Published: October 21, 2009 07:45 am      

Letters to the Editor: October 21, 2009

Politics are ruining the United States

What’s wrong with the USA? Politics! Today, neither of the major parties represents 80 percent of Americans. A majority of us don’t vote straight party, but for the person. Sadly, which party is in power represents the 10 percent of the extreme of their party and the rich. The rest of us are not represented. They are there to fill their pockets from ours and to gain power and a career.

The majority of Americans don’t want illegals to have any benefits or rights. They are here illegally. Round them up and throw them out. We don’t want to “press one for English.” We don’t want generations living on welfare. Help for a while to get on your feet, yes; forever, no.

We don’t want our tax money going to countries that hate us. We don’t want to be in wars under false pretenses (Iraq). We want Social Security to be a locked box, like it was supposed to be. We want some form of health insurance for all. We don’t want God removed from our government buildings or money. We would like the worthless U.N. removed from the U.S.A. We can’t be everything to everyone else and not take care of our own.

We don’t choose our representatives. The major parties do, and we choose the lesser of two evils from them. Unfortunately many good people don’t run because of the lack of money or the impossibility of a third party winning. The two parties dictate who can or can’t debate.

We need term limits for all politicians, local to federal, and a law forbidding lawyers from running for any office. They have ruined this country. God help us.

Robert “Duke” Piroha Hamden

Democrats fielding fine candidates

The Democrats in the town of Oneonta are fielding an outstanding slate of candidates for this upcoming election.

Bob Wood is serving as town supervisor. His hard work on the budget has kept our taxes down while getting important projects under way.

Rich Murphy, on the county board of representatives, has introduced new life in that body with matters of natural gas-drilling, public works, solid waste, administration, telecommunications and inter-employee relations.

Jim Hurtubise as highway superintendent continues improving the town’s highways.

Johnny G. Frisch will be a considerable asset to the town board. He will bring a fresh new, young stimulation as a new councilman.

Phil Hosley is running for town justice. Phil has the compassion and fairness to execute true justice. I urge all town voters to elect these candidates. You will find them on the “Democratic” and “Citizens for Oneonta” ballot lines.

Leon Kalmus Oneonta

Leon Kalmus is a member of the Otsego County Democratic Committee.

McCaffery is community-minded

The Otsego Town Clerk should be familiar with local issues and local people and have a general knowledge of the budget process. I can think of no person who is more community minded than Richard M. McCaffery. I fully support his bid for the position of Otsego town clerk.

Rich was my supervisor for several years when I worked for Cornell Cooperative Extension. As a boss, he showed a real interest in my program and was very supportive of new ideas and projects.

What surprised me was learning about the many committees that Rich has served on over the years. The Lions Club, the Cooperstown Village Parks Committee, the Chamber of Commerce and a Cooperstown Summer Concert Series, as well as Bassett Healthcare, are just a few of the places that have benefited from his involvement. Rich is a man who shows up, offers ideas and puts in the time to serve others.

Rich is a real people person. He takes the time to get to know folks and has a great memory for names and faces. From a business standpoint, he worked with budgets at CCE for more than 30 years, where he was conscientious about filing reports and grant proposals in a timely way.

He is a true friend to this town and would do an excellent job as Otsego town clerk.

Marcia Kozubek Oneonta

Anderson has improved roads

I have lived in the town of Laurens for more than a decade. Ever since Robert Anderson took over as town road superintendent, there has been a marked improvement in the town roads.

He is always available and responsive to citizens’ concerns and acts on them in a timely manner. I have nothing but admiration for Mr. Anderson. He has been a tireless worker for our town and he is a true gentleman. I will be casting my vote for Robert B. Anderson on Nov. 3.

Pat Carey Laurens

Keator is fiscally responsible

As chairman of the Otsego County Board of Representatives, I consider fiscal responsibility to be a top priority. There are two key elements involved in this process _ budgeting and accounting. In order for our board to make wise decisions in allocating tax dollars, we need accurate data, meaningful projections and sound advice.

Likewise, once those decisions are made, we require effective controls and efficient oversight to ensure those dollars are spent properly.

These extremely important duties are entrusted to the office of county treasurer. It is vital to our taxpayers that a well-qualified, experienced person holds this position. This is why I am supporting Ed Keator.

Ed has nearly three decades of professional financial experience as an accountant, a tax preparer and a small-business person. He has worked in the treasurer’s office and knows all aspects of its operation.

Equally important, Ed Keator has the skills and the temperament to work effectively with the board of representatives and county department heads to ensure Otsego County’s taxpayers are well-served.

I encourage all residents of Otsego County to support Ed Keator for county treasurer.

James Powers Butternuts

Write in ‘Babcock’ for town clerk

I am writing this letter in support of the write-in candidacy of Betsy B. Babcock, a resident of the town of Franklin and a local entrepreneur, for Franklin town clerk.

Betsy B. Babcock is well-qualified to hold the position of town clerk of Franklin. She has a master’s degree in business and years of experience starting, developing and managing both her own and others’ corporations. She is currently the global bureau relations manager for a large international payroll firm, and has a significant amount of project management experience.

She owns, with her husband, Brian, Handsome Brook Farm: Bed and Breakfast and Preserves (the preserves are currently for sale at Hannaford Supermarket, among many others). I believe that Betsy’s organizational skills and experience will benefit the town of Franklin if she is elected town clerk.

More importantly, she is deeply committed to a fully democratic form of town government, and to a transparent and fair electoral process. In addition, Betsy has pledged to significantly improve access to information for town residents, through the use of web-based technology and good, oldfashioned customer service.

Again, I greatly appreciate The Daily Star’s recent coverage of Franklin and will look forward to your coverage of Betsy B. Babcock’s write-in candidacy for the town clerk of Franklin _ because every vote counts!

Charlene Sugihara Franklin