Opinion Letters
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A more perfect union
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Published: October 28, 2009
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare -- allow me to repeat that -- promote the general Welfare -- and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
This is the philosophical premise on which our great nation was founded. If over the past eight years our nation has been willing to spend $900 billion on two wars, sparked by the unconscionable terror of 9/11 that massacred nearly 4,000 innocent people, against al-Qaida, an invisible enemy of doctrine and philosophy, and against a sovereign nation, Iraq, on trumped-up charges of WMD, in an effort to insure domestic tranquility and provide for the common defense, then we, as a nation, in order to promote the general welfare, should be more than willing to spend $900 billion or even more over the next 10 years on the health and well-being of our own citizens who are dying at a rate of more than 40,000 a year because they have no health insurance.
Inaction at this point in our history is inconceivable and tantamount in itself to the most unimaginable and unforgivable act of domestic terrorism.
BOB BURWELL
Winston-Salem
Too much spin
City officials are trying to put a positive spin on the loss of the Dell plant ("Dell plant to close in 2010," Oct. 8). Mayor Allen Joines says that Dell will repay all of the money in accordance with the agreement. Always quick to reiterate what the mayor says, albeit nonsensically, Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse goes so far as to insist that because Dell paid property taxes, this means our city will receive a net benefit of millions of dollars over and above our investment ("Post Dell," Oct. 11).
It will be interesting to see how Dell will repay the city. Maybe it will write us one of those giant poster-sized checks and present it to us at halftime of the upcoming Miami-Wake game. Or, maybe it'll give everyone in Winston-Salem a free computer. Or maybe, just maybe, it'll figure out that the agreement is poorly written and it makes more sense to litigate, dragging this ordeal out for a year or two until settlement. After all, why pay an unsecured creditor (Winston-Salem) a poster-sized check when you can litigate your way into a settlement for pennies on the dollar?
Regardless, this story won't unfold until after the Nov. 3 municipal election. Funny how the city said that it won't pursue the incentive money until after Dell is out of the plant. If our agreement is so perfect, why not demand the money now? I think that question answers itself.
NEIL JONAS
Winston-Salem
Best candidates
I hope that readers will consider voting for Chris Jones, the "unencumbered candidate," for the Clemmons Village Council. Chris is retired and has no intentions to run for a higher political office. He has no financial interest in any enterprise that may profit from his election. Jones is the "people's candidate" and is not running as a member of any group or clique.
Jones is far and away the most knowledgeable and experienced person who has ever served in our village government. We should retain his valuable experience.
Another worthwhile choice is Mary Cameron. She is the only female on the council. As such, she brings to this body a woman's perspective. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor writes on the importance of this attribute in government. If Cameron herself were to write this, it would be viewed as self-serving. Still, it needs to be said. I speak unprompted and from my own convictions. Cameron, like Jones, is long on ability and high on integrity.
Clemmons is perhaps the only community in North Carolina that enjoys the protection of a property-tax cap in our charter; this is the primary reason that we enjoy an unbelievably low tax rate. However, the state can remove this feature at the request of the local government. Whoever we vote for should make a commitment to uphold this citizen-protection clause. Not all candidates have done so.
Jones and Cameron have successfully defended this proviso throughout many years.
BOB GLEASON
Clemmons
Strong and effective voice
During his years of public service on the Winston-Salem City Council, Dan Besse has been a strong and effective voice for improving our community and quality of life. He has supported our city's significant increase in the number of police officers and neighborhood-watch programs, and he has consistently supported traffic-safety programs to reduce speeding on neighborhood streets. He was a leader in the city's efforts to improve the quality of the air that we breathe, and provided an invaluable public service by negotiating between development and environmental groups to craft an effective tree ordinance, to preserve our beautiful tree canopy.
Dan knows how to bring people together to solve problems. His thoughtful, reasoned and respectful approach will be much-needed as we face the challenges ahead. Now more than ever, we need Dan Besse's voice on the city council.
JOHN CALHOUN
Winston-Salem
Never-ending surprises
From time to time there are a great many letters to The readers' forum expressing complaints and criticisms. I have decided to send an uplifting letter.
Recently outside my window there was a classic example of the blending of summer and autumn. For days, some of the bushes and trees had been taking on their autumn colors. In direct contrast that morning, the red azalea bushes, which have been blooming intermittently since spring, were still showing lovely red blossoms.
And when I turned on the television that morning, the first thing I saw was snow in many parts of the country. Added to that, much of the country had freezing or lower temperatures overnight, winter trying to freeze out autumn and summer.
The seasons do come and go and not always on an exact schedule -- just one of God's many pleasant and never-ending surprises. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
THE REV. TOM RUTLEDGE
Winston-Salem
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