Val Torrens

No surprise she goes after protesters

Regarding Val Torrens’ most recent diatribe in the North Kitsap Herald (Friday, April 24, 2009); she titles, “Where were protesters over taxes in the past eight years?” It comes as no surprise that she takes a shot at the protesters and not the government. Just like those she aligns herself with politically: MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow; all the “Air America” radio hosts; and other left-wing pundits, slammed the thousands of fed-up Americans who, on April 15, exercised their First Amendment rights to petition the government for redress of grievances. But alas, the televised, broadcast, and printed Pushback from the left-wing media’s bullypulpit mocked the protesters’ best efforts.

The protest was simply not about taxes. It was about wasteful spending in Big Government. It was about the government voting for a stimulus package for the private sector (The Tarp Act), when there exists no constitutional authority for this action. It was about the removal of R. Wagoner from the position of General Motors CEO; a person who operated a private enterprise, and the precedent this act sets for more governmental interference in the private sector where it has no business or authority to intercede.

And the most frightening issue is the spector of the Obama spending deficit from all this interference, which has been predicted by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to be at $17 trillion by the year 2019.

Barack Obama: “And, absolutely, we need earmark reform. And when I’m president, I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely.” Sources: The first presidential debate, Sept. 26, 2008.

Yet out of the Stimulus Package we see expenditures allowed such as the “John Murtha Johnstown Cambria County Airport.” (John Murtha D-Pa). Mr. Murtha has funneled $150 million into an airport that only has three flights per day.

Each flight has one destination: Washington, D.C. The government subsidizes each passenger by one hundred dollars. The latest infusion of $600,000 in taxpayer money to this project was on April 15.

World history is rife with countless examples of governments, dictators and oppressors who have interceded in the free market economies of the people of many nations. All resulted in disaster. The government is growing too large. It is going to grow even larger now.

There is a great deal of evidence (whether our citizens choose to acknowledge it or not), that the real cause of our economic meltdown in 1929, and now, has been because congress attempted to ‘control’, and manipulate our free market economy.

Val Torrens needs to “Get It”, as she eructs about those she disagrees with.

Because whether she wants to admit it or not, this administration’s spending profile is going to make W’s look like a piggy bank.

Barry Clemons

Poulsbo

Tax Protestors

Is That All You Got?

First Republicans voted against a plan to stop the recession and save many businesses. Next, they voted against health care that would give the nation a better chance of fighting diseases like the Swine Flu.

Then they voted against the budget.

Now Republicans are fighting against America by refusing support for President Obama’s plans to fight the recession and public health care.

They’re doing their best to slander and libel Obama and other democrats, a technique made popular by Nixon (remember Tricky Dick?) and revisited by Karl Rove and his ilk.

Where is the Republican plan to end the recession? Where is their plan for health care for all people? Where are their plans to end the war in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Democracy, real democracy, requires at least two parties negotiating and debating in order to come up with the best plans required for the country in all areas of national concern.

Democracy requires participation by both parties. It is the responsibility of each representative and senator to fully invest themselves in the process.

Michael Arnold

Bremerton

Prep track and field

A waste of public funds?

Wake up, people! Washington state school districts are wasting thousands of our tax-payers dollars each year by perpetrating a hoax. They fund track and field as a varsity sport, which they say is the nation’s most participated-in athletic activity for secondary school athletes.

How can you call this activity a sport when it has no educated, professional officials to administer competitions? It leaves me awestruck that our school districts are apparently not smart enough to see the huge gamble and risk they take with millions of our dollars when they sanction competitions directed by non-certified officials. This is an attorney’s field day waiting to happen!

On the other hand, we taxpayers are grateful that you have chosen to fund a third official on the floor for high school basketball which, on the average, gives 15-17 athletes significant playing time per game. These contests have become safer, more efficiently and accurately administered for these kids.

So, add the three-legged race, gunnysack hop, and make track and field a part of your school’s intramural program and quit wasting and risking our money on something you call a competitive interscholastic sport. That’s the answer, isn’t it?

Lane Dowell

Bremerton

Teacher Week

Local businesses made it successful

North Kitsap High School teachers were honored this week by local businesses that recognized our high school teachers. We would like to thank Dairy Queen, Dominos Pizza, Albertsons, Central Market, and Poulsbo’s Red Apple for contributing to our teachers, and making their week special. We appreciate the businesses for going above and beyond for our community, and honoring our teachers who work hard to make a difference to our future generation.

Thank you.

Karin Lawlis and Classified Staff at North Kitsap High School

Point No Point

For clarification’s sake

About three weeks ago I called and talked with you about the article in your paper regarding Point No Point beaches. Your paper erroneously indicated that the public was welcome to use our beaches out here. That, is in no way true where the beaches are private property — the only exceptions are the two county parks on our road and the old Point No Point Resort which has limited public access at this time. Otherwise, the beaches are private property to the mean low tide line. They are our front yards!

Judy Roupe

Hansville