Reader Comments
Issue 107 - May 7, 2008

Editor: I appreciate your ConservativeBattleline. I was reading the issue on Governor Corzine killing local government in New Jersey. In New York, governors Pataki and Spitzer were into this too, as well as the legislature; and the heat is on local government to consolidate. In addition, administrative units are being reworked to cut off local people and government from centers of government such as Albany and tie them to radical regional, eco-focused units--if the reworking of agencies to be governed from the seat of the Adirondack agency is any indication. Carol W. LaGrasse, President, Property Rights Foundation of America, Stony Creek, NY

Editor: “Killing Local America” is simply brilliant. It presents a perfect distinction between conservative and liberal, right and wrong. I have already forwarded it to my politically concerned friends, some, I must confess, are liberals. Peace, Rich Byman

Editor: Regarding “Killing Local America,” as a former president of the Deer Park Board of Education in Suffolk County, New York, I can attest to the fact that local control of our school districts is far more efficient than having out-of-touch bureaucrats on the state or federal level dictating to parents and taxpayers how their children should be educated. One has to look no further than here in New York State where politician from both major parties pass various programs that are requested by politically powerful special interest groups with little or no input from local parents or taxpayers. The cost of these "mandates" is then forced upon local school boards who are then required to implement the programs and pay for them by increasing local property taxes. The big government educational bureaucrats are happy, the state and federal politicians take credit for the programs, while the local Boards of Education are blamed for increasing property taxes to the point where middle income families are forced to sell their home making real estate brokers and developers happy too. Is it any wonder middle income taxpayers are calling for a third party. Jack Coughlin, Chairman , Deer Park Conservative Party

Editor: Re “Killing Local America,” our government is too big, too out of control, too many taxes, too many controls, too many freedoms being attacked, too many root causes of problems not being sought after (by the destructive liberals), too many fees, too many registrations and re-registrations, too many lawyers witting too many laws, too many liberals messing with OUR Constitution. Let’s face it, government is getting bigger and bigger because the liberals have it feeding off of itself. We are on a path of self destruction. I spent 18 years in the US Army defending this great Nation and the freedoms we enjoy. I have spent over 16 years as a Judge in my home town. It’s all about money, greed, corruption and self serving politicians who serve themselves and their greed based agendas. Sign me up for a revolt. I want MY government back. Richard Christensen

Editor: In regard to “Killing Local America,” consolidation of municipalities may cause a backlash but I think the real problem is the encroachment by local, state and federal money to the lowest social denominator. When citizen’s groups receive money to clean parks for example, they have no interest in cleaning their own “natural habitat.” Citizen groups are more interested in the outside promises and “give me” rather than the interior and hence they don’t really need all of their neighbor’s consent, volunteerism or donation. When local, State and Federal agencies assume the majority of social services, the social services go on far longer than if there were a thriving church and not for profit base drawn entirely from local resources. Prior to FDR’s time the communities handled aptly their social service needs through direct neighborly involvement and care. Alexis de Tocqueville saw the tremendous spirit of our nation in the vast diversity of private involvement. The pull by progressives to redistribute wealth rather then roll up their sleeves themselves, is killing this Nation’s spirit-– laying atrophied the muscle that controls our heart. Lisa Miller

Editor: "State Aid"? "STATE AID"?????? Just where does this governor in your editorial “Killing Local America” think he gets the money to "aid" the smaller towns? He gets it from the towns, of course. This is so typical of the type of politician elected today. Everyone who didn't vote, or voted without knowing who they were voting for, deserves the havoc these idiots inflict. How did this buffoon get into office? Why, he was VOTED IN, of course! We have the same problem in Phoenix, Arizona. We have a buffoon for a mayor, elected by a voter turnout of 17%. That is absolutely shameful. I am ashamed of the citizens of this United States. Look at the Congress we have....all elected...and not only that, but RE-ELECTED, time and time again..... Ted Kennedy comes to mind....we have mayors reelected in the country who were convicted of drug use, a president with no sense of morals, who cheated, then lied about cheating. How do I get into Canada? Ms. Barbara Wolfe, Phoenix, Arizona

Editor: Re “Killing Local America,” so what do ya’ do, when this country is run by corrupt, power-hungry, fools? J Kruse

Editor: The Governor Corzine of “Killing Local America is a well to do "Capitalist"--not in the sense he created and marketed a product to make his money! He was a "Specialist" in "raping" and legal "swindling" of corporations!! Why would anyone expect him to be of "Good Moral Character" in his political career? His tenure is fraught with scandalous relationships, economic "terrorism" of small communities, and overall ineptitude to be "creative" in a business sense, like cutting costs!! New Jersey sadly deserves him and until the voters "wise-up" and vote in some conservative and honest "Pol's" they will have his "Knee" on their necks!!! Bob Langelius, Sr., White Plains, NY

Editor: I loved the article by Mr. Brent Bozell--“New Counter Culture”--I always enjoy his perspectives. But I think the topic is even more complex. I would first of all suggest that it is cynicism rather than mere irreverence that characterizes our times. This is why contemporary writers who wish to depict deeply feeling people in their novels frequently set their stories sometime in the past, when such feelings seemed less improbable. But ironically, a byproduct of this humanity-eroding cynicism has been the emergence of "false emotionalism." We see it exhibited on "reality” television all the time. People yell and scream at one another -- or they weep and wail -- when once they may have kept the exhibition of such feelings for private moments. We also see the "hugging" phenomenon. As soon as something tragic occurs, total strangers embrace one another. While sometimes this is an expression of spontaneous empathy, often it is merely another form of the "touchy-feely" false emotionalism that further depreciates the expression of true feelings. As an old fashioned sentimentalist who loves a good tear-jerker, I thank you and Mr. Bozell for the article. I did not know that Mr. Bozell is the President of the Media Research Center. I will now look into joining that organization. Best, Marlena Thompson, Falls Church, VA

Editor: Amen to Dennis Avery’s “Ethanol Kills Wildlife.” What makes me mad is that the media isn't reporting any of it, and when they do they tend to stand behind the ethanol industry. Thank you for this article. Raymond Put

Editor: I would like to say that Spencer Warren's commentary on Clint Eastwood's “Letters from Iwo Jima” is one of the finest and to the point commentaries that I have ever had the privilege to read. Mr Warren has written, almost exactly, what I would have liked to express to Mr Eastwood, those that were involved in the production of the movie, and all of the bleeding hearts that want to find "good" and humanize those that we fought against in World War II. I can only imagine that the next project after “Letters from Auschwitz: the Misunderstood Camp Guards,” Mr Eastwood and Mr. Spielberg will attempt to produce “Letters from Moscow: the Truth about Loveable Uncle Joe;” “Letters from Hanoi: Jane, Giap and Ho, The Forgotten Heroes of Viet Nam” and “Letters from Baghdad: Saddam, A Loving Father's Correspondence with his Two Misunderstood Boys.” I am one of the few "under 50" people that Mr. Warren refers to, that still understand what our country went through, and have continued to endure throughout our most recent history. Our worst enemy is not the Japanese, the Nazis, The Stalinists, the Vietnamese or the Muslims. Our worst enemies are within our own borders and share our very own culture. The likes of Spielberg, Eastwood, Clinton, Streisand... I could go on... it is these people and those that look upon them as leaders and allow them to do their thinking for them, they are the true enemies of this nation. They are leading our once great nation down a path that the rest of us know is the wrong direction. I can only say that Mr. Warren has hit it right on the head, and I wish the people that need to read and hear what Mr. Warren says in his commentary, could be made to do so. Not that it would matter, because those that are truly blind such as the people that Mr. Warren refers to, can never be made to see. Thank you for a great piece. Jeff Rufolo

Editor: Thank you for ConservativeBattleline. Keep it coming. The Rotags