More letters to the editor for Monday, Jan. 21, 2013

Glad hunting's on decline

Seems as if we finally got a piece of good news as reported in your newspaper back in November: Less hunting happening in these parts. Well, hallelujah!

Personally I'm against hunting down beautiful animals who, it seems to me, deserve to live their lives as nature intended — in the wild, undisturbed by predators in camouflage. I'm especially against killing animals "for fun." I don't get the "fun" part.

(Well, I get the "fun" of shooting at a moving target; I don't get the "fun" of destroying innocent life for amusement. Think of Bambi, left without his mother. I didn't get a lot of "fun" from that when I finally saw it — at age 42.)

Seems to me folks who can zap terrorists with remote-control drones ought to be able to figure how to get birth control to those pesky (but pretty and peace-loving) deer that suffer enough just trying to survive in our brutal climate.

Not to mention humans accidentally shot in the foot — or worse — by hunters wielding deadly weapons.

I thank God for the diminishing appetite to go hunting and kill for fun.

Joan Rosenfelt

Pond Eddy

Roads, bridges are lousy

We have the roads and bridges of a Third World country. I don't care what the "experts" say, I am ashamed.

The rusting bridges and crumbling roads are just not up to the standards of an economic leader. We depend on our roads more than other nations do for commerce and transport — we need to shoulder the burden of their upkeep to prevent losing productivity to vehicle damage and personal injury, and to maintain our image as a nation that takes care of its infrastructure.

Robert Cassidy


Obama: What of abortion?

As a father, President Obama understandably wept over the massacre in Newtown. My rhetorical question for Obama is this: When will he weep over the more than 3,000 babies murdered each day by his advocacy of legalized abortion? These children are not killed with guns, but are torn limb from limb by the abortionist's scalpel or are burned to death with saline solution.

Keep in mind that Obama once stated that he did not want his daughters "punished with a baby." Moreover, he supported infanticide in the Illinois state legislature when he opposed lifesaving medical care for babies completely outside of the womb who survived a botched abortion.

Lastly, Obama must rightly agree with the head of the NRA, since Obama's daughters attend a posh private Quaker school that has almost a dozen armed security guards. (Incidentally, aren't the Quakers a pacifist sect that opposes the use of guns?) Does the word hypocrisy come readily to mind?

Vincent Ferro


Orange County lags in past

Years ago, the county chose a retired gym teacher over a Harvard-educated attorney who argued many important cases across the U.S. The current county executive is steadfastly pushing for an entirely new structure to house the local government rather than seeking an existing, suitable structure sparing local taxpayers a significant amount of money. The county voted Republican time and again, continuing its path into the abyss.

Orange is a county fast becoming a remnant of the past. President Obama has been re-elected. Three women sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. Twenty women are U.S. senators. Same-sex couples can marry in New York and other states across the country.

Orange County must empower enlightened and progressive leadership willing to confront extensive ills with complex solutions. Leadership should be able to effectively communicate with Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand and Rep. Maloney.

Orange would be further aided by an executive with extensive knowledge of law and the courts, so taxpayer dollars are not unnecessarily squandered. Orange County's next executive should be unafraid to delve deep into issues affecting all people rather than a personal agenda.

Michael Sussman is a person uniquely qualified to improve lives of all people in Orange County.

Scott McCullom

Blooming Grove

Israel deserves support

Here are some reasons why just any faith, color, creed or religion should vote for any politician who stands by Israel. I will mention some little miracles and good deeds the Jews do every day.

SACH stands for Save a Child's Heart. It is a hospital based in Israel that saves the lives of children around the globe: Joana Niakate from Angola, Khalfan from Zanzibar, Belete Fantahun from Ethiopia, Aminatu Batolim from Ghana, and Shad from Iraq. These are only a few of the hundreds of little hearts the Israelis save.

Why isn't the United Nations giving Israel the Nobel Peace Prize, instead of holding this country accountable for defending itself from cruel and barbaric countries? Why isn't the United Nations taking a stand, and applauding the only country in the Middle East that reaches out to every nation, to help them and their beloved children, who need heart operations?

Some of these children come from Palestine, Remas is one of them, and Baraa is another. What other countries in the world help their enemies?

Google SACH.

Robin Cruz


Obamacare: Gee, thanks

Just wanted to take the time to thank your readers for voting for Obama, and making sure that Obamacare passed.

I'm a veteran who has paid all my taxes and worked all my life. I got cancer a couple of years back and had surgery and radiation.

Now I'm having complications. My premiums have increased as well as my co-pays. On top of that, my taxes have increased.

I'm not one of the "friends of Obama" who receives a waiver. Just a normal guy. Just a normal guy with a 12-year-old with Type 1 diabetes who will ultimately pay more for an additional tax for his insulin pump under the "unaffordable" care act.

Now we as a nation care for 20-somethings who largely don't need health-care insurance and indigents who largely don't deserve insurance.

Bravo, America — you all did a great job.

Steve Sanford

Slate Hill

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