Schreibman for a better future
I’m a senior. Who should I choose for Congress in the 19th Congressional District? Congress has not been functioning well, so this is an important vote which will have implications for seniors and their children.
Congressman Gibson has mostly voted with the extremist “Tea Party” while in office. He has voted to cut funding to enforce clean air and water laws, voted to deregulate the financial industry that put us into this hole, voted to allow hospitals the right to deny services to a woman who needs an emergency abortion to save her life (HR358), voted to protect the tax breaks for big oil, and tax breaks for the very rich. (We can see how these tax breaks have not put money into the hands of the middle class who buy things, and have not produced more jobs. Obviously “trickle down” doesn’t work when greed comes into play!) His votes are on record.
Importantly for me and my kids, he voted to turn Medicare into a voucher system, which would have us shop around for care, and cost us more money (providing we can find good services).
The Democrat, Julian Schreibman, has prosecuted terrorists when working for the federal government, and has been prosecuting white collar fraud and violent criminals locally. He will protect our environment, work to help small farmers and small businesses, and end the tax breaks for the mega-rich. Importantly for all of us, he will vote to protect Medicare and Social Security. Julian Schreibman will get my vote!
Lucille Weinstat
New Paltz
Lopez cares and is effective
I take pen in hand to write about the formation of the new 102nd Assembly District. A lot can be said about a person by their upbringing. Assemblyman Lopez comes from a middle class family, who grew up in our area. He knows about its residents and their problems we face in our district. Assemblyman Lopez was an Eagle scout in his youth, which tells me that he cared about his community long before he decided to run for public office. He now, after two terms, has gained the experience necessary to actually get things done. Assemblyman Lopez is a born leader. Ask yourself, who do I want to represent us in Albany? A spokesman for the Albany Police Department or Assemblyman Pete Lopez, someone who in this writer’s opinion really cares about the people of the 102nd Assembly District. To this writer, the choice is obvious. Vote for Pete Lopez for the 102nd Assembly District in November.
Harold Kelly
Durham
Curtains for Obama
The show “Hope and Change” produced by our president needs to be in its final weeks. Since opening in 2009 the show our country has not been a drama of hope and change and a good feeling radiating from the stage in Washington D.C.’s play-house. Though crowds came to see and hear the script, they heard endless speeches with little to no substance, no lasting plot of goodness for our country. All we got was a travel log via Air Force #1 picking up a cargo of dollars to finance act 2 in 2012.
With backdrop scenery of a tax-evading treasury secretary, a “Fast and Furious” gun runner attorney general whose actions endangered our border guards, a spiritual advisor that condemned America to Hell, the Obama administration calls to move “Forward” with more of the same!
Ah yes-more of the same- $500 million of taxpayer money lost by a bankrupt California Solar Company, $2 billion a fellow Democrat Jon Corzine “can’t find” in his MF Global Debacle, ah yes more of the same, why no trial for the Muslim terrorists, why no trial for the Army Col. who shot several servicemen in Texas? This administration must be removed from doing more of the same.
However, I do believe Mr. Obama is a good husband and father. He is no leader for a free world. All his pledges of transparency and cooperation with other opinions have faded. He cannot cooperate. He shifts his word of belief in America while our Embassies burn around the world. His oratory is selfish greatness to himself.
We need a president with moral fortitude toward America. America is not a second-world nation. We must lead the way with fire in our belly to succeed not with government handouts stripped from those who worked and earned their way. It’s been a sad- “you can’t make a silk purse from a sows ear.” Likewise you can’t have a vibrant America with a divisive, fiscally incompetent administration spoon-feeding a workless (not worthless) population with taxpayer handouts.
Ring down the curtain on this bad play. Turn down the house lights. Sweep the stage of the poor cast of characters. A new troupe waits in the wings. Let’s bring them on- they’ve got to be better than the dialogue we’ve listened to for the past four years.
Nelson G. Burhans
Saugerties
An ounce of prevention
I am a concerned citizen of the Hudson Valley and would like to express my thoughts and feelings regarding the building of a new jail in Poughkeepsie. I am appalled that schools are being closed, Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are being eliminated and the homeless shelter will be charging $10 a night after 60 days at the same time that officials are planning to build a jail in Dutchess County!
Two questions burn in my soul! First, will this jail eventually be filled with at-risk youth who could have benefited from Big Brothers Big Sisters programs, homeless people in need of shelter, as well as students who have dropped out of school due to needs not being met in an overcrowded and under-funded school system? Second, where is the money coming from for this penal institution?
I strongly oppose a jail and prefer to see money invested in vital social programs where people are treated with dignity and helped to reach their potential. I believe that a proactive focus rather than a punitive one has been proven to be more successful in creating and empowering citizens to be productive members of our society.
Janet Bosco
Highland
Join the family! 
