Letters 6/4/2009

Dear Editor,
After reading the articles in the Olive Press, Woodstock Times and the Kingston Freeman concerning the 18 dogs, I feel compelled to address Mr. Shapiro's comments. I get the distinct feeling that not only does Mr. Shapiro want to be the complainant, but also the judge, jury and executioner. However, that is not how the system works.
I had the good fortune to work with Judge Wright for about 10 years and I always found him to be very thorough and a lot of effort was put into his decision. I also question why the press brought up the fact that Judge Wright had been censured. Was that really necessary? It seems to me Mr. Shapiro should go back to being a County Legislator and let the court system do its job. I also understand that Mr. Shapiro claims to have argued in court when the records show he has yet to appear in court on behalf of the Ulster County SPCA on this issue.
It appears Mr. Shapiro is using these dogs for his own personal agenda.
Vincent Barringer
Olive, NY

Dear Editor,
This is in response to the comic in your 5/7 issue by Gus Murphy. I have long ago come to terms with the fact that ‘The Olive Press’ is hopelessly biased. But the comic you ran left me with my jaw on the ground due to its outright hostility. Two Republican characters (one whom I believe to be Mitch McConnell. I can’t figure out the other one.) responding to the Arlen Specter character who says “Its practical. I can’t win a Republican primary” states “How dishonest! He doesn’t like that we’re the party of WHITE SOUTHERN RACISTS.” The other character says, “Yeah. Tell the truth”.
Are you kidding? Does Janeane Garofalo now sit on the editorial board of the Olive press? I wont even get into the Robert Byrd issue. Talk about selective memory. But to equate over 50% of the US electorate in one swath as “White Southern Racists” is astounding. Although I should not be surprised. The word ‘Racist’ is bandied about now with such casual ease it has rendered itself meaningless. It is now the new “Reductio Ad Hitlerum”. The sheer hypocrisy is mind-boggling. The left will endlessly drone on (justifiably in some cases) about the McCarthy era. A Commie behind every tree! Or anyone with hair longer then their jaw line in the 60s and early70s was suspected of being a “Pinko”. We heard the same thing during the Bush administration. People opposed to the war in Iraq are wrongly being called “Un-Patriotic”! Okay. Fair enough.
Yet now we find ourselves in the inverted world where anyone who questions (Merely questions!) our President, immigration policies, Islamic terrorism, high taxes, runaway spending or Multiculturalism in general is immediately hit with the ‘R’ word. Anyone see any similarities here? There were some guys in Salem in the 17th century who would find this thinking very familiar. Which brings me to my final point. The Olive Press may be a small town paper, but your are playing a dangerous game by feeding into a line of thought that dehumanizes and turns those of opposing views into “The Other”. Not someone you simply disagree with, but someone evil and beyond redemption. Because today, to be accused of being a racist is the worst thing that anyone can possibly be fingered for. That is why it is thrown around so much, and that is why it strikes terror in the hearts of those accused. Regardless of the truth of said accusation.
If you think I am being melodramatic all one has to do is take a look across the pond to Europe. Militant black hooded groups of so-called “Anti-Fascists” known as “ANTIFA” routinely viciously assault people or groups (victims have been elderly woman) whom THEY deem to be “Racists” and or “Fascists”. Who are these people being assaulted you may ask? No, they are not “Skinheads” or “Neo-Nazis”. These are groups who are Pro-Israel, groups who oppose the European Union and mass immigration and groups who question the whole multicultural orthodoxy. Add to this, speech, which is being more and more curtailed under flimsy “Hate Speech” laws. Unlike here in the U.S., free speech is not enshrined in most European countries.
I thank God that groups like ANTIFA enjoy no real power here in the U.S. Yet. But irresponsible and biased journalism molds minds and sets the stage. The fear is already palpable. For instance. I am taking a huge gamble attaching my name to this letter. Why? Because of the stance I have just taken. I count on the local populace to earn a living and I can guarantee that many (not the fair minded) have already made up their minds that I am a terrible person and a right wing nut job. Maybe they haven’t? But in today’s climate, one speaks unpopular things at their own peril. This is the mindset that one small comic in one small paper in one small town is helping to shape. You are obviously free to print what you please. But I ask that you seriously think about the monster that biased journalism (no matter how large or small) creates. The last time the press was so antagonistic to its fellow Americans was in the early 1860s. And that was in the middle of a Civil War.
M. Montalbono
Olive, NY

Dear Editor,
To Cheney the Dick:
You protest Obama "criminalizing" your administration's actions -- did Nixon and Hitler teach you nothing? Outing CIA agents, warrantless wire-tapping and torture are crimes! You actually want memos released proving torture yielded information -- all Republicans just don't get it: the ends don't justify the means. You say we can't safely imprison terrorists -- any Democrats saying that you'd call unpatriotic! Why talk all over TV anyway -- but not before Congress under oath -- when as VP you were nowhere? The Democrats won -- if you can't take it, go crying back into your hole, you typical Republican hypocrite. As your kind used to say, support the President.
J. Andrew Smith
Bloomfield, NJ

Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to Julie McQuain’s letter last week. I know my letter is likely to generate the usual letters of protest from those who oppose the expansion of Belleayre Mountain and are so blinded by their own anger at any threat to their exclusive use of our wonderful outdoor resource that they are willing to sacrifice the well being of the entire region to prove their point. They will stop at nothing and the constant barrage of falsehoods, half-truths, deceits and recycled and debunked “facts” keeping pouring forth.
I just can’t stand this self centered, self righteous, not in my backyard, nonsense any more.
Julie McQuain’s letter personifies the position of the Catskill Heritage Alliance and its organization. Acting in an unholy alliance with the truly mega-developed ski centers in Greene County, they want to destroy Belleayre and sacrifice the surrounding communities. The Kingston Freeman in an excellent editorial called them “Political Vultures”. They cloak themselves with a mantle of being an “environmental organization”; however the well respected national and local environmental organizations that they invited into our community have abandoned them and support the expansion of Belleayre Mountain. They claim to want to “Save the Mountain” but their actions show they are happy to have it fail and revert to the level of skier visits of a decade or more ago and the concurrent effect on the economic climate of our community.
Are their vistas and their precious solitude more important than the economic chances of the entire region? Are they so blinded by self centered anger they can’t see the declining school enrollments, the closure of churches, the failure of local businesses, the struggles of local trades people, the increases in local taxes. Our economy is dying and our young people reluctantly forced to move away. Make no mistake about it. The Catskills Heritage Alliance is working again the economic interest of our area. They cavalierly spurn the federal stimulus money being sought after and used elsewhere across the country to jump start local communities. Jobs don’t mean anything; they are totally unimportant, if you don’t need one. It is easy to scoff at a so called “menial job” until you need one to help support a family.
The expansion of Belleayre Mountain is not a cure all but it is a start, and a good one, toward revitalizing the tourism industry we started to lose a generation or two ago. The Save the Mountain gang is completely bankrupt when it comes to positive new ideas to give our community a chance at economic stability and prosperity.
Save The Mountain is an outrageous oxymoron and people like Ms. McQuain, John Carney, her husband and Richard Schaedle are destroying our community and using the false mantle of community action to mask a thoroughly selfish Nimbyism, run amok.
These are strong words but true and its time we all spoke up and reclaimed our communities and our chance for the future.
Rosina M. Montana
Roxbury, NY

Dear Editor,
After a long silence on the subject, the media is talking about a proposal for health care reform called "Single Payer." Although President Obama has pledged that all proposals would be considered, "Single Payer" has been denied a place at the table, even to the extent that its advocates, have been arrested if they attempt to speak at government hearings. The for-profit insurance and pharmaceutical companies wield great power in Washington and are behind the efforts to stifle all public discussion on "Single Payer"
The term "Single Payer" describes Medicare which has insured seniors for over 40 years at 3 percent, a very low cost of operation. HR 676, introduced in the House by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. provides for universal health care under which every man, woman and child of all ages, income, employed or not, would be covered. It would be Medicare for all. There would be no deductibles, co-pays or referrals or need for Medigap insurance. It would cover all medical and surgical care, pharmaceuticals at prices negotiated with Medicare, doctors and specialist visits, dental, vision and mental health care. Patients would have freedom to choose their own doctors and hospitals,
It would be financed by additional payroll deductions of workers salaries, plus the employers contribution, to be placed in a dedicated fund, not to be used for any other purpose than health care. All health systems would be managed under this plan: Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Care, Federal Employees, etc. The only payer would be Medicare, the same as it is under the present system. This is where the greatest savings would occur, three percent compared to the 30 percent cost of administrating the private insurance companies. Preventative medicine would be practiced, and produce even greater savings.
Every American has a stake in fighting for Medicare For All and taking back our health care system so that it works for us rather than being a cash cow for the insurance companies. Contact me at 334-9162 for further information.
Esther Nason
Kingston, NY

Dear Editor,
President Obama (who I voted for and support) recently declared intent to "work with the insurers." To me, this language denotes the uninsured will still have to buy their own health insurance (though there will be discounts for the low income uninsured) and hopefully the uninsured with preexisting conditions can get coverage (if they pay for it).
How will premiums be determined? So far, it sounds like people with take-home income of $50K or more will still have to pay about what health insurance costs now - at least $1000 a month, or $12K a year out of that take-home.
Who can afford to pay 25 percent of his/her net income for health insurance? Most uninsured people in this income range are simply not buying health insurance, hoping they won't get seriously ill and will have less than $12K a year in medical bills. And prescriptions, can't forget that - a few prescriptions can easily cost $500 a month for the uninsured with health problems.
So far, I don't see changes coming that will alter the status quo very much. The only change could be that some will be forced to pay for the "new" medical insurance even if they feel they can't afford it.
Ellen Perantoni
West Saugerties, NY

Dear Editor,
Medical marijuana bills are pending in both the NY State Senate and Assembly. Seriously ill patients should have legal access to medical marijuana when recommended by their doctors. Thirteen states have passed popular laws to allow the doctor-advised, medical use of marijuana. These laws are working well and protecting sick and dying patients. Please support A. 7542 and S. 4041-A to protect patients in our state.
Arnold Lieber, M.D.
Saugeries, NY

Dear Editor,
It has been said that those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. I can tell you from my personal experience in high school that the same is true for algebra, English, social studies and biology. But, for the time being, let us focus on history.
There was a time when the Western World was heavily dependent on the countries of the Middle East to deliver much-needed commodities. I'm not talking about crude oil but about oils, spices and silk. During the Middle Ages there was a great demand for goods from India and China. The only known methods for delivery of these goods involved dealing with the peoples of Arab lands. Then as now this proved to be both costly and unreliable. At the end of the 15th century Vasco de Gama rounded Africa's Cape of Good Hope. In doing so he opened up a sea route from Europe to Asia and took the Middle East out of the loop.
Last week Barack Obama announced that we would raise the MPG standards for all vehicles and start the country on a path toward energy independence. He didn't look much like Vasco de Gama but it was clear that the country has stepped off in a new direction. We as a nation are now going to pursue policies that will free us from our dependency on Middle Eastern oil. It is nice to have a president with a working knowledge of history.
What Newt, Rush, Dick and the other remnants of the neo-conservative movement need to realize is that they are now irrelevant. It doesn't matter if they show Obama to be a European style socialist or even a card-carrying communist. They can prove that Nancy Pelosi personally water boarded Mother Teresa, Bill Clinton flew one of the planes on 9-11 and FDR caused both the great depression as well as our current economic woes; it won't make any difference. The wind has shifted. It is no longer blowing from the east. The ship has sailed and neo-cons missed it. My advice for them - cash in your chips, get in your V8 powered SUV and go on out to the golf course.
David Rose
Hot Springs, AR

Dear Editor,
For what reason that completely false information about HR 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act went out on the Internet is not known but the Political Fact Check deems it as "Internet hysteria." The bill will fix problems in our Food Safety system. It would not interfere with backyard gardeners, farmers markets, organic gardening. It would require food safety requirements be met in interstate commerce. Food safety experts and more exact testing and firmer controls resulting in consumer protection are the goals of this bill. It will require all imported foods to meet safety requirements. It will allow a boom for our own growers.
How sad it is to see this abortion item looming so large on the horizon. We must remember that it is not that part of the population believes it is wrong and others don't. Some oppose it but that there are issues such as woman's right to choose and the ills accompanying an unwanted child or the hardship having the child would cause, in weighing the matter. Of course there are many who oppose abortion and wouldn't have one but realize that others don't share the same belief and are entitled to their beliefs. The cause of the intense friction is not what is believed about abortion but that some believe they are the arbiters of everyone's behavior and have the right to take away the rights of others because of what they believe. Some people believe it is a sin to work on the Sabbath. Not too many years ago our laws upheld this belief. What would happen if enough people who believed it wrong to work in the Sabbath had laws passed requiring all businesses and factories to close on Sundays? (Of course that would not include restaurants!) The question that needs an answer is: Is our country run as a democracy or as a theocracy?
Mescal Hornbeck
Woodstock, NY

Dear Editor,
Summer is in the air — and what better way to celebrate than the annual Phoenicia Library Fair! All are invited to this fun-filled event on Saturday June 6, from 10-2, on Main Street in Phoenicia. From vintage books (one of our recent treasures actually sold for $900 on line!) to our fabulous plant sale to yummy baked goods to festive face painting, there’s something for the whole family. And at 10 a.m., kicking off the fair, Uncle Rock will be performing upstairs in the Angler’s Parlour—his only Phoenicia-area show of the summer!
Hope to see you all there!
Holly George-Warren
Phoenicia Library Board

Dear Editor,
Our Magic Rainbow Man, my Thom, has passed over into one of his paintings of a beautiful water color sky with rainbows.
He died Sunday, May 3, 2009. His mother died May 3, 14 years ago. It was sudden without pain. He asked for some cranberry juice and by the time I brought it to him he was in heaven. A storm came in later in the day. It rained hard as the heavens cried with me. Even without the sun at the end of the day, rainbows were seen over Jim’s home, my nieces and at our friend Mike Morgan’s house. Mike had just, five weeks ago, cut up 250 of Thom’s rainbow posters into two inch squares so Thom could work on collages. Thom was so excited about the collage work he had finished and signed the Saturday before he died. He was working on another collage in a larger size on Saturday night. It was left unfinished with my remembering all of the enthusiasm of my early day Thom.
He had been ill for some time but we kept going forward. He did not die from any illness that we knew about. I was relieved that his death was a painless one, just like his mother.
I miss his laughter, his whistling, his wonderful singing voice, watching him paint his water colors and cleaning his little scraps of paper edges as he cut up rainbows for boxes, give aways and other multitudes of purposes.
Thom’s rainbow was a reflection of God’s visual word. Every time we see one in the sky we will think about him. What a monument.
From the first opening of our Rainbow Store at 124 Tinker Street to the end at the Boiceville Rainbow Store – The in-between times of communion with the two of you, the secret gift of Thom’s original piece ,to dinner visits , parties and the most wonderful conversations and always being remembered. I thank you for sharing your lives with us that I might have these memories.
Love and Hugs,
Mary Klika aka Lady Rainbow
Oxford, GA