Letters to the Editor

Opinion

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. To join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address. Once you do, your comments will post automatically. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

December 31, 2009

Longing for courtesy

To the editor:

I long for the days of old, when an act of kindness was common, not uncommon. A world where when you said "I love you," you meant it and it showed. A world where your word meant more than just "Word" "sup." A world where honesty was the best policy. A world where whining was for babies and you didn't talk back to your parents. A world where "me me me" was heard in an opera house, not every house. A world where God meant someone bigger than all of us watching our every move and knew our every thought — and rightfully so, that thought scared us all. In this season of love and family, my prayer is that we all try a little harder to think of others instead of ourselves. Because we all need each other and the world would be a much nicer place if we were all a little nicer to one another. So in the spirit of the season "Merry Christmas and happy holidays" to all, may we all bring some kindness into someone's world and carry that sentiment into the new year. God Bless.

Ron Boone

Londonderry

(Editor's note: Due to an editing error, this letter had been published last week with numerous typographical errors.)

Politicians create a new word

To the editor:

I am calling on both the Republican and Democratic Parties to publish a list of all United States Senators and Representatives who have committed a Ben-Nelson. We must know who among our leaders are selling our country down the tubes for their 30 pieces of silver. We must see a list of how much it costs the taxpayers for Senator Harry Reid and Representative Nancy Pelosi to buy votes for socialist healthcare, a program that is against the will of the majority in this country. I, for one, resent the fact that Senator Ben Nelson allowed Senator Harry Reid to buy his vote. The federal government (meaning us) will pick up the tab for new Medicaid patients in the state of Nebraska added through Obamacare. That is in addition to the new Medicaid patients that will be added to the New Hampshire rolls. Some of our leaders have become prostitutes, selling their votes at the expense of our country. Thank you, Katherine J. Getchell Londonderry, NH 03053 603-432-3376 (for verification purposes only)

Katherine J. Getchell

Londonderry

Positive response

To the editor:

Members of Brookside Congregational Church's Women's Union responded to a recent article on behalf of Liberty House, Inc. called the "Adopt-a-Bill" program. The "Adopt-a-Bill" campaign was established and launched at the beginning of October 2009. Its purpose is to help off-set costs incurred by the house (electric/ phone/ heating oil etc...) and to help 'transitioning-out' American veterans with gift and gas cards. The campaign seeks to raise $10,000 over the next few months. To date, the fund raising campaign has seen about $3000 come in to assist with expenses the house incurs all year long.

At Liberty House, American veterans receive meals, clothing; household goods and case management to help guide them toward gainful employment and permanent housing. Veterans at Liberty House receive the support they need, the respect they deserve and the skills that empower them to achieve self-sufficiency.

Liberty House is a non-profit, 501(C) (3) corporation and all donations are tax deductible. Individuals, families and private and public companies and their employees etc... are all encouraged to participate in the fund-raising. Donations may also be made 'in memory of...' or on behalf of family members and or friends that have served or are currently serving our country.

For more information and/ or to donate to the cause, please contact "K" McCarthy:

Liberty House, Inc.

C/O K. McCarthy

75 West Baker St.

Manchester, NH 03103

K. McCarthy

Manchester

Open letter to Sen. Gregg

To the editor:

Dear Senator Gregg,

History will show that I have always supported you for every position you have sought in the past 30 years. I endorsed you when you ran for Governor's Council and ever since. When we were both members of the Nashua Young Republicans I supported you then, along with Ned Beebe and Peter/Jackie Flood. Have you forgotten your roots?

How is it that every Republican voted against the h/c bill? Is this a line in the sand? Is this a political issue or is it about something else?

Systemically this is about healthcare and not party lines. I am nauseated that the GOP has stuck together like this is an issue of war vs. pacifists. This is about healthcare and nothing more. This is about pre-existing disease. This is about 30 million Americans getting healthcare without using back doors or overloading emergency rooms. Who pays for the EMT or emergency room service provided to someone who doesn't have insurance? We all pay, one way or another.

I just don't get it. I just can't understand why not one single Republican could vote for the h/c bill. It is so disgustingly obvious to me and others that this is about party politics and not about people.

As I said, over the years I have supported you, but if the GOP continues to stand behind the "R" wall, I will work tirelessly against you for any other office you may seek. Come on Judd, for the sake of 30 million Americans, please help pass the national h/c package. It's not perfect, but neither was Social Security or Medicare when they first passed. It is a foundation and not the panacea.

Joel Saren

East Hampstead

White House immersed In pork barrel

To the editor:

When President Obama was campaigning for president he made a solemn pledge he would eliminate or reduce earmarks. He broke that promise during the push to implement the new healthcare program.

The White House cut backroom deals with a number of senators to secure their votes for the bill. Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska received $100 million in federal funds for a rip off which exempted his state from paying for new Medicaid patients. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana got a kickback of $300 million in extra federal spending for her state.

The healthcare bill will add $1 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years, and the Medicare system will suffer cuts of $500 billion. Approximately 30 million people will be added to the healthcare system. This will place a severe strain on hospitals and doctors who will not be able to handle the huge influx of new patients. The end result will be long waiting periods and lower quality service for all.

A particular concern is the impact of the program on small businesses, which will be forced to provide health insurance to their employees. This program could force many small businesses to raise prices and/or reduce costs (primarily labor costs), and some businesses will be forced to close their doors. It should be noted small businesses account for about 70 percent of the jobs in this country.

It is unfortunate the White House had to resort to pork barrel chicanery to get a highly flawed healthcare bill passed.

Donald A. Moskowitz

Londonderry

Voter registration session

To the editor:

On Tuesday Jan. 19, 2010 the Supervisors of the Checklist will have a session from 7 to 7:30 p.m. in the office at the Municipal Center Room 112 to register new voters and make changes. You may register or make changes at the town clerk's office during their usual business hours up to and including January 18, 2010. This will be the last time that you can register or make changes to your registration prior to the Derry District School Deliberative Session mentioned below. If you are not sure that your name is on the checklist, a copy of the complete checklist can be found at the Derry Library, Taylor Library and the Town Clerks Office.

The Derry District School Deliberative Session will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010 and you must be a registered voter in Derry to vote in this session. It is very important that every voter make an effort to show up and vote as this session determines the school budget and articles which will be voted on in the Town and School Election in March. In the past the turnout of voters has been very small in spite of the importance of this session.

Renee Routhier

Supervisor of the Checklist, Derry

Sponsors thanked

To the editor:

On behalf of St. Luke's Methodist Church I would like to thank the following sponsors who helped with donations towards our project for needy families in the area.

Hannafords of Londonderry; Paulies Butchershop, Derry; Ramano's Pizza, Derry; Rigatony's, Derry; and all of our church volunteers that help put this project together. Happy Holidays and the best of 2010 to all. Thanks again.

Beth Farley

Derry

School budget increase too large

To the editor:

"Have mercy on me," I uttered as I entered the town hall for the Londonderry School Budget presentation for FY11. This has been a tough two years for the taxpayer. With unemployment at 10.2 percent officially, (17.5 percent unofficially), the state of NH raising over 40 fees and taxes, and the Obama administration printing money like no other administration has in the past.

With this kind of economic news in the paper and on television, you would think the superintendent would offer a modest budget. But not in Londonderry, a whopping 5.8 percent increase to $63.5 million (this without two contracts for school employees). Wow! There was some muttering from the school board about being "mindful" of the town's taxpayers but apparently the superintendent did not hear that.

The superintendent doesn't realize there is a major recession going on with huge job losses!

And that it has hit many families in town with wage reduction, reduced hours and loss of jobs. Why they are even laying off Al Kaprielian, the local weatherman legend.

But then again, after the presentation nary a peep from the school board nor the Budget Committee over the "huge" increase in the school budget. Let me say it again, "5.8 percent increase" with a declining student population!

I started to think what the increase would have been if the superintendent and school board where not "mindful" of the taxpayer? ....I always believed the school board was there to oversee the school budget and make sure it is within the ability of town's people to pay for it. Not!

Well, as you can tell the school budget as proposed is DOA, as far as I am concerned. The budget should have started with last year's budget ($60 million) and then reduced as the need to pay for contract increases are due. I don't understand why the superintendent and school board are pretending there is nothing wrong with the economy or the taxpayer.

So what can one do? First, if you feel like I do (that the school is taking too much tax dollars for such a small fraction of the town population 21 percent.) Then its time for you to get involved. Waiting until the deliberative session to speak your mind is too late, way too late. The time is now to voice your displeasure over the school budget. There are several ways to do this, you can go to the budget workshops and state your opinion, you can e-mail the school district thru there website, you can write a letter to the editor or better yet, directly to the school board that you are fed up the huge increases in costs. But the time to do this is now, while the budgets are not set in stone.

I would like to see a strong response such as the one the town council got over the size of the trash barrels, of all things.

I need to hear from the people of Londonderry, either thru "letters to the editor," attending school budget meetings or send me an e-mail londonderrygroup@myfairpoint.net. The school tax rate effects my bottom line more than any other tax I get hit with, what about you?

Martin Srugis

Londonderry

Learner's permit not needed

To the editor:

This is a response to the bill proposed by Rep. Evalyn Merrick of Lancaster that would require teenagers who are at least 15 <1/2> years old to pass a written test and pay a $20 fee before beginning to drive with an adult. The bill is estimated to cost $1 million for the additional 18 licensing examiners the DMV would need to hire.

At first glance, I do not like this bill.

Rep. Evalyn Merrick says:

"It is nonsense that New Hampshire is the only one not to have this," Merrick said of a learner's permit law. "It is time."

Just because other states have a law is not a valid reason to pass a law. The only question we should be asking is: Will this bill save lives? For that answer, I am uncertain.

Merrick said in all states requiring a learner's permit, fewer lives were lost and insurance rates for drivers were lower.

I did a little research, and FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting Program) keeps statistics on deaths among various age groups and by state. I found that deaths between 16-20 year olds made up 14.4 percent of all fatalities in N.H. This is about average in comparison to other states; all of which have learners permit laws according to Merrick.

Second, N.H. is about average in terms of auto insurance cost compared to other states. The national average is $795, N.H. is $750.

Without her sharing her analysis for the statistical data, I question the validity of her claims, given the above preliminary findings. When Merrick says this bill will "save lives and save money," she is going on the premise that a significant portion of accidents occur while the driver is being supervised by their parents - and that if they had passed a written test they would have avoided an accident. How many deaths and how much damage occur under these specific circumstances? If she cannot answer this claim, then she hasn't done her analysis properly because these are the only scenarios whose outcomes would be affected. I'd guess the number is extremely small.

Keep in mind that this bill adds $1 million of expenditures with a questionable effect on traffic safety. It is likely that the $1 million expense could be better spent elsewhere in the state, such as improving unsafe roads and intersections - something that will definitely increase traffic safety. The money could also not be spent at all.

Finally, if Merrick's claim are correct - that a number of accidents occur under their parent's supervision and could have been avoided if they'd taken a written test first - then I think a better alternative solution is to have PARENTS administer and certify a written test to their kids before they can get in the driver's seat. This would give teenagers more exposure to rules of the road without the added cost to taxpayers.

Casey Eyring

Windham