OCCUPY BOISE BILL
An emergency? No —an assault on our rights.
Someone said, “If we ignore our rights long enough, they will go away.” Do not ignore the legislation House Bill 380, which curtails for all of us when and how we can exercise free speech and specifies what it has to look like. This bill has an “emergency measure” to shut down the peaceable assembly and exercise of free speech at Occupy Boise. Hmm — an emergency? Do we have any real emergencies to attend to? Money is considered free speech — my definition of emergency!
Legislators call Occupy camping, but this is not a recreational pursuit. It is an indefinite vigil to raise our voices for a truer democracy. Who is Occupy hurting and what rights are being trampled? Those of people who don’t like to look at tents? We are hurt far more from disastrous consequences of government catering to corporate demands and monied interests at the expense of ordinary citizens. Occupy is trying to help! You can help by raising your voices against infringement of free speech and peaceable assembly. Call your House representatives and ask them to vote against HB 380. The bill will be heard today or early next week. Please hurry, before another right is snatched away.
BARBARA KEMP, Boise
ETHANOL AND POLITICS
In the race to the bottom, Idaho passes Mississippi
One recent evening I filled my car up with gasoline and observed once again how utterly useless the Legislature from the “great” state of Idaho actually is. I drove out of my way to fill up with gas at one station. With gas at over $3 a gallon, I choose to put gasoline without ethanol in my vehicle. I like having a choice just as I enjoy driving without my emergency brake on. Making the use of ethanol mandatory is sneaky and unnecessary; I can buy ethanol gas at any street corner station. It is responsible for higher food prices, as now corn has competition in the market; it reduces vehicle performance; and it deteriorates the gaskets in the fuel supply systems, especially evident in lawn care equipment. To top it off, in front page news, Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, is trying to figure out if his drinking “incident” should force him to resign (one wonders why the felony theft charge was dropped). He will fit right in with the good old boys club. Time for a celebration. Idaho has now topped Mississippi in the race to be the lowest of the 50 states in the United States.
TONY SOUTHERLAND, Boise
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
An alternative to ad blitzes
I have a suggestion for the Republican presidential candidates on how to get more votes in the upcoming primary elections. It’s really simple, and I’m surprised they haven’t thought of it. To court the 99 percent of people who are facing challenges in this economy (like starving), have their super PACs donate to that state’s food bank rather than giving it to television stations for ads.
Between Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida, the super PACs will likely waste over $30 million on advertising. At 25 cents per can of food, we would be looking at 120 million cans for food banks in only four states. You can’t buy that kind of media publicity, plus the Republican candidates would be doing something for someone other than themselves for once.
ERIK LAZDINS, Boise
VETERANS
Keep this ‘leftover’ $20 million where it belongs
As a retired disabled veteran, I read with disbelief that the $31 million held at the State Division of Veterans Services would go anywhere except for veterans. Why was this not used to help veterans over the years? Now they want to use this “leftover” money ($20 million) to fund the state Medicaid program, and $7 million to do some repairs at the three state homes. They could do a whole lot more repairs and upgrades with “their” money. Someone help me understand where the state gets the authority to distribute money that was allocated for veterans and not a slush fund for the governor to use as he thinks is politically correct.
Why were they sitting on this money? They couldn’t have used it to support better services for veterans? All state departments complain they don’t have enough money, yet the Division of Veterans Services doesn’t spend the money meant for the vets.
Let’s remember those who sacrificed their lives and health for it, the veterans of the state of Idaho!
DON MACE, Meridian
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Fascist policies destroy America from within
In an act of treason, the U.S. Congress and president passed legislation titled the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which legitimizes indefinite detention, torture and assassination of U.S. citizens without due process of law. The president in effect becomes judge, jury and executioner! The NDAA overthrew and destroyed the Bill of Rights and shredded the U.S. Constitution.
Why are Americans looking for big, bad bogeymen overseas (the Muslims, Arabs, Iranians, etc.), when their country has been destroyed from within? The answer is that Americans in general are in love with fascism and Nazism! They love their wars of aggression (ballgames are simulated warfare), the Gestapo security forces beating, shooting and pepper-spraying peaceful protesters, the giant corporate prison camps, the ubiquitous surveillance cameras, the end of Internet freedom (Stop Online Piracy Act).
George Orwell said to imagine the future, imagine a boot stomping a human face for eternity. We now have the pride and glory of America, a swastika flag flying over the White House, a corporate-fascist-dictatorship; long live the assassinator!
DAVID HEWITT, Boise
HOME LOANS
Lease-purchase plans can keep people in their homes
Christmas is over. Some spend too much money and return gifts to the store. They protect their credit rating, which will enable them to make future purchases.
Relate this experience to shoppers who were drawn to buying homes they couldn’t afford. Could a program taking deeds in lieu of foreclosure be part of the solution to our home loan crisis? From 1954 to 1994 I was proud to be a banker. In my time, loan applicants were put to the test of the three Cs of credit: character, capacity, collateral. From a banker’s perspective: Will they pay? Can they pay? Can we make them pay?
In 1956 I was promoted to assistant manager of the Idaho First National Bank branch in Council. My manager, Don Strickfaden, told me, “Any damn fool can make a loan. Good bankers make loans they can collect.” I learned that practice was beneficial for borrowers as well. Today, many borrowers don’t have adequate capacity, and lenders don’t have adequate collateral. However, both have a rich uncle. A workout program could include a lease-purchase agreement which would enable worthy folks to remain in their homes.
I remind all, Christmas is never over.
DEAN HODGES, Twin Falls
