EDITORIAL PAGE
Tasteless attack on Romney
I am completely offended by the obscene political cartoon the Idaho Statesman published on Jan. 19. Showing Mitt Romney as a pirate standing in triumph on what appears to be the partially sunken hulk of that Italian cruise ship was disrespectful to the victims. Lives were lost in that tragedy at sea, including an American married couple from Minnesota among the missing. Their dream cruise lasted only about three hours. I doubt the families of those lost found any humor in your biased liberal idiocy. I don’t recall seeing that kind of disrespect after 9/11 and yet you rejectletters you consider in poor taste.
DUANE A. COATES, Meridian
Anti-Romney cartoon was mean-spirited, pointless
I was dismayed by the appallingly poor taste you exhibited with your editorial cartoon attempting to associate Mr. Romney with the tragic Costa Concordia wreck. I had hoped to find an intelligent discussion of issues on the editorial page. Your cartoon is not only mean-spirited, but pointless. There are still bodies trapped in that poor ship. As far as I can tell, Mr. Romney has not committed piracy, murder or any other crimes to date. Your mothers must be so ashamed. (Their retirement funds probably benefited from Bain investments.) Please cancel my subscription.
JULIA WHITING, Boise
Anti-abortion cartoon was inflammatory and offensive
Roe vs. Wade has been a contentious, painful issue for Americans. However, this ruling affirms that abortion is a private matter and a constitutional right. The decision to publish the Jan. 23 cartoon depicting the Statue of Liberty garbed in mourning, stating that 50 million have been denied life, etc., is stunningly irresponsible. First, this monument welcomes immigrants, it has nothing to do with this deeply personal subject. If anything, the spirit is about the freedom of choice. More importantly, providers have been murdered, clinics fire-bombed by those who consider themselves above the law. This image can only serve to reinforce the misguided belief that abortion violates core American values, thus any means to limit access is acceptable.
I have subscribed to the Statesman for about 30 years, but no longer. This cartoon does not address Roe vs. Wade in any semblance of balance; it is inflammatory, inaccurate and deeply offensive.
CHRISTINE A. KING, Boise
ABORTION
A nation’s millstone
This Jan. 22 marked another year of legalized abortion in America. Nearly 50 million have been killed in the slaughter of the unborn. One local pastor accurately described the ruling of Roe v. Wade, Jan. 22, 1973, as the time “that a millstone was hung around the neck of Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty.”
Our nation and state were founded upon the recognition of God as our creator and lawgiver. It is from him that our inalienable rights of life and liberty flow. If any individual or nation lives outside his law (or, to make it worse, is proud of it) they will suffer under his judgment.
We not only need, but must return to, honoring and obeying God. What’s left of Sodom and Gomorrah is only desolation.
STEVE TANNER, Bonners Ferry
SUPER BOWL ADS
Still the same old drivel
It is amazing to me that people actually celebrate the commercials aired during the Super Bowl. We have been easily manipulated into thinking that because promoters are willing to pay $4 million for a “30-second spot,” it is something special or miraculous! The truth is, it’s the same annoying drivel we barely tolerate for the remaining 364 days of the year. Advertising, as a percentage of prime-time programming, has grown from an average of 13 percent in 1952 to 31 percent in 2011 with some late-night programming now nearing 50 percent.
I understand businesses need to hock products or services, but let’s wake up and smell the soup. If advertising was a rotten bowl of clam chowder, it would still leave a bad taste in your mouth regardless of how much it cost or how many persons you served it to.
KELLY TEMPLE, Boise
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
It’s not too late to start
I am Levi King. I am 13.
It’s a new year. I know this because it is past Dec. 31. I am grateful for it and I want to wish you all a happy new year. I hope that everyone is excited and I hope that you have made a New Year’s resolution. If not, then here are some reasons why you should, and what it might do for you.
1. A resolution might help you want to make more goals this year.
2. It might be something new for you to try.
3. It can help you to become a better person.
If you don’t know what a resolution is, then here it is.
A resolution is something that you want to change about yourself that you did or didn’t do in the past year. A resolution can also be something that you want to become better at.
If you haven’t made a New Year’s resolution yet and you want to, then insert it in the blank below.
My New Year’s resolution is_______________________________________.
LEVI KING, Eagle
TEXTING
Ban texting and driving
Hi, my name is Carter Bosen. I’m writing about texting and driving.
I think that texting and driving is very dangerous. So many people have been in wrecks because of texting while driving.
People have been killed because of texting while driving. They should make it a law in Idaho that you can’t text and drive.
CARTER BOSEN, 12, Nampa
JOBS
A blueprint to grow the economy, not government
The Republican Study Committee’s Jobs Through Growth Act, H.R. 3400, creates jobs by growing the economy, not the government:
1. Flatter/fairer tax code.
• Two rates, 15 and 25 percent, and generous deductions for families.
• Keep jobs here by reducing corporate tax to 25 percent and eliminate loopholes.
• Help small businesses and job creators by repealing Death Tax, the AMT and investment tax on inflation.
2. Cutting red tape.
• No new regulations that impose significant costs on job creators until the economy recovers. (My comment — no new regulations, period!)
• Allow small business to opt out of rules imposed since the recession’s beginning.
• Exemptions from many regulations for small businesses with up to 200 employees.
• Require bureaucrats to consider new rules unjust on small businesses, get congressional approval for major regulations. (My comment — congressional approval for all regulations.)
3. Increasing energy production.
• Curtail frivolous litigation and unlock areas for exploration.
• Green light for Keystone pipeline.
• One-year extension to offshore leases affected by White House moratorium.
If the above passes the House, contact senators to approve it.
PATRICIA W. FELTS, Boise
