Partisanship,

patriotism

TO THE EDITOR:

During the 20th century, our government was pretty much balanced. Government grew, as did personal freedom, individual liberty and middle-class prosperity.

In today’s political chaos, we blame our politicians for having no balance in Congress. We need to blame ourselves. We vote for politicians who see no legitimacy in common goals and who demonize every public enterprise, from public schools to Medicare and Social Security.

Compromise is not evil; without it, political progress, economic prosperity and liberty are unattainable.

Sure, Democrats detested George W. Bush, but they met him halfway on education and helped him make a commitment to the fight on AIDS, TB and malaria in Africa, just to name a few bipartisan achievements.

Republicans today are different; they put partisanship ahead of patriotism. They scorn compromise and are not swayed by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science. They see no legitimacy in political opposition.

Our forefathers advocated self-government, not no government. A truly democratic government is a constructive force in our national life and is supposed to be creative.

On the other hand, the tea party advocates, who seem to have captured the heart of the Republican Party, see government as oppressive, wasteful and damaging to our nation’s growth and prosperity. These views destroy any chance of a productive Congress so long as the two Houses are held captive by the influence of threats from the tea party adherents — do as I say or you, too, like Sen. Lugar, will be replaced by one of our kind of conservatives.

Lugar was a Republican of moderate persuasion who believed in compromise, a practice that once typified Congress.

J. S. WATERHOUSE

Plattsburgh

Viewpoint

criticized

TO THE EDITOR:

Surely there are better expressions of a conservative point of view than that of Terry Daniels in a recent paper.

“A tragic era in America …”? Webster describes tragedy as, among other things, “a serious drama … describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion …”

And then to label “a small group” of ex-Chicagoan socialists as responsible for — what?  – “the drape of red (which) has covered America….” I’m sure Chicago, one of the more conservative spots in the USA, would be intrigued to know that it is a hot bed of socialism. (Full disclosure: I was born and spent my first 14 years there).

Terry Daniels’s letter is a string of meaningless platitudes. Nowhere does he identify real issues or problems that one can reflect on, or discuss and debate with fellow citizens.

I’m disappointed that you would publish such a silly piece of writing.

BILLY COWAN

Plattsburgh

Recreation

Park

TO THE EDITOR:

 I live in Cadyville and am a taxpayer in the Town of Plattsburgh, so I was very interested in the article in the Press-Republican about the Cadyville Recreation Park and Clinton Community College.

It seems CCC wants to sell the property for a large sum of money. Shame on you.

A little history: The property was given to CCC to be used for educational purposes. Initially it was thought that the college would be located in Cadyville. That didn’t happen so the parcel of land sat there undeveloped until the Town of Plattsburgh stepped in. The town has borne all the costs of developing the property; it has built the ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, the play area and, most recently, the disc golf course.

CCC talks about maintenance costs. I have never seen a CCC maintenance vehicle there. The town mows and lines the fields, plows the roadway in the winter.

And now after being given the land and not paying to develop it, CCC wants to sell it to the town. Town of Plattsburgh taxpayers should be up in arms — we are being asked to pay twice for the same parcel of land. Perhaps a state grant will help — that’s taxpayers again. After all, where does Albany get its money?

I call on CCC to do the honorable thing — carry out the original intent for the land; give it to the Town of Plattsburgh so people of the community can enjoy the fruits of our taxes.

KATHY O’CONNELL

Cadyville

Grasshopper

tournament

TO THE EDITOR: 

On Saturday, July 21, we held a Grasshopper Baseball Tournament to benefit the Cumberland Head Fire Department.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the generous sponsors who donated to this cause: JCEO, State Farm, Hannaford, Wal-Mart, Sam’s, Kinney’s, Walgreens, Play it Again, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Price Chopper, Lowes, Ernie’s Discount, Dames Rental & Sales, Perkins, Georgia Pacific, Plattsburgh Distributing, Cumberland Bay Market, Stewarts, Freihoffers, Exit 36 Mobil, Big M, Green Mountain Coffee, Northern Cakes, Frito Lay, Pepsi, Starbucks, Vermont Pure Water, Vermont Lake Monsters, Homestead, Vermont Teddy Bear, Mobil, A&W, Casella, Shingle Street Sand & Septic, Town of Plattsburgh, Cumberland 12 North Bowl Lanes, Target, Valley Vending, Pactiv, North Pole and Hong -Kong Jade.

The local support received was outstanding.

I would also like to say thank you to the many volunteers of the day: Sam and Jessica Coon; Allen, Debbie, Cheri and Shannon Passino; Randy, Debbie and Anthony Watson; Barbara Martin; Dave D’aust; Brantley and Leslie Marion; Bryan and Danyelle Dousharm; Wolf and Mama Bear Mattes; Gray and Tammy McCasland; Eric and April Fessette; Lyle Newman; Tom Batterson; Jim Lavoie; Antonio Bond; Jean-Yves and Kristy Berube; Matt Meunier; Kyle Murphy; and Todd Hall.

There were nine teams participating: Cumberland Head, North Plattsburgh, Mooers, AuSable, Peru, East Morrisonville, Morrisonville Yankees, Rouses Point and West Chazy. Each team averaged 12 children, totaling about 108 kids, with all of them enjoying a fun-filled day of baseball.

Lastly, I would like to thank Rahn Marion, as well as my husband, Harold Van Weort, for all of their hard work in helping me make this event a huge success. It was truly an outstanding day for all who attended.

ROBIN VAN WEORT

Plattsburgh

Almost

run over

TO THE EDITOR:

 I am a 64-year-old disabled artist on kidney dialysis.

The country has a good-size investment in my well being, as does the federal government. I use para-transport service to get to and from the HK Freedman Renal Center every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

I find it convenient to shop for my groceries at Hannaford Grocery Store. So, on Tuesday, I take my walk across Plaza Boulevard to shop for my groceries and hire a cab to bring the groceries and my beat-up body home. It saves a lot of time for me and saves the para-transport superfluous driving.

However, July 17, I was nearly run down by some jerk in a midsize white car, as he refused to yield the right-of-way to me as the law requires.

I request a warning sign at this location, and I believe such stupid drivers deserve to be ticketed and fined substantially.

LARRY DAVIS

Plattsburgh