Opinion Letters
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The best representative
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Published: October 29, 2009
The citizens of the Southwest Ward and Winston-Salem in general have the best representative, Dan Besse. He never fails to return phone calls, give answers to questions or help with information requested by his constituents.
Not once, but twice in recent years he has met with my neighbors and me to help us preserve the residential character in our neighborhood. On both occasions when businesses attempted to encroach, he was available with a calm, diplomatic demeanor and offered sensible suggestions.
Besse has served Winston-Salem well by maintaining fiscal responsibility. He has shown leadership in creating a compromise on a much-needed tree ordinance that provides our city with a living legacy. Dan Besse provides the Southwest Ward with a real voice in city government.
I am proud to say that I have voted for Dan Besse before and will vote for him on Nov. 3. As a 47-year-long resident of Winston Salem, I feel that I have the best representation on the city council that I have ever had.
ELIZABETH MARTIN
Winston-Salem
Hold them responsible
Thousands of residents of Forsyth County, including my wife and I, have been annexed against our will into the city of Winston-Salem.
Many of us who opposed the forced annexation feel strongly that being annexed without our consent is a violation of one of the major principles upon which our nation was founded: No taxation without adequate representation. Because we weren't residents of the city until after we were annexed, we had no one to represent us with regard to being required to pay city property taxes.
Those who forced us to be annexed took advantage of a loophole provided by North Carolina state law to disregard the provision in our city charter that annexation be done only with the approval of those to be annexed. In effect, they acted like bullies to satisfy their desire to raise additional revenues for the city.
Now, we have the opportunity to hold responsible for their callous actions several of the current council members who supported the forced annexation. They are Dan Besse, Vivian Burke and Wanda Merschel. Unfortunately, we won't be able to hold the current mayor, Allen Joines, and Councilman Robert Clark responsible, since they are running unopposed.
It is my hope that just as the people of Texas rallied to the cry "Remember the Alamo!" in their efforts to overthrow the foreign government that oppressed them, citizens who have been forced to be annexed will rally to the cry "Remember forced annexation!" and vote against the council members who supported forced annexation.
HARVEY E. ARMOUR
Winston-Salem
Votes for Clemmons Council
While casting a vote is always important, casting votes for the right candidates for the Clemmons Village Council this year has never been more important. As a Clemmons resident for over 35 years, a concerned citizen and a Clemmons councilman, I want to take this opportunity to solicit votes for those I believe are the most qualified candidates.
With so many critical issues facing the community, both economically and strategically, we cannot afford the time it will take for inexperienced, untested candidates with personal agendas to catch up to the many serious issues facing the community.
That said, based on my personal experience serving our local government since the early 1990s, and particularly based on my experience working with the current council members, I feel obliged to publicly endorse Mary Cameron and Chris Jones, both with over a decade of service to the community, as the most knowledgeable and qualified candidates for re-election to the council.
As the third candidate, Jack Ingle offers the best option for voters. Where few if any of the newest candidates for council offer any extensive experience in Clemmons government activities, Jack's many years of experience, including service as a long-term member and current chairman of the Clemmons Planning Board, qualifies him as the best new candidate for the council.
Above all, it's extremely important for all registered Clemmons voters to vote and, for continued good government and fiscal responsibility in Clemmons, please vote with me for Mary Cameron, Chris Jones and Jack Ingle.
LARRY McCLELLAN
CLEMMONS VILLAGE COUNCIL MEMBER
Clemmons
Especially pleased
As a resident of the Ardmore neighborhood for the past 25 years, I have been especially pleased with our city council representative, Dan Besse. Dan listens to his constituents, takes their concerns seriously and responds appropriately. I have been impressed with his interest in all aspects of Winston-Salem and his diligence in working toward solutions.
We have been fortunate to have someone as committed as Dan Besse representing us on the city council. I urge residents in the Southwest Ward to go to the polls and vote for Dan Besse for city council representative of the Southwest Ward.
INEZ DAVIS
Winston-Salem
Revisiting de Tocqueville
In 1831, the French historian, Alexis de Tocqueville, toured the United States and then wrote a book about his travels. In this book, Democracy in America, he wrote, "The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money."
He was a really smart guy.
JAMES DUFFY
Clemmons
Prescription-drug program fiasco
If your readers were surprised to learn that the average price of drugs had almost doubled in nine years, your seniors might be astonished to know how much their premiums for Medicare drug coverage had increased. But perhaps they haven't noticed, because the premiums are deducted directly from their Social Security checks. My drug-insurance premium was $17.80 on Jan. 1, 2007, and $43.70 on Jan. 1, 2009. In two years, it has more than doubled; it has, in fact, gone up 146 percent and includes a higher deductible. At that rate, it could be $107.50 by the year 2011. The Medicare prescription-drug program is a fiasco; yet some members of Congress call it an accomplishment. Seniors would be better off with no insurance and the right to buy drugs in Canada.
During this health-care-reform debate, let us put prescription-drug coverage back on the table and negotiate lower prices for drugs as well as control the rise of insurance premiums through such choices as a public option.
BARBARA BUSKIRK
Winston-Salem
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