Opinion

SALINA JOURNAL

Opinion



FRIdAy, SeptembeR 30, 2011 





EDITORIL







Talking

back to

Ext. 333

Nude travelers, losing

one’s soul, getting sued

for raising the dead

Editor’s note to previous callers: Good news! We

have increased the size of our Sunday crossword

puzzle to make it easier to see.



“I was in the Army during Panama and Desert

Storm, and we did just fine without gays in the

military back then.”

Um, there were gays in the military back

.

then. They just couldn’t serve openly But bigots

could.



“Has it ever occurred to anybody that Jesus was

practicing medicine without a license?”

Superman versus warm body

If he were around today, someone would find a the nation needs a leader the limited time available in the TV border where the federal government

way to sue him for raising the dead. “debate” format. has failed to guard it. Former senator

with character, which the On Social Security, Perry was not Rick Santorum’s sound-bite attempts

“I would like to know why people who live out- ‘gotcha’ politicians lack only right to call it a “Ponzi scheme,” to paint Perry as soft on border con-

but was also right to point out that trol have apparently been politically





O

side of Salina do not get all of the sales fliers in

ne of the problems in trying this did not mean welshing on the successful, judging by polls. But his

.

the Sunday paper That is one of the main reasons to select a leader for any large repeated interrupting of Perry’s

government’s obligation to continue

I subscribed to the paper .” organization or institution is paying retirees what they had been presentation of his case during the

Distribution decisions are up to retailers. Some the tendency to start promised. recent debate is the kind of cheap

only want their sales circulars to go inside the out looking for Super- Even those of us who still disagree political trick that contributes noth-

Salina city limits, or just to county households, man, passing up many Comment with particular decisions made by ing to public understanding and much

or to our six-county trade zone, or to all of our good people who fail Perry can see some of those decisions to public misunderstanding.

subscribers. Try calling managers of stores in to meet that standard, as simply the errors of a decent man Those of us who disagree with Per-

question so they can pass requests up the chain and eventually ending who realized that he was faced not ry’s decision to allow the children of

up settling for a warm with a theory but with a situation. illegal immigrants to attend the state

of command. We’d love to get more, also.

body . For example, the ability to save colleges and universities, under the

Some Republicans young people from cervical cancer same terms as Texas citizens, need at

“I hope our enemy does succeed in zapping our seem to be longing for with a stroke of a pen was a tempta- least to understand what his options

computer systems. All computers have done is another Ronald Rea- tion that any decent and humane indi- were. These were children who were

stolen jobs from people, invaded our privacy and gan. Good luck on that vidual would find hard to resist, even here only because of their parents’

cost us our rights. They’re trying to take our very one, unless you are THOMAS if Perry himself now admits to sec- decisions and who had graduated

souls, if possible. I, for one, am on board for going prepared to wait for SOWELL ond thoughts about how it was done. from a Texas high school.

back to the old ways that was. Those computers several generations. Creators Many of us can agree with Con- Perry saw the issue as whether

are nothing but evil.” Moreover, even Ronald Syndicate gresswoman Michele Bachmann’s these children should now be allowed

Too late. You lost your soul when you called Reagan himself did not contention that it should have been to continue their education and

always act like Ronald done differently But it reflects no

. become self-supporting taxpayers, or

Ext. 333.

Reagan. credit on her to have tried to scare whether Texas would be better off

The current outbreak of “gotcha” people with claims about the dangers with a higher risk of those young

“Airline express lines for nudists would certainly attacks on Texas Gov. Rick Perry of vaccination. Such scares have people becoming dependents or worse.

get a lot more people flying.” shows one of the other pitfalls already cost the lives of children who I still see Perry’s decision as an error,

Traveling nude is a great way to avoid luggage for those who are trying to pick a have died on both sides of the Atlantic but the kind of error that a decent and

fees. But where do you hide your money? national leader. The three big sound- from diseases that vaccination would humane individual would be tempted

bite issues used against him during have prevented. to make.

“It is far past time for this ‘civilized country’ to the TV “debates” have involved Social The biggest mischaracterization of I have far more questions about

bring an end to the barbaric practice of the death Security, immigration and a vaccine Perry’s position has been on immi- those who would blow this error up

against cervical cancer. gration. The fact that he has more into something that it is not. Error-

penalty. We know for a fact that innocent men and

Where these three issues have been confidence in putting “boots on the free leaders don’t exist — and we don’t

women have been put to death under this system. discussed at length, whether in a few ground” along the border, instead of want to end up settling for a warm

We’re literally one step away from Saudi Arabia. media accounts or in Gov. Perry’s relying on a fence that can be climbed body .

What’s next, a good old-fashioned public behead- own more extended discussions in an over or tunneled under where there Ultimately, this is not about Perry .

ing in a public square? Maybe we can stone to interview on Sean Hannity’s program, is no one around, is a logistical judg- It is about a process that can destroy

death some woman because she happened to look his position was far more reasonable ment, not a question of being against any potential leader, even when the

at a man.” than it appeared to be in either his border control. country needs a new leader with a

The United States executed 46 people in 2010. opponents’ sound bites or even in his Texas Rangers have already been character that the “gotcha” attackers

That’s more than Saudi Arabia (27), Syria (17), own abbreviated accounts during put along the border to guard the demonstrate they do not have.

and Libya (18). China leads the way with more

than 5,000, followed by Iran (252), and North

Korea (60). More than 135 countries have banned

the death penalty but not our Christian nation.

Letters to the Journal

— Journal staff Mailing it in all-time high. Mortgage foreclosures

I read with interest Mr. Marples’ Note to readers are at all-time highs. The price of

gasoline is ridiculous and groceries

letter printed in the Sept. 22 Salina

Only letters including the author’s are growing beyond belief.

Journal. His concern was over sav-

full name, address and telephone Twenty trillion dollars of house-

“Congress shall make no law respecting an ing the Postal Service that is losing

number are considered for hold wealth has evaporated in the

immense amounts of money and its

establishment of religion, or prohibiting the lack of sufficient management. publication. Full details regarding past 24 months. More than 2 million

free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom submissions may be found daily at have been unemployed more than two

I was sitting in my home having

the bottom of this page. years. Twenty percent of Americans

of speech, or of the press, or the right of the lunch with my husband July 26,

are under-employed. In 2009, Obama

when I heard a loud bang. I went

people peaceably to assemble, and to petition out in front of my house to find a

said higher taxes would kill the

the Government for a redress of grievances.” postal carrier had hit my powder

the Postal Service vehicle did say U.S. .

economy Recently, he said, “Tax the

government. .”

wealthy They tried this in Maryland

— First Amendment, U.S. Constitution puff 1999 Camaro parked in front of

I did have collision insurance with and the millionaires left the state. Vice

my house. It was around 109 degrees,

a $1,000 deductible but without a President Biden and Obama touted

so I invited the mail carrier into my

rental car rider. Imagine if I did not Solyndra as a model of exemplary

home and gave him an ice-cold bottle

have insurance, access to another .

green industry After wasting a half

of water. I could see he was stressed,

Call the Salina Journal opinion line at and he immediately called his superi-

vehicle or the $1,000 deductible. Do a billion taxpayers’ dollars, it’s going

(785) 823-6464, Ext. 333, or text comments you think just paying for damages is under. For the first time in history the

ors and the police.

cost-effective for the Postal Service? U.S. has lost its AAA S&P rating.

to ext333@salina.com. Speak your mind, but The police and a couple of repre-

My insurance company also told me The USA is the laughingstock of

sentatives from the Postal Service

Ext. 333 please keep comments courteous and brief. arrived. I was given the Insurance

that in some states you cannot sue the world. China and Europe tell us to

the U.S. Postal Service for damages. reign in our spending. Our policies in

• • • • • Information Exchange paper by the

This also includes other government Iran, North Korea, Libya, Egypt, Syria

police and I noticed “self ” was writ-

vehicles. and the entire Middle East are abject

“Ironic how obsessed so many are with ten for the carrier’s insurance. I

The mail carrier totaled out his failures. Obama’s so-called stimulus

asked an arrogant woman represent-

right-to-life issues but care nothing for a fully vehicle, but the Postal Service took it program created only a few union

ing the Postal Service why “self ” was

formed human being unless they have cash or listed for insurance. She informed

away, cleaned up the anti-freeze and cronies and government jobs, which

health insurance.” gave him another vehicle. I became some studies suggest at $5,000,000 a

me that the Postal Service would

• accountable for the damages and I job.

pay just for the damages. No other

“Would the person who criticized todd Haley, did not get another vehicle to drive. Obama would love to blame Bush

response was given.

The representatives that came out

of the Kansas City Chiefs, stand up and be I called my insurance agent and for all his ills. Come on, Presbo.

looked angry with the postal car- You’ve had enough time. Be a man

identified and tell us what great things you have was given a number to call the Sub-

rier and had no explanations for me.

done with your life?” rogation Unit representative for the about it. You can send Biden, Pelosi,

And I hear about the U.S. rebuilding Reed, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters

• Postal Service. I called and was told I

after all the damage done in a war in to do your posturing in insulting the

“Newt the Nut and Wetter the Wet are both in the needed to use my collision insurance,

another country, and I wonder what .

tea party But the folks have had it ...

and after they paid, my insurance

same corner. God help us all.” is wrong here? too much misery ... too many empty

company and I needed to file a claim

• with the Postal Service for damages. promises.

“you know the Republicans like to say that the — CYNTHIA OETTING, Salina When you state, “Pass this legisla-

I could not believe this. Isn’t it

reason we can’t tax the people who make more accountant

Kansas state law that to get a tag tion in a hurry if you love me.” We all

than $200,000 a year are because they’re the you must carry liability insurance? remember then House speaker Nancy

ones who provide the jobs. OK, so if they’re not Didn’t the citizens of Kansas decide Had enough ‘change’ Pelosi saying about “Obamacare: Just

being taxed now, then where are the jobs?” they did not want drivers on the Recently came the report that one pass it, you’ll love it.”

• road who could not pay for damages in seven Kansans were below the pov- Nobama ... we’ve had enough of

“I just read Jo Reed’s editorial in Sunday’s if they hit you? Let alone taking on erty line. A month ago, Secretary of your so-called change.

paper. She’s always upbeat, but I really, the responsibility of dealing with a Agriculture Tom Vilsack bragged that

government agency. I guess the tag on welfare and food stamps were at an — CHARLY RHEIN, Salina, retired

really enjoyed her writing about the obits.

And keep her in there. She’s upbeat and positive

and a lot of humor.”

Views: the Opinion page provides Your letters: Letters considered Mail letters to:

• diverse views to stimulate discussion for publication must be original work, Letters, the Salina Journal, p.O. box

“the richest 15,000 U.S. families are so rich, and foster the shaping of ideas. and must include the author’s name, 740, Salina KS 67402-0740.

they could pay off the national debt all by editorials are the official position of address and daytime telephone E-mail letters (no attachments,

themselves. those are the people Republicans the newspaper. Other views are the number. please) to:

are trying to protect from paying their fair share.” opinions of the individual authors. All letters are subject to editing. letters@salina.com.