Letters to the Editor for April 16, 2009

Let’s give Obama a chance

To the editor:

I read, with interest, the letters in the April 2 edition from Chuck Chase and Pete Sundin both expressing concern over the amount of spending the present administration is doing and the resulting debt. First off, I think we’d all better agree to disagree. I don’t expect any conservatives to change their minds from my letter but it would be wonderful if a few stopped to consider my views. 

I agree, this debt is dangerous even if it is only on paper.  If you were a rancher how much debt would you be willing to shoulder if you lost your whole herd? The American people are President Obama’s “herd” and we’re definitely sick, thanks to the previous administration.

I am hopeful President Obama has a crack economic team working on pulling  us out of this pit. If it requires nationalizing anything even if temporary, then let’s give it a try. I believe everyone in this, the richest nation in the world, should have health insurance, banks they can trust, cars which do not dirty the air, savings accounts and retirement accounts which do not disappear into some CEO’s pocket. It’s a right, not a privilege. Big business has had a grip on the economics of this country for at least eight years and I’m not impressed with what they did with it, so I’m willing to allow this new crowd to try their ideas. We’ve not yet seen a list of what they will cut to pay back this huge debt but I know they have ideas.

Withdrawing from Iraq is a big savings even if we go into Afghanistan. I think they should pull our troops out of Germany, England, South Korea and wherever else they are where no wars are being waged. The recent cuts to the Pentagon will save millions if not more. Give the President a chance. He’s only been in office for two months; let’s see what he has to offer. Try it, you might find you actually like it.

Iva Mace

Baker City

Potential terrorists all around us?

You may be a terrorist!

The Department of Homeland Security just released to law enforcement an intelligence bulletin entitled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.” It suggests that those opposed to abortion, to gay marriage, and to embryonic stem cell research, as well as returning combat veterans, may pose a threat to our nation’s security. That broad brush would certainly seem to include a lot of us in Baker County who are opposed to abortion, opposed to same sex marriage, or served in combat. If we oppose abortion for religious reasons per the DHS report we qualify as potential terrorists.

In my 42 years in and around law enforcement I have read a number of high level “intelligence reports.” This DHS offering hardly qualifies as such. Instead it is a carefully orchestrated piece the purpose of which is entirely political. If the government can redefine adherence to religious dogma as subversive then it can expand hate crime legislation to criminalize a priest, rabbi or minister teaching that abortion is wrong or that marriage is intended by God to involve one man and one woman.

If you think I am an alarmist in my interpretation of the potential of this document let me suggest that history provides a very clear example of where this tactic was used in the past. Hitler redefined moral behavior as subversive at the beginning of the Nazi regime. The cost then was millions of lives. By the time Germans of that day awoke to what was happening it was too late. I pray that does not happen here.

Jerry Boyd

Baker City