Boycott encouraged
TO THE EDITOR: Upstate New York has kicked into what one might call a "survivor" mode. TV's "Survivor" has gained popularity for the excitement of voting off the villain or cheering for the underdog.
I recently had an opportunity to teach a class where some "castoffs" from Pfizer were in attendance. As I stood and talked about customer satisfaction, the quality of the organization I worked for, service excellence and how individuals make a difference in and for an organization, I realized that those castoffs had been dealt a blow that would take more than words to overcome. They had lived their values, been loyal organizational supporters, liked their jobs, had friendships that would last a lifetime, but were sitting and I'm sure wondering if my words were true or smoke and mirrors. It took only to look into faces to see how big the closure was to each of them.
Americans have always been supporters of boycotting, refusing to buy or avoiding organizations, products, or people who do not support the values we all hold dear. I suggest that, when we see our doctors, that we ask them to not prescribe Pfizer products or medications, that we visit the Pfizer Web site and find out what over-the-counter products are produced by this uncaring company and refuse to buy Pfizer products. Will we impact the bottom line of Pfizer? Overall, not in the least, but it will impact my conscience as I support the people, the community, as well as the values that Pfizer needs to understand, caring, compassion, and community spirit. Is the plant closure personal? It sure is. My bottom line: don't buy Pfizer.
Catherine LaRock-McMahon
Essex
Political rebuttal
TO THE EDITOR: On March 11 the Press Republican published my campaign news release on frivolous lawsuits. In her rebuttal, my opponent suggested that I did not understand how the Legislature or the "Balance of Powers" works.
Under our State Constitution (the one my opponent seeks to rewrite through her "People's Convention",) the role of the Attorney General is not covered by one of the three powers articles. It is covered in Article V. In Section 3 of that Article, the Legislature is given authority to curb the powers of the Attorney General and other officers as it deems appropriate. I pointed this out to the Press Republican. They chose not to print it.
Adding to the now oft heard mantra "read the bill before you sign it" might I suggest to my opponent that she read the State Constitution before rewriting it. This example accentuates why 68 percent of the North Country opposes her "People's Convention" legislation.
David Kimmel
Cadyville
Peekskill, Plattsburgh
TO THE EDITOR: Just an FYI, this is how Peekskill is spelled. I know because I grew up there till I was 18 and moved to the North Country. I've now lived in Plattsburgh for 13 years. Had to laugh about the SNL skit, out of all the cities to pick, I've spent the majority of my life in them!
Vanessa Lewis-Rodriguez
Plattsburgh
