Should we abandon our rights?

To the Editor, 

There have been letters on this page and in other periodicals comparing an anti-Islam video to — in Justice Holmes’ famous dictum — “shouting fire in a crowded theater.” 

In essence, these letter writers are saying we should abandon our First Amendment rights because criticizing Islam, in a world where many Muslims are prone to violence, might lead to riot and destruction. By this logic, we never should engage in political, philosophical or religious criticism because somebody might take offense and attack us. 

Open discourse is a foundation stone of our democracy and culture. It should not be surrendered because of threat or blackmail from some benighted segment of the global population. If we surrender our rights because of external threats, we will end up surrendering them at home as well. 

Michael Ackley 

Sonora

DUI checkpoints

To the Editor,

DUI/license checkpoints are illegal. For an officer to stop a vehicle, he/she must have probable cause, meaning they must witness something to substantiate his/her suspicions that a crime has taken place, is taking place or is about to take place. 

Delaware v. Prouse 440 U.S. 648 finds that “stopping an automobile and detaining its occupants constitute a “seizure” within the meaning of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, even though the purpose of the stop is limited and the resulting detention quite brief.” 

Even with alternate routes available, most people will go through these illegal checkpoints because they do not know their rights. 

The California Highway Patrol knows this. 

That is abuse of power. Please don’t bother writing back trying to trash me. I rarely drink, and I never, ever drink and drive. 

That’s not what this is about. 

It’s about the general attitude of big government doing whatever it can get away with. The CHP is trained and capable of identifying drunk drivers just by watching them drive by. 

The pretense of “public safety” is not a justifiable or legal reason to stop everyone on the road. 

Know your rights and exercise them while you still can. 

Todd Johnson 

Sonora

The importance of truth in history

To the Editor,

There is sometimes an obvious divide between truth and fabrications, imaginations, lies and any other attempt by man to manipulate the actual course of history.

Recent accounts in the press reveal that the first president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has some grossly misguided ideas about what happened to the Jewish people during World War II. He states the Holocaust is a myth.

The eye witness accounts, pictorial records and the bottom line disappearance of 6 million Jews cannot be denied. Whatever guilt or triumph Iran’s president may imagine in his fabrications is based on incorrect information about the accounts of the second world war.

There is no room for trivializing such a horrific and tragic chapter of human history. How shameful it is to show such a lack of respect for a people group. 

Don Nessl

Sonora

Vote for Rodefer

To the Editor,

Karl Rodefer has experience, clear direction, common sense and rational judgment which are all qualities of a true leader. 

His strength of character and moral clarity further contribute to realistic goal setting with an absolute sense of purpose. His military service, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force and business background working in a private defense contracting company, along with years of community involvement are a unique combination of skills that will move Tuolumne County in a positive growth oriented direction. 

His integrity, conservative values, commitment to our community is why my wife and I are proud to support Karl Rodefer for Supervisor in District 5 and look forward to his intelligent and enlightened governance. 

Roy Lane 

Columbia

Father Kelly supporter

To the Editor,

I am a supporter of Michael Kelly, the former priest, because I believe he is innocent of abusing anyone. My family, of various ages, had much contact with him when he was assigned to St. Patrick’s Parish in Sonora. My heart is touched by anyone who has been molested. However, I believe this person is mistaken that he was molested by Father Kelly. 

Wahana Vellutini 

Sonora

New bypass
is an eyesore

To the Editor,

What is this county thinking?

The highway with its ugly, out of place pillars that Sacramento and San Jose don’t even have as big. There is not a person I’ve talked to that doesn’t think it’s a horrible mistake to build such an eyesore for our town. 

People from the Bay Area don’t even like it, or think it fits, in the mountains of Sonora. $35 million for what? So people from out of town can drive faster than they already do? 

I have lived have here for 35 years and there never been traffic backups there. Only now that they’re working on the highway there. It makes me sick every time I drive down the hill! What’s going to happen when it snows and freezes in winter? Why didn’t we, the people that pay taxes in this country get to vote on this?

$35 million and we have people who can’t feed their families, people who are losing their homes. And we need some city-fied too big of a highway. What a big mistake. 

When I retire I’m selling my home and moving to Ben Lomond, where it is still a small town, I left 40 years ago. My kids and grandkids were all born here. So I do have roots. But that eyesore is the biggest, ugliest thing I have even seen in this county. Please speak up if you’d rather see the trees that giants overpasses here. That don’t belong here in the mountains! 

Fix roads we already have!

Debra L. Grahek

Soulsbyville

Romney lacks diplomacy

To the Editor,

Clearly, Romney is a “yes man” for the war machine, corporations, and financial institutions. He lacks the diplomacy and level head that is so needed in today’s world.

Rebecca Simonitch

Tuolumne

Trickle-down effect

To the Editor,

At last, “trickle down.” Thank God for the enormous profits earned by the CEO’s of our major corporations and the oil speculators. You know, those one percenters holding 90 percent of the country’s wealth. I’m confident it will only be weeks before they commence spending those profits “spreading the wealth” — and we will see a significant turnaround in our economy, and the sufferings of the rest of us will finally be at an end. 

Of course I’ve only been waiting since 1981, but as they say, patience is a virtue. 

Allan Bell 

Twain Harte 

For what?

To the Editor,

Every day as I drive up and down the hill on Highway 108 I am amazed at what a monstrosity the Phase 2 bypass is for such a small community! 

They moved one hill to make three mountains and have planted four 70 foot high cement pillars where panoramic views and pristine tree studded hillsides once stood. This massive type of freeway overpass construction is typically seen in a large metropolitan area, not a small community like Sonora.

We could have merely widened the existing Highway 108 for a fraction of the $52 million price tag we are now committed to pay. 

The footprint this project leaves behind will be huge. Truckloads of water are being used per day in an attempt to keep the dust down. Thousands of gallons of spent diesel fuel are being disbursed into the atmosphere in order to operate the enormous bulldozers and other earth moving equipment. 

They stripped the ground of all its natural vegetation then sprayed it with an awful looking synthetic green substance that is meant to prevent erosion.

The citizens of Tuolumne County are asked to conserve water yet this project spews thousands of gallons per day to keep the dust down. 

Our law enforcement force was reduced because of budget cuts yet we waste two patrolmen to sit on the side of the road consuming expensive fuel with their engines running and lights flashing while cars are slowly being directed through the construction zones with CalTrans flagmen and temporary stop lights. 

For what? All this could have been accomplished by merely widening the existing road.

Barry Boricchio

Sonora

Vote no on Summerville bond

To the Editor,

Summerville High School District Board members are proposing a bond issue to borrow $8 million for the taxpayers to pass on the upcoming election. We, as taxpayers, are already paying a general obligation bond called Measure Q for $9.9 million which passed in 1998 for Summerville High School.  

Board members say this is an extension of the previous bond not a new tax. This is a new tax — don’t let them try to fool you. Two years ago they tried to pass Measure G which was defeated.

This is not only an insult to the taxpayers, but they hired a Consultant out of Walnut Creek, Greg Isom of Isom Advisors to run the campaign for Measure H. Isom at a recent board meeting said the company would charge taxpayers $60,000 to $75,000 for running the campaign should the measure pass — this is an added insult to taxpayers.

We are in tough economic times now in Tuolumne County, with senior citizens living on fixed incomes and others without incomes due to high unemployment. Residents are leaving Tuolumne County in droves. We can’t support increased taxes; we are drowning and need to come up for air. 

I ask each voter in Summerville High School District to vote no on Measure H! 

Jerry Morrow 

Mi-Wuk Village

Brown is out of touch with state

To the Editor,

Governor Brown is out of touch with California’s financial crisis. While he is all about generating revenue with tax initiatives, pension reform, and cuts to education and state employees, he has missed the big picture. Governor Brown is pushing forward with his plan to provide high speed rail service in Central California — something most of us Californians don’t want or view as too expensive. 

There simply is or will be no infrastructure to support the completed segment when it is built. What is this high speed rail segment going to connect with? This will leave local communities and counties to bear the additional expense. While Californians approved transportation funding through Measure 1B, the bond only provides for $9 billion of the expected (in today’s dollars) $42 billion cost of the segment. 

Federal funding is supposed to provide the remaining $33 billion, but as (and if) the project gets underway; costs will most certainly go up. 

What about his tunnel project to carry water from the Central Valley to Southern California? The Governor states that this project will only cost California $14 billion, yet projections have already shown that a realistic cost for the completed project is more accurately placed at $54.8 billion. 

We simply do not have this kind of money, nor can we realistically generate it through bond measures, taxes, or cuts to other programs. California’s education system and many other important programs have already suffered serious cuts in funding, and more of these are looming in the future — all so we can fund projects which we can’t pay for or make no sense? 

Stephen Lampl 

Twain Harte

Agenda 21

To the Editor,

Regarding, Letter to Editor from Sept. 12. 

I don’t know when or where the public information sessions were held regarding the “Distinctive Communities as the Preferred Growth Scenario” of the Tuolumne County Regional Blueprint. Clearly, the true facts were not presented. 

This program is right out of the United Nations Agenda 21 (Rio+20, The UN Conference on Sustainable Development, addresses a range of global issues that includes access to clean energy, food security, water and sustainable transportation).

The resolution approved by four county supervisors reads (in part) bold emphasis is mine. Whereas, within the Distinctive Communities Growth scenario, each community contains a well-defined, cohesive and compact community built around an appropriately-scaled urban core and community gathering places, the size of each community is based on a locally defined urban development boundary area, the existing urban development boundaries may be expanded to allow dense growth to occur near existing community nodes, infill, redevelopment and mixed-use are used to take advantage of existing public infrastructure and services, residential and commercial areas become more compact within new urban development boundaries promoting mixed-use and higher density residential development to supply housing demand.

That’s right, no single family dwellings, “high-rise residential equals population control.” Two brave men stood up for our constitutional rights, Evan Royce and Randy Hanvelt. 

Thank you gentlemen. Personally, I am not ready to concede any of my God-given American rights to the United Nations. 

Where in the U.S. Constitution does it give elected or appointed officials the responsibility for planning “sustainable” communities for the citizens? Nowhere. Our rights are being eroded by resolutions that are passed by misinformed officials. Supervisors, rescind this resolution! 

Grace M. Alvarez 

Twain Harte

Gov’t should be ashamed

To the Editor,

The Democrats in the state legislature and the governor should be ashamed of themselves for passing such mean-spirited and divisive legislation. Under the legislation, cities are exempt from the new $150 per year fire tax thereby protecting their elected representatives who voted for it from certain removal. Need I add that all those representatives are Democrats. And what do typical city homeowners pay on their property tax bill for fire services? Nothing, it all comes out of the 1 percent of assessed value. It’s the same 1 percent that rural homeowners pay on their property tax bill.

So why would democrats who present themselves as being for the poor people in our state, pass legislation that affects those very people in the poorest counties in the state? Put simply, they just don’t care. Our state capitol is jam-packed with big city fat-cats from San Francisco who could care less about our rural lifestyle. Governor Brown, Lt. Governor Newsom, and State Attorney General Kamala Harris all hail from the San Francisco Bay Area, just to name a few.

As it stands now, 826,000 rural homeowners are affected by this new tax which will generate approximately $124 million per year for the state. Since Cal Fire is already state funded what we pay will not get us anymore service than we already have. The new fire tax money will find its way to the general fund, one way or another. By the way, who is collecting this fire tax? Last I heard it was the state Board of Equalization, which should explain the money’s destination.

Additionally, keep in mind that 90 percent of the land in Tuolumne County is owned or under restricted development by the government. Why should rural homeowners be singled out to fund the CalFire services when most of the land is government owned?

Roy Bisi

Jamestown

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