Opinion Letters
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They should read the bills
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Published: July 3, 2009
As a concerned American, I am sick and tired of our politicians, both Republican and Democrat, passing legislation that they have not personally read. Voting on 10-page or 1,300-page bills which nobody reads is an outrageous dereliction of duty and an insult to the American people.
I am proposing a simple piece of legislation that all politicians will be able to read. It is composed of only one sentence, as follows: "No representative or senator may cast a vote on any proposed legislation unless he/she has personally read the bill."
I don't know how many of our politicians would sign onto such a bill, but, then, we the people still have an opportunity to vote them out.
Get with it, America. We must address this atrocity.
W. DAVID STEDMAN
Winston-Salem
Down the list
So, $40.7 million for an as-of-yet uncompleted baseball stadium. Why? How many people are concerned about Class A baseball? If Winston-Salem devoted the same amount of money to SECCA, we would have a world-class museum and a destination for tourists. This project is so far down the list of things that matter that it is frightening. Well, you know what they say about throwing good money after bad.
GREG LANE
Kernersville
Political posturing
The post-election situation in Iran reminds me of the situation of the two American journalists held by North Korea, Laura Ling and Euna Lee. The American government can do practically nothing openly to help them.
Some Republican senators condemned President Obama for being timid and not reacting forcefully to the situation. Their criticism was rightly rebuffed by the conservative columnist Peggy Noonan as "short-sighted and mischievous" ("Whose Side Are We On?" June 19, Wall Street Journal).
I would add that their criticism was nothing more than political posturing, and dangerous posturing at that. The situation is fluid and muddy and no person or organization appears to be leading the protest. What can the American government do? Nothing. Fiery words from an American president would be counterproductive and would only give excuses to the Islamic regime to blame the unrest on the United States and reveal more hatred of Americans.
Just as the case of the two American journalists held by North Korea, the less said the better. It would be more productive to work behind the scenes.
Current TV, the employer of the two journalists, was criticized for saying little publicly about their fate. The criticism is not justified. I am sure the management at Current TV knows how to deal with North Korea, and their silence is for the best interest of their captive employees.
The White House is probably taking a similar approach to the Iran situation. It's better to work behind the scenes.
BOON T. LEE
Winston-Salem
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