate’s Night held on September 27 was an interesting event. 

I wish there was a larger audience for the TUD candidates. The bottom line is that we ratepayers need to pay attention to this TUD Board Election. These are the people who will decide how much you pay for your water and sewer services.

It was very clear that the incumbents Behee, Dahlin and Ringen have similar talking points. They could not talk about TUD’s financial troubles. They offered no solutions to fix the finances and make TUD solvent. Instead they spoke about “plans for the future.” None of them said what their “grand plans” are. Not one word was uttered on cost and where the money is coming from to pay for these “plans.”

They even hinted that more rate increases would not be ruled out as the rates are not high enough to qualify for state grants and loans!

The six challengers could not be more opposite in their thinking and presentations. Their overwhelming concern is that TUD is in serious financial peril. TUD needs to cut costs and prioritize the required fixes and repairs to the sewer and water delivery systems. This seems like a common sense approach. Fix what we have instead of making grandiose plans to build a 50 million dollar treatment plant that we cannot afford. Never mind we are in a County where the population is declining. If you can’t get the water or waste to your treatment plants because your pipes are worn out and broken than what good is a new plant?

We need a TUD board that understands financial management and will work for the ratepayers!

Please, vote “No” on TUD incumbents Behee, Dahlin and Ringen on Nov. 6!

MP McHugh

Twain Harte

Who is Obama?

To the Editor,

Who is Barack Obama? Voters must look at what we know about our president. If one-third of what he says is true, we can’t ignore where he wants to take our country. Obama sees a future not based upon our founding fathers’ doctrine, but instead on the teachings of those who malign the Constitution and vehemently oppose its intentions.

Why did the American people put an inexperienced and ill-prepared man into the nation’s highest governing office?  We must admit it was not based on the dream of Martin Luther King, “that someday we would all be judged not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character.”

I won’t vote for Obama, but not because he has darker pigment than I do. I’ll vote on character, his words and his actions. I don’t want a president who doesn’t see our nation as the land of opportunity and equal justice under the law. One that believes in order to rectify the world’s wrongs, the United States must apologize for wealth, and social and economic standards and policies that not only gave Obama his education, but also protects his right to be as radical as he wants to be.

Based on his philosophies, Obama doesn’t belong to our political parties … and he doesn’t belong in the White House. The path Obama has chosen is not to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” 

His path leads to government sanctioned poverty, where incentive is replaced by duty, and equality is defined by taking from the “haves” and reducing independence to dependence.

Melinda Fleming

Sonora

Thanks for
the support

To the Editor,

We at Calaveras County Senior Center are sending out a big “Thank You” to all who helped, supported and donated to our Jazz & Brats Fundraising Dinner. It was a great success. Thanks to you all!

A special “Thank You” goes out to The Midnight Rose Jazz Band for their most generous donation of time and talent.

Thank you very much!

Brandi J.Poole

Calaveras Senior Center Director

Congratulations Golden Lakes

To the Editor,

Hats off to Golden Lakes Charter School for securing a new five-year charter agreement with Stanislaus County.
Executive Director Mari Brabbin and her staff have shown an incredible commitment to the educational needs of students in the Don Pedro area. 

Throughout the meltdown of the Big Oak Flat-Groveland school board, in spite of the lack of support from the Big Oak Flat-Groveland School District administrators and school board, and in the apparent absence of any support from the Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools Office, the small staff at Golden Lakes under Ms. Brabbin’s leadership prevailed in securing a short term charter from the Tuolumne County Board of Education and successfully kept a school campus operating in the Don Pedro area. 

Now, through the continued efforts of Golden Lakes, the school is making the escape from a generally unsupportive Tuolumne County Superintendent to a school district in Stanislaus County that appears to be much more interested in making grade school education available to the families of the Don Pedro area. 

Those of you Tuolumne County Schools administrators who supported Golden Lakes efforts should be proud of your accomplishments. Those of you who stood in the way, and you know who you are, should be ashamed of yourselves for abandoning the Don Pedro area residents. 

Fortunately, there are a few super men and women around here who are more passionate about providing an education to young people than they are about the bottom line.

Andy Aldrich 

Sonora

Thanks for the help

To the Editor,

The third annual Sierra Green Days at Ironstone was a high quality event! Thank you to all who participated as Green Exhibitors, local vendors, attendees, presenters in a conference level education program and in the special celebrations — Drum Circle and World Spirit Celebration. This range of education and experience is what makes this event unique and so relevant to local self-reliance and local business.

We have already heard many success stories: two families signed up to be foster parents, three puppies found homes, many vendors reported valuable business connections and referrals, and food vendors found new catering opportunities. 

A sense of community filled the air and spirits were extremely positive, despite the unusual heat. The delicious dinner got rave reviews and guest speaker, Pamm Larry, initiator of Prop 37 on ‘GMO Labeling: The Right to Know,’ inspired the room with her story of one person deciding to make a difference. 

SGD awards for economy, energy and ecology were presented by County Supervisor Steve Wilensky to Timothy and Emily Dondero, of Sierra Business Council, Tom Danielson, of Danielson Construction and Energy Management and George Wendt, of OARS with wonderfully entertaining background stories.

Thank you to our supportive sponsors: CHI (Community Health Inspiration) Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital, MTSJ Healthcare District, Sierra Business Council, PG&E, Hardy Custom Builders, and in-kind sponsors Sierra Hills Natural Foods, House on Main and Ironstone Vineyards. You made it happen!

 Johanna Atman 

Coordinator,
Sierra Green Days 2012

Vote for new blood on the TUD board

To the Editor,

After serving on the Tuolumne Utilities District board for 11 years (I resigned in protest this year), one thing has become clear to me: It is much easier for board members to raise water and sewer rates in order to correct budget shortfalls than it is to make painful cuts in staffing, salaries and benefits. 

Since wages and benefits make up the lion’s share of overhead at TUD and have ballooned to unsustainable levels, they must be reduced if we are to avoid continued punishing rate hikes in these essential services.

How much have wages and benefits at TUD ballooned? The average TUD employee costs the ratepayers $131,000 per year in wages and benefits. 

Obviously there is room for bringing this figure down. 

While city, county, and state employees have endured painful cuts during the recession, TUD incumbents have not supported any pay, benefit, or staffing reductions for existing TUD employees. 

The sum total of the sacrifice asked of TUD employees throughout the great recession amounts to not taking a cost-of-living raise for one year.

I am writing this to urge you to vote for new blood at TUD. The three incumbents Behee, Ringen and Dahlen running for reelection do not deserve your vote. 

We need strong, passionate voices on the TUD board to speak out on behalf of the ratepayers. People who will insist that significant belt-tightening occur at TUD before any further increases in water and sewer rates.

I am urging you to cast your votes for Mike Sarno, Dave Evans, Kent Johnson and John Maciel, who I believe are the clearest and strongest voices for the ratepayer.

Ralph Retherford

Sonora

Personal responsibility

To the Editor,

Letters urging the re-election of Obama seem to run the same theme; blame Bush and ignore the past four years. Many complained when the 2006 deficit was $280 billion and the national debt hit $5 trillion, which resulted in the Democrats gaining control of the U.S. Senate and House in November 2006.  

I have found that most people I have encountered live their lives with beliefs formed by their suppositions without any real research or study.  

But I can only handle just so much rhetorical speech.  

Pull up the internet and the charts show that from 2000 through 2006 the deficits and the national debt were climbing, but at a 45 degree angle; but since the beginning of 2007 the rate of increase goes almost straight up and in the past four years does go straight up, much like a NASA rocket. 

We have had trillion dollar plus deficits yearly the past four years and the debt is over $16 trillion!  

With our credit rating downgraded for the first time in our history we can no longer borrow; we shouldn’t print anymore money; so all we can do is to cut the federal budget below the income every year until solvency.  

Since the military is being cut, that only leaves cuts to “entitlement” programs. The Tea Party will sweep the Senate as it did the House in 2010, and will do what is obvious.

Will we look like Europe with riots in the streets? 

The resulting resentment will blame “Republicans” and not the bankers as happened in 1932 (sound familiar?), which triggered eighty years of exponential growth of feeding at the public trough.

Barry F. Wilson

Jamestown

Support Measure H

To the Editor,

There has been too much focus in the press on who is not supporting Summerville High School’s Measure H bond extension.  

Let’s consider who is supporting Measure H for the students and future students in our school district.

The Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce — Approval from this broad-based, business-oriented committee does not come easily.  

Yet, the Chamber voted to support Measure H last Wednesday.  

The chamber saw the tax-payer safeguards and reduced tax rate as pluses, as well as continued improvements to the facility we provide our students.

The Summerville High School Foundation: This is also a broad-based group of youth-focused individuals whose mission is “to enrich the lives of students in the Summerville High School District.”  

The Foundation sees Measure H as absolutely compatible with their mission.

The Union Democrat: The Democrat editorialized that Measure H will continue to provide much needed improvements to Summerville High School, a campus pushing fifty years old.  As an ever-vigilant watchdog of the community’s interests, The Democrat sees Measure H as a real positive for the communities served by Summerville Union High School District.  The decrease in the tax rate is noted as a beneficial feature of Measure H.

I urge all the voters in Summerville High School District to show their support for our future students and vote “Yes” for Measure H!

Go Bears!

John H. Keiter 

Superintendent

Summerville UHSD

Bankrupt? Rebuttal

To the Editor,

Taken from your illustrious reader, President Reagan, “there they go again.” Really, Mr. Anderson come on. 

I’ll take the easy one first. Divisiveness. Just what do you think President Obama is to do with a dysfunctional Republican House run by a bunch of do nothing Tea Partiers? 

Just what have they accomplished but pass anti-women legislation and repeal after repeal of the Affordable Care Act? How much do you think they waste with this foolishness? 

Let’s see, Republican governors around the country passing anti-voting laws, anti-women laws, anti-union laws, bashing public education teachers. 

You and your right wing activists are the problem, not President Obama and this includes five Republican activists on the Supreme Court!

Spending: here are some facts for the readers. Spending increases under the last presidents:

Reagan 82 to 85 + 8.7 percent

Reagan 86 to 89 + 4.9 percent

Bush 1 90 to 93 + 5.4 percent

Clinton 94 to 97 + 3.2 percent

Clinton 98 to 01 + 3.9 percent

Bush 2 02 to 05 + 7.3 percent

Bush 2 06 to 09 + 8.1 percent

Obama 10 to 13 + 1.4 percent, which includes Bush’s stimulus which went under Obama’s first year which was Bush’s budget. Overall Obama spending only rose 0.4 percent. 

Get the facts straight, which seems you Republican fascists can’t seen to do!

Sources: Office of Management and Budget, CBO, Congressional Budget Office.

Jim Hassay

Groveland

Bogus statistics

To the Editor,

I can show that in April 2008 unemployment was 4.9 percent, then in then in Feb. 2012 it was 8.2 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics.   

If you pick and chose the year and month, you can show almost anything you want.  

The fact is Obama promised to cut the unemployment rate but it has barely moved in almost four years.  

He promised to cut the deficit in half, but has increased it.  

He promised to cut the national debt, but has increased it.  

Are we better off now?  

Only if you like it that your average net worth has decreased by 40 percent, gas prices have more than doubled, we have increased our military action in the Middle East and our soldiers are still getting killed and maimed.  

Next time you fill your gas tank, and pay $70 or $80, think, why did he kill the Keystone pipeline, why did he send money to Brazil for offshore oil drilling, but won’t let us drill here, off-shore or Alaska?   

My main source of worth, my house, is below what I paid for it 10 years ago, groceries, and everything else has gone up in price. 

He is withdrawing $716 billion from Medicare, which is already broke.

No I am not better off than four years ago, in fact things are much worse.  

Green is wonderful, but it can’t take place overnight.  

The conversion will take time, but in the meantime don’t destroy our way of life.  When things are going poorly, why would anyone want to do the same thing over and over?  

Why not try something different? Things are broken and he does not know how to fix them.

James Schlotthauer 

Sonora

Bypass is a mistake

To the Editor,

Where am I? That is what I say to myself while traveling north on Highway 120, leaving the town of Sonora behind. 

I am returning to my beloved home and city of 20 years, after a weekly work stay in the Bay Area of four days. Unfortunately, what I see makes me sick to my stomach and very angry! 

Gone is the beautiful countryside, the trees, the view and the quiet! 

In their place stands massive pillars, barren land, huge machines working, or waiting to do their destruction of centuries of natures work. 

Why, I ask? What is the reasoning behind this? 

Reduce traffic jams! Give me a break! 

Believe me, only those who have been out of Sonora, into the big cities, know that traffic jams exist there, not in Sonora or anywhere in Tuolumne County! All this money being spent, for no reason! 

Not needed, and not wanted! 

As previously stated in a prior editorial letter, why were the citizens of Tuolumne County and Sonora, not asked to vote on this action? I know for a fact that it would never have been approved. Too bad citizens don’t have the choice to terminate those involved in this catastrophe. 

What has been done can never be rectified and our beautiful Sonora and surrounding area has been damaged permanently and can never be restored to what was! Shame on everyone involved in this debacle. This has damaged Sonora in so many ways. 

The money being spent could have been used to save Sonora instead of destroying it!

Cathy Hasserd

Sonora

We must live with bypass project

To the Editor,

There have been several letters sent concerning the bypass. Yes, I agree with most of them and there is a traffic mess that ties up traffic for some time, but it is now done and there is nothing more we can do but learn to live with it. 

What I’m really hoping is whoever designed this plan is going to allow a on and off ramp at Peaceful Valley Road so we and visitors traveling through can get off the bypass and have access to the business’ that are there and can benefit.    

It was stated in the Union Democrat just before the bypass was started that there was more money than was expected left over since when the money was budgeted. The money was budgeted during the time when everything was more expensive and now it wasn’t going to cost the full amount that had been planned. 

I’m hoping and I’m sure a lot of others would agree, that the people that planned this bypass will actually use their brains and use the money on the off and on ramps at Peaceful Valley Road so everyone can benefit. 

Let’s not blow the one chance that can help our county and business’.  

Elaine Truman

Twain Harte

Vote for Karl Rodefer

To the Editor,

Karl Rodefer is running for county supervisor. We have known Karl for several years and voted for Karl in the primary election because we knew he was the most hardworking, honest, and ethical person on the ballot. Prior to that election, we listened to all of the candidates with an open mind. After doing so, we found that Karl best represented what we had wanted for Tuolumne County. We believed that he could bring a better business environment to the county as well as bring planned growth to the community. 

We also believed that he was the best prepared for this position out of the list of candidates that were running for this position, and had worked extremely hard to educate himself on the issues in the county prior to running for office. 

During the earlier campaign, he continued to listen to the community and continued to know the issues. We also believed that he was the most willing to listen and work with other community leaders. 

We were very disappointed when he lost by so few votes. 

We have since moved from the area, but we still have family who live and work there, and we were involved with the business community in Sonora prior to our move. We continue to lend our support to Karl’s efforts. 

We strongly urge the residents of Tuolumne County to vote for Karl in this election. 

Dave Iserman Sr. 

Former Columbia resident

Georgetown, Texas

Support Measure H

To the Editor,

In regard to Measure “H,” I have yet to hear a credible argument against passing the extension of the bond for Summerville High School.

Some assert that taxpayers are over burdened, and the timing just isn’t right to extend this bond. My question is: when will the timing be right? Education and schools have taken a backseat in funding by the State of California for years. Public Education has been consistently held hostage by governors and the legislature since the 1970s, as each year the budget is finally passed with new, more complicated formulas for funding education. There are no winners in this game.

The most vocal, yet most illogical argument against the bond extension is posed by those who were disappointed by the way the original bond monies were spent.  

“Taxpayers didn’t get what they paid for; they’re afraid the same thing will happen, again.”  

The truth is we are 14 years down the road with different administrators, school board members, an experienced architect, and a citizens’ oversight committee to make sure the bond extension monies are spent prudently. 

Are we determined to punish today’s students for what happened in the past? 

One of the ways to improve on the past, is to become involved, learn from the facts and move forward for a positive outcome.

Test scores at Summerville indicate that students are succeeding with help from involved parents, a dedicated staff of administrators, and hard-working teachers, all with a common goal: prepare students for life in our fast-paced society. They deserve the best we can offer in the way of technology and modern facilities.

Please join Summerville High School Foundation and vote “yes” on Measure “H.” 

It is the right time … it’s about time.

Jan Hiebert, director

Summerville High School Foundation 

Intersection by Sonora High

To the Editor,

I don’t know what it takes for the Sonora City Council or the local Caltrans to get off their butts and do something about this intersection. Over the years there have been quite a few accidents and deaths there. 

Let’s have this stop.

There is plenty of space there for a roundabout. Do something!

On Sept. 25, a kid was hurt badly, and is in critical condition now. My heart goes out to his family and friends, and let this be the last time.

Take this example and fix the problem. 

Dwan Seicheine

Sonora

Tipping point

To the Editor,

Have you noticed that most so called news stories begin with a specific presupposition (or spin) that the writer wants to convey, which is followed by cherry-picking information to support that premise?

This is consistent with the way that artists and writers see the world, not the way that empiricists like scientists and engineers see it. The world view of the former is “how it should be” and they advance their vision for that, while taking the moral high ground to assure us that their motives are pure. Then they systematically go about abridging private property rights, suppressing free speech and, in the most extreme circumstances murder fellow citizens whom they can’t coerce to see things their way.

Empiricists, on the other hand, seek first to understand how the world works, independent of their desires for it. They then devise policies and systems to channel outcomes, to the extent possible, in a desirable direction. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are empiricists.

Unfortunately, a large portion of voters are susceptible to the manipulation of propagandists, e.g. taxes are good, and each person is “owed” a middle class life.

Obama is a determined collectivist, looks down on the masses, sees no individual as exceptional, exemplary or worthy of distinction in his delusional world of all-the-same equality, sloth and deceit as he tears us all down into mediocrity, a life by government ration and collective misery. He’s a turtle on a fence post. You know he didn’t get up there by himself, he doesn’t belong up there, he doesn’t know what to do while he is up there, and you just wonder what kind of a dumb fool put him up there.

A vote for collectivism is still a vote that kills the goose.

November is the tipping point. Vote carefully.

Ray Anderson

Sonora

Septic inspections

To the Editor,

When I applied for a building permit I was forced to sign a contract for annual septic inspections in order to get a permit. The fee is currently $170. Now they want inspections twice a year. Once a year is unnecessary, twice is ridiculous.

My system is engineered and has an alarm that goes off when there is a problem, so why do we need these inspections? I have spent almost $800 on those inspections and have nothing to show for it. It will cost me thousands more before I have a problem. Evidently these inspections are given to special contractors. I called other contractors and some didn’t even know about them. Some asked why they were even being done. 

Mark Powell

Groveland

Phoenix Lake Road sign is offensive

To the Editor,

An open letter to Mr. Story of Phoenix Lake Road:

Like many other county residents who commute daily along Phoenix Lake Road, I was deeply offended by the racist effigy of the President you erected and was relieved when you removed it.  So you can imagine how saddened I was when I saw it returned in an even more offensive display. 

Your latest incarnation features the effigy painted half white and half black holding a sign reading “America’s Mistake.” 

The only implication to be drawn from such a display is that “America’s Mistake” is miscegenation, the mixing of white and other races. It would seem you resent the actions of the President’s mother more than those of the man himself.  Perhaps the President would offend you less if he were simply black, and not someone of mixed race.

Mr. Story, do not bother to send a letter to the paper complaining that people like me are somehow misunderstanding your sentiments. Your objections will not convince me, or others who feel as I do, otherwise. We consider you racially prejudiced, and there is little you can do to change that.  The only thing you might do at this point is to remove the effigy, to prevent more of your neighbors from “misinterpreting” your protest.  

Mr. Story, you have made your point.  The continued display of the effigy is not going to convince me, or anyone else of the opposite camp, of your view.  We who have to drive by it each day are getting a little tired of looking at it.  Please remove it. 

Kurt L. Quigley

Sonora

Measure H

To the Editor,

Being retired, I am well aware of what extra taxes do to a household budget. During the 13 years I have served on school boards, I have watched state budgets for schools shrink. 

In the last 5 years the State has cut over $22 billion to our schools, so I know we can’t count on them to improve our schools and infrastructure. The community must step up and support the District in making necessary changes. Better classrooms, new technology, and safety are some of the immediate priorities. 

Measure H will not raise the tax base, but it will extend the length of the tax we are already paying. The current board has been fiscally conservative with the budget, while protecting the quality of the campus and programs. 

We have been saving for the possibility of Propositions 30 and or 38 failing, but we need you to support us for the future.

Growing up we had great schools, great teachers, and the choice of any program, because state funded schools were fifth in the nation. Now we are funded 47th out of 50. Each generation should support the next generation to give them the best chance to succeed. Please join myself and current trustees and administrators in support of Measure H.

Dennis Spisak

Twain Harte