• Letters to the editor for Tuesday, August 21, 2012

  • Have I wasted my vote? One of the most important agendas this election year is ousting Nan Hayworth, and to that end I voted for Sean Maloney thinking he had the chops to get that job done.
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    But to date I haven't seen or heard from Maloney, and a call to his campaign headquarters left me feeling like I've really wasted my vote. According to them, there are currently no plans for any commercials, any appearances, any door-to-door meet and greets. What is he waiting for?
    Hayworth is saturating the airwaves with brilliantly worded commercials making her sound like the answer to all our prayers — never mind that she's a raging tea party conservative and is dead set upon backing the Republican agenda and maintaining the current House status quo of stalling and doing nothing.
    Where are you, Mr. Maloney?
    Jeannie Devlin
    With regard to Barry Lewis' column that appeared in the Aug. 12 paper, titled "Enough of the Olympics already; it is a big old bore."
    The only "big old bore" I see is you. You have outdone yourself in your attempt at humor.
    Geri Schwarz
    Mongaup Valley
    The Dupuy column "Romney gets an overdue apology" turned out to rip Mitt Romney.
    I read it. Thought it might be sincere. To my displeasure, it was exactly what the media is all about — lies, distortion and innuendos.
    How about this: "Obama gets an overdue apology, my version." Let's talk about how Obama apologized for America when he was on foreign soil. How he constantly puts America down. How he doesn't give credit to people who start their own businesses. How he's taxing and regulating them to death.
    So many people have no hope for their future today. His background shows no business experience. He was a lawyer for ACORN, which turned out to be corrupt.
    He should release his college transcripts so we can see his accomplishments.
    He was a senator for a year and a half. He was absent most of the time. However, he made sure he was there to vote on partial birth abortion.
    You can talk about Romney's past all you want. At least he has one.
    Lillian Smith
    Blooming Grove
    The Times Herald-Record must be commended for running columns on the opinion pages that challenge closed-minded thinking and give us valuable insight on current issues. They even have provided us with information other opinion pages don't. The June 17 column "In politics, facts, beliefs get mixed up" is an example.
    Googling that title, it comes up in the Times Herald-Record and not elsewhere. Writer John Crisp addressed that which is at the core of our current confusion. Facts are routinely ignored by the right wing.
    The columns by Tina Dupuy are worth the subscription price. A take-no-prisoners truth-seer and teller, her writing glides from lead paragraph to crescendo ending. Amy Goodman's columns are another example. Of course, there's protest from the don't-want-to-read-what-they-don't-want-to-know mentality who invade the letters section.
    I had feared when the Record came under the Murdoch empire that things would be worse. I hope the editors continue resistance to the flak they get for publishing material that makes me a subscriber because it gives us information we need, whether some want it or not.
    Elmer Brunsman
    As a design and engineering student in the late '60s and early '70s I had the privilege to visit and study the construction of our Government Center.
    A local architect, Peter Barbone, was involved in the design and construction process of the Government Center, as well as being a professor in my architectural studies. At that time, I was fascinated with the ability to create a structure as structurally sound as Fort Knox and at the same time bring the beauty of light and design into a workplace. Over the years I have spent many hours in this building and still to this day enjoy the beauty of this magnificent structure.
    We can and will always debate the aspect of design and function, but we all have a common ground when it comes to value and cost. If those who want to tear down the structure get their way, I will guarantee the county center will give a fight during its demolition.
    I saw it being built and know for a fact our "Fort Knox" is strong and structurally sound. Give our Government Center a chance. Save our money and put politics aside.
    Glenn Swenson
    First, if you are a county legislator and you want to find out the cost to run the nursing home, the budget and all the information is there in black and white.
    If everyone is undecided on Diana's remedy for the Government Center, it is the legislative branch of government that has the power to vote or come up with its own ideas.
    To set up a committee to find out information that the legislators should already know if they are doing their job is the most ridiculous thing I have heard of. Then to subpoena people for information is even worse. Has a crime been committed?
    People who live in Orange County better wake up and look around the country and see all the cities and counties that are broke and in debt in the millions. They can't get out and are not able to borrow any more money.
    Diana has done a good job running this county and keeping us out of debt and taxes down. It was an insult to subpoena him to some kind of makeshift kangaroo court.
    Pat Foti
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