Letters to the editor, Jan. 19, 2013

Last Modified: Friday, January 18, 2013 at 8:41 p.m.

Cut the spending

It was less than a month after the Sandy Hook children were laid to rest when the president in a press conference said that "we do not want to hold a gun to the heads of the American people over raising the debt ceiling." What a shameful, disrespectful thing for anyone to say, especially the president of the United States.

The president then went on to threaten veterans and seniors with delayed benefit payments if Congress did not agree to raise the debt limit without getting offsetting spending cuts. How low can you get when you threaten benefit payments to the very people who put their lives on the line to defend this country or the very people who worked their entire lives to build this country? I didn't hear this Chicago-style politician threaten to delay his paycheck or the paychecks of the dysfunctional members of Congress. He threatens benefit delays, while we continue to send billions to foreign countries. We need to keep these tax dollars at home in the USA.

This country has a severe debt problem, and unless it is this president's intention to bankrupt the nation, he needs to do whatever is necessary to curtail spending.

Please contact your senators and representatives and demand that any debt ceiling increases be offset with spending cuts on a one-to-one basis.

Lynne R. Birdsall

Rainbow Springs

Politicizing kids

I just finished reading an article telling of the children who wrote letters to and met with the president. In response to that I would say, oh yes, I just can't count the number of times my 8- and 10-year-old came in and said, "Mom, I need to write a letter to the president."

Now, I am NOT attacking children here. But you parents need to get real and not use your children as pawns in a political game. We all know that the only opinion of any 8- or 10-year-old, on any given subject, is merely a reflection of what they have heard their parents espouse.

I am 62 years old and was raised in a rural/military friendly environment, and as such, am very comfortable with guns. This does not make me dangerous nor does it make me a hater. I must say, I don't know if I could shoot another human being in my defense, but I can assure you I would kill a person without a second thought in defense of one of my children or grandchildren.

I am very grateful to the Founding Fathers for securing my right to bear arms so that I could defend my family, if necessary. And as ridiculous as it sounds to me to make the statement, I must say that the only way this, or any other government, will ever take my guns is when they pry them from my cold, dead hands. I am positive I am not alone in this belief.

Now is the time for citizens to make contact with their respective representatives and make your feelings AND your voters' rights known to them.

Linda Tillis



I found Bob Berning's article "What cliff? It's all blue sky" (Jan. 6) to be interesting and totally depressing. It was interesting because it was so true in its depiction of our elected politicians. It was totally depressing because it was so true in its depiction of our elected politicians — what don‘t they understand about our existing fiscal fiasco?

They recently passed legislation on the "fiscal cliff" and are working on relief for Sandy. Did anyone notice that both are filled with earmarks (pork) that have nothing to do with primary subjects? And they are doing this with a straight face while telling us they are about our best interest. How do you reduce our ridiculous national debt when you just continue to spend?

President Barack Obama is claiming a mandate because he won the election. I don't think so, since he won by less than 1 percent. We are looking at the fifth year running with a $1 trillion deficit and he still wants to spend more and not address Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare and military spending.

His latest statement that he would not allow Congress to hold the nation hostage when it comes to the debt ceiling is comical since his idea is to continue to increase the cost to not only the middle class but to all Americans. Does he not think that the middle class has any investments or savings? This is on top of the tax increases for the wealthy that were supposed to be accompanied with appropriate cost reductions. These, of course, were put off until sometime later. He and Congress are experts at kicking that can on down the road!

In closing, why is it always the Republicans' fault, and yet the Democrats will not address any sort of cost cutting and only talk about more taxes?

Gene Addington


Appreciates OSB

I am proud to live in a community that has a newspaper like the Star-Banner. You continue to provide us with great coverage of local and national issues. Your editorial page is a prime example of providing coverage on all sides of the issues at hand. You conscientiously allow all parties to speak their truth in the letters section. The journalists you send to cover events and stories are friendly, unobtrusive and accurate.

In other words, you are doing a proper job of providing this community with information on all aspects of current issues, in print and online, and doing it well.

I am an environmental activist, and I particularly appreciate the reporting and great coverage of the issues in that area.

Barbara Brandon Schwartz



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