First, public servants have an obligation to citizens
First, public servants have an obligation to citizens
EDITOR:
Little gems of wisdom, from bygone days, sometimes pop-up from unexpected sources to illuminate contemporary situations.
Sunday's Doonesbury comic quoted Theodore Roosevelt:
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but it is morally treasonable to the American public."
Every elected, appointed or hired public servant, from president to janitor, should be reminded of the truth of this sentiment.
If any citizen chooses to ask any public servant any question regarding his public duties, that citizen should be treated respectfully and given the information as quickly as possible.
If the citizen is harassed, publicly belittled, or told to move his home, the public servant completely misunderstands the implied contract between public servants and citizens.
W.R. CLARK
Hubbard
Democrats in Congress are just like Taliban
EDITOR:
Al-Qaida's and Taliban's favorite American politician, Democratic Sen. Tom Da schle, has done it again. As Senate majority leader, he hijacked the economic stimulus plan and slammed it into the American economy -- for the third time.
The 9-11 terrorists only succeeded in hitting two of their three intended targets, but Daschle has scored a direct hit in all three of his attempts, thwarting every effort by the president and Congress to revive the economy. And like Osama bin Laden and the terrorists, Daschle and his allies have achieved their ultimate goals: they've caused another downturn in the stock market, and they've prolonged the suffering of American citizens.
Somehow Daschle and the Democrats think they are endearing themselves to the American people by their actions, but they are gravely mistaken. Their hatred of Republicans and their resentment of business and working people are evident despite their false rhetoric.
The term "mean" doesn't even begin to describe what the Democrats in Congress have become. Perhaps the term "desperate" more aptly describes their plight. They are trapped in their own anger and misguided ideology. They are doomed, and they know it. The mid-term elections are approaching, and they know they haven't a prayer.
They intend to bring this country and its economy down with them as they plummet into the abyss along with their cohorts in the Taliban. Their fate is sealed because the die is cast, and America will succeed in routing out evil and terrorism where ever it resides, be it in the caves of Afghanistan, the deserts of Iraq, the shores of North Korea, or the halls of the U.S. House and Senate.
JOSEPH K. WALTENBAUGH
New Castle
Valley should rally in support of Traficant
EDITOR:
Shame on the Mahoning Valley and Youngstown, Ohio. Support the money-making possibilities of our congressman. Capitalize on the free national publicity by selling T-shirts, miniatures stars and organizing bus trips to Cleveland much like the Million Man March. Organize convoys of trucks to support our congressman.
We need to counteract the stigma of the storm-trooper tactics exhibited by the removal of the star. Bring your head out from between your legs. Don't be blind-sided with the roll-over-and-play-dead attitude of our politicians and unions. Don't repeat the mistakes of the past.
If a lawyer suggests or performs a ploy it is clever and strategic. If Traficant does it, it is dumb and completely wrong.
Our president says, "Protect our borders; use the military to enforce it," and he gets applause. Traficant says the same thing, years sooner, and he is deemed crazy.
GEORGE J. BECK
Cortland