This is a response to the letters of Heather Smith (November 16th), suggesting that we show respect for our new president, and of William Folger (November 23rd), stating that "President elect Obama does not respect Jesus" and therefore doesn't deserve our respect. Heather shows some wisdom; Folger shows some arrogance.

Folger gives Smith a nice smack down by writing that she "in her youth," does not really understand things as well as he does. He, being a very righteous older person, I gather, finds that Obama has "convicted" himself because Obama supports abortion and stem cell research; ergo, Obama is a bad Christian and "disrespects Jesus."

Poor, young Heather, to be thus taken to task for so foolishly and ignorantly wanting us to be respectful when the righteous elders of the world know so much better!

It is almost commical how so many of the YDR readers write letters condemming the writings of YDR columnist Mike Argento. Folks, York County is lucky to have Mike, he is a spirited writer with immense talent, quite worthy of much larger publications than the YDR. The attacks on him remind me so much of the grumblings toward the old Gazette and Daily artist/cartonnist/opinionist Walter Partymiller and it's straight shooting, legendary publisher J.W. Gitt. Narrow minded Republicans of York County referred to the York Gazette and Daily as the "Red Rag."

We on the left endure constant "fair and balanced" (gee where have I heard that before) journalism printed by the YDR in the way of opinions by people like Michelle Malkin and Bill O'Reilly.

Readers have to realize Mike Argento is an opinion that some of us enjoy and some of us don't. If you don't, just don't read his stuff. It's as simple as that. It's part of journalism, so live with it!

Keith A. Oberdick
East Manchester Township

While talking about deficit spending as a cause of the current financial meltdown, it would inform your viewers to acknowledge that it's cause was deficit spending to support neo conservative agendas: 1) tax cuts without reducing expenditures almost entirely attributable to the Reagan and Bush II administrations; 2) the belief that government is incompetent to address ANY problems and should be bankrupted to prevent "interference" with market forces.

What happened to customer service? Can the world operate when systems are down?

I went to the electronics store on Sunday with my $40 card from the National Telecommunications Information Administration in order to purchase my digital-to-analog converter box. The first person did not know how to process our purchase at the first register! We went to another register and that person rang it up and my husband handed him the $40 card, a $10 gift card, and some cash. The gift card went through, but the $40 card did not. He could not get it to work, so he called the service manager and she told us that the system had been down most of the day and it had just come back up.

The solution offered was to come back; we did not want to come back since we drove across town to take care of this purchase that day. My husband then asked for the change and a receipt but we then were told it couldn't be done.

Mike Argento's evident compassion and intellect and skill need no defenders. But recent letters accusing him of hatefulness are so far off the mark that they require a response.

While not every humor-columnist employs sarcasm and irony as literary devices, many -- including Mr. Argento -- do so. It is a tradition that probably began before the written word, and includes such writers as Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, and Mark Twain.

It is sad that there are some local residents who cannot laugh along with the rest of us.

Howard Long
York Township

Here we go again with the people on York city council trying to regulate things that the have no authority to do so. In my Friday morning paper I came across a story about how city council wants to try to pass a law requiring people to report lost or missing firearms within 72 hours. Forget the fact that in the state of Pennsylvania local governments are prohibited from regulating firearms. But even if they had the power to do what they are proposing which they don't. Maybe they could explain to me how they are going to prove when a firearm was lost or missing from someone. All a person has to do is deny any knowledge of the weapon being missing and they have no case.

Mike Argento strikes out at conservatives one more time. This time it's Joe-the-plumber being described as semi-literate. Does Mike have Joe's SAT scores and/or fifth grade report card? Certainly the Ohio politicos obtained this information via the all important background probe.

During the recent campaign season I had difficulty finding a candidate deserving my support, but had no problem understanding Plumber Joe's concerns for our country's future. For some reason Americans couldn't get enough of inarticulate Joe. Meanwhile the Obama endorsement by Mr. Argento and the York Newspaper Company was essentially ignored by York County voters.

I would like to say that when I was in the Marine Corp and needed to get a security clerance, I was checked out back to my mothers womb. I also had to show my birth certificate in able to serve my country. Why is it today the to run for the most TOP SECURITY JOB in our country, you have to SHOW no proof to be the President of the United States. I was always told there is an age limit, 39 I believe, to even be allowed to run for President. Doesn't this country understand that Mr. O'Bama has not SHOWN proof of age or citizenship to the people. This man in my opinion has no right to be the President Elect until he can prove to the citizen of this great country he is of age and he is a citizen. I think the people need no one else except Mr. O'Bama to SHOW us proof before he is sworn into office.

Ron Manns
Airville

York City School District, get a grip! We're in a recession! Why should you be able to just reach out and take what you want for a budget increase, in the name of education, with all the examples of waste and frivolous spending that have come to light. Do you feel that by being part of a bureaucracy it gives you entitlement to salary increases and benefits the hard working common man doesn't get due to the economy?

Last June I purchase a new vehicle. It has satellite radio which I've not paid attention to - till today. The local FM stations have started Christmas tunes, 24/7, on the tenth of November. What do they have in mind? I have a neighbor with his place decorated, light strings, a blow-up figure, and a manger scene.

Pushing the season is a REAL turn-off. I enjoy the holiday season as much as anyone, but this is pushing the envelope.

Bill Spahr
York Township