(letters from June 8, 2006)

Dear Editor,
What a surprise it must have been to the Onteora School board when they found out all of the problems that the newly hired School Superintendent brought with him. But, should they have been surprised? As reported Board President Dave Patterson said that he was disappointed that the allegations involving more then a dozen students had not been made available by Ulster County Boces until a week after the Superintendent was hired. Evidently the board accepted Boces recommendations and did little or no research on their own. Perhaps a simple phone call by a board member to the School District that Mr. Ferrara resigned from might have alerted the board regarding the problems that the superintendent had at that school. If they did contact the district why wasn’t they informed of the problems. To slant all of the blame on BOCES doesn’t seem appropriate.
At $565.00 per day and if those wages were paid to the Superintendent for, lets say 21 days, the board spent almost $12,000.00 of tax payers money and got very little or nothing for the money. This school board is managing a $44,000,000.00 business, the business being the school. Hopefully the School Board will give the next Superintendent that they hire a through back ground check no matter who says what or what the contractor’s recommendations are. I don’t think that the tax payers in the Onteora school district like any of their money being wasted. There’s an old saying that’s been around for a long time. Trust but verify.
William Warnecke
Glenford, NY

Dear Editor,
As concerned Olive citizens, and offended members of Olive Matters, we take issue with your May 25, 2006 editorial. Either intentionally or unwittingly, you have misinformed your readers when you claimed that the Large Parcel Law being enacted in the next several years should not concern Olive residents. Your attack on our integrity by stating that we falsely manipulated our fellow Olive citizens is absolutely unwarranted and malicious. Olive citizens have no reason to fear members of Olive Matters. The venom spewed from the pages of this paper, usually directed against Olive, appears specifically formulated to manipulate the minds and actions of its readers.
Is it your aim to create turmoil within Olive? Is it your hope that we will let down our guard so that the Large Parcel can be implemented against us again? Contrary to your claim that you "take serious issue with those who sounded the false alarm that Large Parcel is somehow still alive as an issue or a threat to the town of Olive," we who sounded that alarm present the following facts:
FACT ONE. The LP law is a state law which has never been amended or rescinded and must be considered annually. It will certainly be discussed this Summer despite your claim that the school board will vote 4-3 against enacting it. It will remain alive as there are board members who approve of this hideous rape of their neighbor, Olive. These members and their constituents are hoping that the next election will gain them enough votes to reenact this law, which is nothing short of a Prescription for Plunder.
FACT TWO. You claim that the 4-3 margin, which favors Olive, will be maintained for at least several years. In actuality, David Patterson's position comes up for election next year. If he is defeated, the 4-3 margin may lie with those who will reinstate the LP. What if Patterson decides not to run? What if he or some other anti-LP member decides to step down due to family responsibilities? Several years ago, when board member Rosato gave up his seat, he was replaced by a pro-LP appointee. The anti-LP margin of 4-3 is fragile at best. Therefore, the issue is indeed not "effectively deader than Elvis."
FACT THREE. You raised the issue of balance on the board in light of three members from Olive voting against the LP in 2005. We don't recall you complaining about imbalance when the 2004 vote was 5-1 in favor of the LP with three Olive members voting in favor of it. Herb Rosenfeld did not vote, and only David Patterson saw how divisive this law is and wisely voted against it. In fact nearly 90 percent of the school boards, whose districts have LPs, decided to steer clear of this district destroying demon. It is apparent that balance only concerns you when Olive members vote against the LP, but not when they favor it.
The facts clearly reveal that the LP issue is very much alive. Those of us who called our neighbors to vote did not do so to frighten them. We find your insinuation underhanded and an attempt to create turmoil between Olive citizens.
Members of Olive Matters will address any vital issue which matters to Olive, and will vigorously fight for our town. Have you any understanding of the financial damage the enactment of the LP law had on Olive residents? How many of Olive residents have you interviewed? How many personal stories have you, the OLIVE PRESS, reported? How many Olive Matters meetings have you ever asked to attend? Is it any wonder that we are incensed?
In the spirit of Reginald Bennett, whom you cite as being an educator of the truth, divulge your "TRUE" position on this LP issue. You have written that you "wish Olive well in its efforts to exclude reservoir properties from Large Parcel in the future, we certainly agree they shouldn't be included." We challenge you to step up to the plate and do the right thing, to write editorials and to encourage articles which expose this evil law for the money grabbing divisive legislation that it is. Inform your readers and their leaders at the school board, county, and state levels that your paper is against the LP, and explain why you are against it.
Finally, to date your newspaper has appeared to be anti-Olive. It is based outside Olive, and to title it "The Olive Press" because it is distributed in Olive is deceptive. Ever since the LP issue raised its ugly tentacles, most of your articles have been pro LP, and Olive school board members who are against the LP considered one dimensional: Or, to quote your columnist, Lisa Childers, "Olive centric." We challenge you to treat Olive fairly, or to remove "Olive" from your title. Reginald Bennett would expect nothing less.
Sincerely,
John R. Tisch, Joseph Friedel, Marianne Hopkins,
Judith & Drew Boggess
Olive, NY

Dear Editor,
Our president 's speech to the West Point graduates today worries me. His vision of taking the fight against terrorism "to every shore and outpost in pursuit of enemies everywhere" is frightening. This is not America that I know and love. We have always been a country that was ready to give generously to the needs of other nations-a country that was respected all over the world. All this is being destroyed now. Bush 's new agenda reminds me of how, with a similar vision of world domination, the Nazis swept across Europe in the 1930's. One country after another fell under their power and everyone believed that England would be the next.
Terrorism can never be overcome with violence. For every terrorist that we kill, one hundred others will come to the forefront. The Cold War (a struggle the President referred to in his address) was not won militarily; it was won through God's intervention in history, with the peaceful fall of the Berlin Wall. Earlier, America fought communism with only one result: we produced more and more communists, which is why President Eisenhower used the phrase the "domino theory" to describe the collapse of one country after another to Soviet dominance. We will have similar results with Bush's plan. Through using violence, we will do nothing else but produce more terrorists who will wreak devastation on the next generation. We can never export true democracy. It has to be given from within a nation.
There must be a better way to protect our nation and the lives of all people who long for peace. In these last years, despite the endless religious talk that goes in Washington, we have become a heathen nation that completely disregards the dignity of human life and the integrity of other peoples on the planet.
There is a different message that has to spread if we truly long for this freedom and democracy. This is the message of peace and non-violence, which respects all nations and all people from Damascus to Tehran, and from Kyoto to Darfur.
If we want peace, let's remember that Jesus is the Prince of Peace who told us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. This is the most powerful weapon to combat all terror.
Johann Christoph Arnold, Pastor
Woodcrest Bruderhof
Rifton, NY

Dear Editor,
I must inquire as to why the Olive Press prints letters that have no foundation in fact and/or have not been researched as to valid sources such as documents or media. [Just a rhetorical question].
Jill Paperno does a disservice to our young [or old] students in her comments by letter to the Press of May 25, 2006. She or anyone else in presenting their case for or against whatever point begins by attacking the president of the United States for being "selected" loses by default before discussion. A presidential candidate might be selected if the election goes into the House of Representatives as provided for by the Constitution. But even then it would be a legal election process [Art II].
There is ample proof that George W. Bush whom I have attacked a number of times won the election of 2000 according to the U.S. Constitution and the laws of the state of Florida.
Ms. Paperno declares that "Choice Point" is the company that will be gathering data from our phone conversations and eMails. I believe the NSA has an "understanding" with a couple [not all] phone companies to receive phone records with NSA paying for the cost of collection. Then Ms. Paperno really goes beyond the truth with her charge that "Choice Point" gathered data for the state of Florida [brother JEB's state] during the 2000 election campaign.
She is absolutely correct! It was indeed a "no bid" contract for $4 million to list felons with the election officials. Now this is where a person with hate in their heart and damage on her mind goes overboard; the election officials were democrats and they spent the money as was legal. These same officials designed and produced the famous "punch" ballots that caused "cross-eyeism" which is a "scrambling" of the mind and facilitates illiteracy. The Florida Democrats must be dumb cousins.
This fiasco was duly celebrated by the wire services and you can do a Nexus on CNN's Bill Schneider. The felons listed were not found to be "actually legally qualified citizens" after all nor were they a black majority with Al Gore in mind.
Ms. Paperno says the President Select stated that when a communication is monitored, "one end of the communication must be out of the US". She then goes on to confirm the above as regards the phone call records from AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth and adds her own brand of humor about us being in a coal mine or on a submarine. Good logic Ms. Paperno. Accuse us all of being on Mars during the "News Hour" and you're the only one that speaks to any issue with authority and accuracy.
The last [and only] time the NSA tapped a phone it was with the blessing of "Prince" Willie [der schlickmeister] on whose watch the law(s) was signed [Cong Record]. Lets play the "blame game" fair and square. Geprge W. has enough on his negative plate without piling on.
And certainly the mean old government of any stripe is going to use IRS, SS and Medicare records to "getcha". They did it with Gotti and others of his ilk. Well, let's hear it, Jill. "Not fair"!
Gen. Hayden didn't change the 4th Ammendment; he and other [police] officials have and will continue to "use" it. Ball's in your court Ms. Paperno.
And why is the CIA not supposed to be [specifically] under the military? The CIA has its Genesis in the military when I was about 18 years old [during WWII as the OSS]. And you say erroneously that our government was "set up" to be a democracy. Wrong!! We are a republic. So said Ben Franklin upon exiting Independence Hall when asked what kind of government have you given us? His reply was, "a republic, madam; if you can keep it". And that's why Mr. Gore lost even with a national majority in 2000. Because of a republic where the small states have a somewhat level playing field.
As far as living under a different form of government Ms. Paperno; we have been doing that for 218 years [1788, adoption of the 1787 constitution]. Don't pray or wish too seriously. You may get it.
And cutting back on phone calls or eMail is a good idea for you.
You might reconsider letters to the editor also unless they are supported by documented source rather than hate or hallucination.
May as well inform Mr. Thomas R. Siblo-Landsman that he left out the fact that the oil companies own the "show", the market is playing "catch-up" [$5-8 in Europe] and you do nothing to rid us of George W. other than "liar, liar; pants on fire" to maintain the status quo. Personally I love the rich and "crafty". When was the last time a local mendicant gave you a job Mr. Siblo-Landsman? And you should praise the "well to do" with their SUV's who continue to pay high prices at the pump thus generating tax revenue which abets "class warfare".
Your favorite physicist, Eric J. Learner's "No Big Bang" theory is challenged by a number of physicists, scientists and "pointy headed" agnostics. Even the Catholic theologians declare that if there was a "Big Bang" it was by divine guidance; cool!
Learner's work on fusion under Clinton was dropped by G.W. as a result of the liberal's opposition to what might be the end result. Nuclear power plants are sitting unused on open, un maintained properties while professor Learner is ahead of his time. One must expire prior to becoming notoriously famous whether it's a physicist or an artist. I still admire George Washington who said, "I cannot tell a lie"; Richard Nixon who said, "I can always tell a lie"; and Willie who said, I can't tell the difference".
Glenn T. Anderson
Olivebridge, NY

Dear Editor,
To date, 93 journalists have died in Iraq. To repay them for sacrificing their lives, our government is criminalizing them. This must be because it's just too hard to track down terrorists. It's way easier to find the NY Times "criminals" - just look at their masthead.
Here's what the top lawyer in the U.S., Attorney General Gonzales said about seeking to bring the NY Times up on charges for leaking "classified" information. (The classified information being the fact that the NSA is spying on all of our phone calls and internet actions, and informing "We, the People" about it.)
On ABC this Sunday, he said that he believes journalists can be prosecuted for publishing classified information, due to an obligation to national security. Huh?
As soon as General Hayden, (the leader that helped to put this program into action) is made the head of the CIA, and Gonzales proves that the President is not subject to the law, they will be able to use this information to put journalists in jail, or at least shut them down. As a reminder, the First Amendment states that: "Congress shall make no law ...... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press". Bye, bye, freedom of the Press.
Here's the funny part. By present law, the people who leak the information are breaking the law (that is presently on the books) and not the journalists that report what they were told. It was how we found out that Richard Nixon was indeed a "crook". However, our laws are now being changed.

Now, if you don't mind having "crooks" at the helm, then ok. Just sit back and watch. Hey, who needs newspapers? The government doesn't, because they are too hard to track anyhow. It's easier to track what you scan on the internet, or for that matter, on the tv, which doesn't matter anyhow, cause it's by and large owned and operated by the same folks, who report what they're told to report by the Administration. And isn't it easier to listen to propaganda?
It's so easy to believe that Saddam Hussein brought down the towers, and that he had WMD's, and that he was a bad man who we had to send our kids to get. Well, we got him. Now what? Why are our kids still dying and losing uncounted limbs over in Iraq? Maybe we don't even care about that.
If you want to learn more about the spying, look up ATT's whistleblower Mark Klein on the internet and find out about the secret room installed in their San Francisco switching center - a Defense Dept. project that scoured databases across the country, scanning our email, and our internet traffic, using AT&T and Sun Microsystems servers with traffic analysis software from Narus. Klein also noted that only persons with a clearance from the NSA could enter this room.
The New York Times revealed that the spying program is vastly bigger and was directly authorized by President Bush, as he himself has now admitted, in violation of the Constitution, but which Gonzales has given the OK to do.
Klein showed up at the Electronic Frontier Foundation unannounced in January with his documents in hand. The EFF was preparing a class-action lawsuit against AT&T for allegedly turning over customer phone-record data to the NSA . It had l.88 trillion entries. It appears doubtful that this investigation will be able to proceed. Could your information be in their hands? Perhpas you don't care, because you're not a radical leftie. But what about the phone calls to your mistress? What about your stock trades based on inside information? More to the point, what about Democracy? Wasn't it great? Don't you want to pass it on to your kids? Do we want to include Freedom of the Press to commemorate this weekend, along with the young men and women who have already lost their lives for us? Let's come together and save Democracy.
Jill Paperno
Glenford, NY