http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/ Welcome to the York Daily Record/Sunday News letters blog. Letters to the editor received via e-mail are posted here daily, with very light editing. This is an effort to make letters available online more quickly than we can accommodate them in our print edition. The versions that appear in print may be edited more extensively for length, grammar, spelling, punctuation and other elements. en Copyright 2009 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:53:16 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 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! ]]> http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/wwjd.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/wwjd.html Abortion News Politics Religion Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:53:16 -0500 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 http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/comical-condemnation.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/comical-condemnation.html Columnists York County News Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:47:58 -0500 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. http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/cause-of-meltdown.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/cause-of-meltdown.html Economy News Politics Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:43:48 -0500 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. http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/modern-day-customer-service.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/modern-day-customer-service.html Quality of life York County News Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:36:09 -0500 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 http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/just-laugh-along.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/just-laugh-along.html Columnists Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:02:02 -0500 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. http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/is-your-gun-missing.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/is-your-gun-missing.html Constitutionality Quality of life York County News Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:57:37 -0500 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. http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/give-me-joe.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/give-me-joe.html Election News Politics Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:44:44 -0500 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 http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/no-proof.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/no-proof.html Election News Politics Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:21:40 -0500 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? http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/reduce-spending.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/reduce-spending.html Board spending Education Taxation York County News Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:49:35 -0500 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 http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/holiday-turn-off.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/holiday-turn-off.html News Quality of life Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:47:27 -0500 Billions of dollars for bailouts...Billions with a "B". It's the lead story on every newscast. I think we've lost sight of how much money $1,000,000,000 really is! We were told that the bailouts were necessary to preserve our economic system. They said we needed to "sure up" the banking industry to prevent a collapse. Then we needed to save AIG...and a few weeks later, lo and behold, AIG needed to be saved again. Now we are considering bailing out the auto industry. Who's next? Exxon/Mobil because the barrel price of oil has dropped so low? http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/billions-with-a-b.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/billions-with-a-b.html Economy News Politics Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:41:41 -0500 This is an open letter to all the tax paying residents of Eastern School District. On Dec. 4 the school board will vote on spending AT LEAST $650,000 for artificial turf on the HS football field. The administration also recommends that the board approve Resolution #110108 that indicates they will not raise our taxes MORE than 5.3% in the next school year. My question is this. Isn't the school board aware of our current economic spiral? Aren't they aware that a lot of households in their school district are having to cut expenditures everywhere they can just to maintain their own food and housing needs? They promise not to raise our taxes more than 5.3% in the next year? I am outraged! http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/650000-turf-vote.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/650000-turf-vote.html Board spending Economy News Taxation Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:31:53 -0500 rant posted Nov. 10 ("Why All The Race Talk?). It is clear that Ms. Bixler is filled with anger at Obama's decisive election victory, and her letter contains subtle racist undertones that need to be challenged. She claims, "People are people, I don't care what color you are." But this statement follows a tirade about the alleged laziness of people of color who look for handouts: "People should stop looking at the color of their skin and step up to the plate and work and earn money instead of playing the welfare money game." Pardon me, but what does welfare have to do with the election results or the rest of her letter? This is clearly thinly-veiled racism. ]]> http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/rule-of-hypodescent.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/rule-of-hypodescent.html Election News Politics Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:13:16 -0500 The Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Builders and Contractors are against the Employee Free Choice Act because the laws have been in their favor for the last 25 years. The following facts represent how the Act will bring the favor back for the middle class employees: 1. The Employee Free Choice Act would give workers a fair chance to form unions to improve their lives. 2. Research shows nearly 60 million American Workers would form a union immediately if given the chance. Too few ever get that chance because employers routinely block employee efforts to form unions and our current legal system is too broken to stop them. As many as one-quarter of employers illegally fire workers who try to form unions. http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/employee-free-choice-act-1.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/employee-free-choice-act-1.html Economy News Politics Quality of life Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:09:31 -0500 I am totally outraged and disgusted with the biased reporting during the recent election campaigns. Be it in print or over the air, you know who you are. The untruths, cover-ups, failure to be fair and outright lies. I am sure your parents didn't raise you to be like this. You should be ashamed of yourselves. I, in truth, can no longer believe anything you report. Maybe your zombies will keep watching and believing, but I have a brain and can think for my self. http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/letter-to-the-media.html http://www.yorkblog.com/letters/2008/11/letter-to-the-media.html Election News Politics Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:06:32 -0500