INSIGHT SECTION

Romney will rise above unfair commentary

Well, it is obvious the signal has gone out from the Obama camp that the campaign to disqualify Mitt Romney is in full swing. Three anti-Romney hit pieces in a single edition of Sunday Insight (July 22) is a little much even for the Statesman. Trouble of it is (for Obama) that a majority of the American people know Romney has more knowledge, understanding and on-the-job experience of business, finance and job creation in his little finger than Obama has or ever will have in his whole body. Proof of this will be on full display as the vote is unveiled on Election Day in November.

JOHN HATCH, Boise

SUPPORTING OBAMA

President has done the job cleaning up GOP mess

After receiving numerous unwelcome “hate Obama” phone calls, it’s time to let these bums know where I stand. While the GOP spent four years dragging its feet to destroy our country, President Obama did the job that he was elected to do. His quick action saved the auto industry, many banks and the stock market. Our senior citizens would have lost their entire retirement savings if not for Obama. His stimulus payments that were all voted against by the GOP were all proven necessary to save us from another Great Depression.

G.W. Bush left Obama with two unfinanced wars, a complete mortgage disaster and the worst recession since 1929. The Bush disaster set the American economy back 20 years. Most middle-class Americans lost 40 percent of their net worth, while the wealthy got richer. While our boys were being killed by the dozens in Bush’s unprovoked war in Iraq, he was passing out tax cuts for the wealthy. President Obama outsmarted the corrupt country of Pakistan who was hiding bin Laden showing Pakistan a thing or two. Anyone wanting to get rid of Obama needs his head examined.

ROBERT G. SCHULTZE, Riggins

RECORDS

Turn over the paperwork, then get back to the issues

Here’s a bipartisan solution to the issues troubling the loyal contingents of both political parties.

It would seem fair that if Mitt Romney was to release 12 years of his tax returns that, in turn, Barack Obama should release his college and university records. Maybe then we can get on with the real issues of the upcoming election instead of sniping about fringe concerns.

WILLIAM LOGSDON, SR., Boise

UNIONS

Big business lobbyists dictate political agenda

It’s ironic that individuals opposed to unions are supportive of businesses organizing via associations, lobby groups and chambers of commerce.

Recently, Gov. Butch Otter asked the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI) to help him and Tom Luna pass Students Come First legislation.

IACI is Idaho’s largest lobby group, whose membership includes companies like Simplot, Monsanto, Regence, St. Luke’s and Melaleuca. IACI’s website says, “We are proud of our member employers helping shape state policy for a bright economic future.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says, “A business federation representing companies, business associations, state and local chambers in the U.S., and American chambers of commerce abroad.”

These organizations make no apology for being a group of businesses paying into an organization whose goal is to further the interests of the member businesses. They lobby our representatives, contributing campaign money to shape government policy. Yet these same people are opposed to individuals organizing to protect worker rights. More bothersome, these organizations have successfully convinced many that unions are the problem.

Otter and Luna have fought against collective bargaining, yet they see no problem with pandering to groups like IACI for support. This should strengthen the resolve of Idaho workers to unite.

JENNY EASLEY, Middleton

POLITICS

Special interests help few at the expense of masses

To we, the confused, gullible and sometimes unconcerned electorate, it appears that our leaders in Washington, D.C. are severely tangled up in their own underwear.

Special interests (lobbyists) continue to prevail in Congress, resulting in short-term gains for the few, but long-term sacrifice for the many.

A classic example would be President Bush impulsively declaring war on Iraq based on bad information from his gung-ho intelligence advisers, all, eager to get even for the disaster of 9/11, costing this country dearly in terms of blood and money. The bugle-tooters are always calling for the charge, but they aren’t sure about the direction.

This is just one instance of wrong-headed decisions by a big government dominated by the military-industrial complex (Ike, 1956), resulting in a breaking of the bank and a growing mistrust by the citizenry. Whether it’s the insidious drug problem, bailing out the thieves on Wall Street, the ethanol scam and other agriculture subsidies, immigration or entitlement programs, we seem bent on a path of self-destruction.

Is there anyone else out there with similar concern, or will the merry-go-round just continue to go round and round?

CHET BOWERS, Boise

POLITICS

Super PACs destroying our election process

As we all should know, one of the greatest gifts of freedom that our Constitution and democracy gives to us is the right to vote for our leaders and the direction of our nation’s future.

I am very proud of the fact that I have never missed my chance to exercise that great freedom, even when I served in Vietnam. It is a very special feeling when I walk out of the voting booth. Feels like I hold my head a little higher and stand straighter and taller when I drop my vote in the ballot box!

This election year feels a little different. When our nation’s over-polarized Supreme Court allowed Super PACs into the political process, they surely opened Pandora’s box of bad juju! Citizens United makes me sick! I have never felt so disenfranchised as a voter in my life!

I’m quite sure others feel the same way. Our country needs to drop the super PACs (all of them) like a bad habit before they poison the election process further for future elections.

Vote with your heart and mind, not the money! Corporations are not voters. Don’t let them steal our nation’s future.

JACK KAPPAS, Riggins

TRAPPING

There’s nothing sporting about torturing animals

I am not what one would describe as an “animal rights activist,” but would love to have Paul Jensen (“Don’t pay attention to animal activists,” July 17) explain to me just what part of trapping is considered a “sporting pursuit”? There is nothing “sporting” about baiting and ensnaring an animal in a trap to suffer a horrendous and lingering death.

STEPHANIE LEDWICH, Eagle