Letters to the Editor

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

President Obama, putting his own perceived needs ahead of that of our country and trying to keep the votes of environmentalists, killed the proposed Keystone pipeline. This pipeline would have created tens of thousands of badly needed jobs and It would have been a source of energy from, of all things, a friendly country.

The pipeline would have helped to lower the cost of oil. Plus we would be paying a friendly neighboring country, instead of paying billions to countries that are un-friendly toward America.

The excuse given by Obama was that "more" time was needed to assess the risks involved. Obama sided with the environmentalists and never mind that it had already been studied for more than three years.

Can you imagine someone putting his personal self-interest over what undeniably would be good for the country, especially now?

Now If this doesn't convince you about the true motives of this president, then nothing should or will.

AL EISNER
12609 Farnell Drive
Silver Spring, Md.
Jan. 20, 2012

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

Abortion supporters in Virginia's General Assembly have taken aim at Del. Bob Marshall's House Bill 1 because the recognition that life begins at conception terrifies them.

Virginians need to know that while House Bill 1 deals in fact, its opponents deal in fear.

Repeatedly they claim that the bill would outlaw contraception and abortion. These claims are false.

The facts are these: Identical language has been in effect as a Missouri statute for more than 20 years. The law allows parents whose unborn baby is killed to bring a lawsuit against the wrongdoer, but it would not affect abortion law. Marshall's bill does not use the language of other states' failed "personhood" initiatives, but the Missouri language that withstood Supreme Court scrutiny in 1989.

Intelligent Virginians should resent attempts by their representatives to obscure facts and create irrational fears. This is manipulation and it is not the currency of good governance.

Rita M. Dunaway
2379 Massanetta Springs Road
Harrisonburg
Jan. 22, 2012

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

When I buy airfare, I can compare hundreds of different flights. I can compare shoes, cars, mortgages and car insurance side by side online.

Yet why is it that when it comes to shopping for health insurance, I am left to navigate a confusing landscape of fine print and ever-changing policies?

Thankfully, the Virginia General Assembly has the option to fix this problem and make Virginia's health insurance market more transparent, affordable and easier to understand.
As part of the Affordable Care Act, Virginia can create a Health Benefits Exchange, which is an insurance marketplace that would give small businesses, the uninsured and the self-employed access to affordable health care. Consumers could use the exchange to compare health insurance plans side by side on a website. Insurers in the exchange will have to use easy to understand language and offer a decent product to consumers.

There are currently several bills in the General Assembly to create a consumer-friendly exchange. I urge Sen. Jill Vogel and Del. Beverly Sherwood to support SB 383, HB 357 or HB 402 to make health insurance better for all Virginians.

Gail Doty
111 Roszel Road
Winchester
Jan. 20, 2012

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

It didn't surprise me a bit to read that the Front Royal Town Council just approved spending more than $1 million for the largest tax-producing property on Main Street, next to the vacant eyesore Afton Inn.

I don't know the amount this move will finally cost the taxpayers after all the offices are built inside. No figures for all that have been released.

I was told that some members of council were politically fearful of this deal until they learned that a brass plate with their names on it would be fastened to the wall just inside the front door. When that fact was known, the vote to spend $1 million was yes, yes, yes! After all, it's not really money, they said. And it's not fair to wait until the upcoming election, which would allow the voters to say "let's clean house."

Later, they discussed making it illegal for council candidates and Girl Scouts to solicit door to door. That should almost completely eliminate their opposing candidates.

Also, I laughed aloud when I read that council had discussed lowering our tax rate because of its big spending. What's that remark that says "Don't hold your breath"?
So, dear friends, I'll bet once they move into that new office, their pay will have to increase. Want to bet?

Joe Swiger
119 Gloucester Road
Front Royal
Jan. 24, 2012

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

In your Jan. 12 issue you featured a story: "Cost of new jail? A 5-cent tax hike." Once again Shenandoah County supervisors are spending money that their employers (taxpayers) do not have to spend.

A $14.4-million county expense for a portion of a three-county jail to house potentially 99 Shenandoah County prisoners is a cost of $145,454.55 per prisoner for construction costs. No prisoner's housing is worth this expense.

County prisoners should be housed in Camp 7-type work camps. Basic housing like many county taxpayers live in is more than good enough for prisoners.

A five-cent tax hike may not sound like much at District of Columbia wages, but at locally paid wages, plus those on fixed incomes, this would be a financial hardship.

I say that Shenandoah County needs to drop out of this three-county luxury jail plan.
I am taxed enough already.

George T. Burgess
355 Turtle Hill Lane
Maurertown
Jan. 22, 2012

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

Every year during the busy, festive, holiday season, we see people standing out in the cold, ringing a bell. Many of us don't know that these people are donating their time to help those who are in need. Also, many don't know that all of the money that is raised by these ringers goes directly to help the people of Shenandoah County.

I would like to take this time to recognize the 15 bell ringers for the unselfish gift of their time.

I would also like to commend the people who generously gave money to this campaign. It made a positive impact in our ability to assist those in need in our county.

HENRY A. DEAN
442 Crim Drive
Strasburg
Jan. 25, 2012

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

To paraphrase an old saying, "Hell hath no fury than a Catholic apologist scorned." Before I respond to the latest orthodox Catholic propaganda, let me assure the Reningers (letters, Dec. 23 and Jan. 20 issues) that I did indeed "find a happier way of living" when I finally rejected the theistic conception of God allowing me to embrace the principles of humanism and its view that respects the dignity of all people, even those whose lifestyle I disagree with.

If daring to criticize the church for committing a significant amount of its time and resources lobbying the government to ban a women's right to chose, the right to most forms of contraceptives, gay marriage and covering up the worst crisis in modern Roman Catholic history is "spewing anger, hatred and unhappiness," I plead guilty.

The Survivors Network, which has been at the center of the Catholic abuse scandal, reports that according to studies commissioned U.S. bishops, dioceses have paid about $3 billion in settlements and other costs related to more than 15,700 abuse claims since 1950. It also reports that the overwhelming majority who seek the group's help do not sue over their abuse.

As for homosexuality and gay marriage, if you find it an abomination, don't engage in it, but why do you insist and why do have the right to bar it and condemn it for others? Marriage is a civil right and should not be denied because you disagree with what they do in the privacy of their bed rooms.

Oh, and by the way, shame on all you "irresponsible men" who use contraceptives to make women sexual playthings and get their "jollies with no consequences."

Fortunately, there is some sanity in this debate on human rights. Kudos to Obama for standing up to intense lobbying from the Conference of Catholic Bishops that wanted him to extend a refusal clause in the Affordable Care Act that would have denied millions of women access to affordable family planning.

For the gazillionth time, you have the right to pursue the religion of your choice, but you have no right to force it on others.

Gene Rigelon
1117 T-Bird Drive
Front Royal
Jan. 23, 2012