Buy USA
Friday, October 24, 2008 2:42 PM PDT
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E-mail this articleOct. 20 Letters to the Editor
Buy USA
The problem with the economy today has to do with people who buy products that are not made in the United States. If you continue to buy these products made outside the USA, companies will keep exporting our jobs because they can’t make money here.
Products made in the U.S.A. are now hard to find and are higher priced. We need to do something to make a balance. Maybe the government can make a stimulus package that gives the American people a discount on products made in the USA. I think it’s a better idea than throwing money at the banks. And just think of all the jobs it would create for us.
Brian Steele
Kelso
Foul on Carmichael
So, a rich guy from Arizona withdraws scholarship dollars because Longview School District Director Barb Westrick asks him some tough questions? Here’s another thought:
Westrick stood up to Tom Carmichael last year when he bullied the district with $2 million in promised scholarships to name R.A. Long gymnasium after Coach Joe Moses. Carmichael said he’d punch anyone, man or woman, who questioned his finances (The Daily News, Nov. 24, 2007).
Carmichael says he was “insulted” because Westrick wanted details? Sounds more like Westrick was looking out for the district and Carmichael was looking for a way out of his promise. One year later and he withdraws his gift? Hmmm, did Westrick really hurt his feelings, or was Carmichael spooked by recent economic woes?
Way to go, Barbara. Your principles are impeccable.
And memo to Carmichael: if the game is too tough for you, that’s cool. Have the guts to say so. Money’s tight — we get it. But don’t punk out on kids with some lame excuse that you’ve got hurt feelings.
If Coach Moses heard that, he’d chew you out.
Dave Grumbois
Longview
R.A. Long’s catastrophe
I’m very sad. I heard the legendary Joe Moses never got any credit on the floor that was dedicated to him. I heard that a benefactor who offered $40,000 a year in scholarships forever for the children (after he passes) pulled the money because of disrespect.
Remember the “never look a gift horse in the mouth” saying?
I ask, however, for the generous Tom Carmichael to not teach this lesson to the kids but hold those responsible accountable.
I would like to see Barbara Westrick publicly offer her resignation in exchange for the huge donation back. Her position isn’t a paid position anyway, so she can never pay that back. I would like to see Ty Morris deliver that offer to Moses with his own, if necessary, and then pay to have Joe fly it to Carmichael himself. Buy Tom and Joe dinner and see if they can’t figure something out.
The children are worth this much and so much more. Tom knows this.
Larry Halvorson
Longview
Obama and abortion
A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for the continued murder of millions of pre-born Americans. Obama has promised to make the signing of the “Freedom of Choice Act” a top priority of his administration. This act would make partial-birth abortion legal again, require taxpayer funding of abortion and invalidate virtually all state and federal limitations on abortion.
Obama sees nothing wrong with denying medical treatment to babies born alive after a botched abortion. He voted four times against legislation in the Illinois state Senate that would have provided care and protection for these babies.
Obama voted against a bill that would have required an abortionist to notify at least one parent before performing an abortion on a minor girl from another state.
If you are a Christian, if you believe in the sanctity of life, then please don’t vote for Obama.
Norma Peters
Longview
Pathetic, scared animal?
After reading about the owner of the eyeglasses business in Longview being harassed by Barack Obama supporters over the way she was trying to market some of her products, I read Joe Hobson’s Oct. 14 letter and his wish for the death of Republicans.
Where is this country headed? If the projections are true, we are about to elect one of our most powerful presidents, along with a veto-proof Congress. We have observed the views of Obama’s pastor and his terrorist friend. There have been many news reports of McCain/Palin signs being destroyed or stolen, along with reports of a group supported by the Obama campaign trying to illegally influence the election.
I pray that the overt anger expressed by these, and by Hobson, are not the new view of all Democrats. I am not a “pathetic,” “scared animal,” but I am a concerned U.S. citizen wanting a to elect a president that will represent all Americans.
Lynn Johnson
Longview
Childhood body image
As a child, the few worries I had were the occasional fights with my tormenting older siblings and the easiest way to extend my bedtime an extra hour.
However, there has been a horrifyingly large increase in concern over body image in young children today. According to a recent nationwide study, 42 percent of first to third-grade girls reported wanting to be thinner and over 80 percent of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat. It disgusts me to think that children are becoming concerned about weight management and body image so young in life.
Nonetheless, as Dr. Phillip Wu points out in his article published in the Oct. 12 Daily News, childhood obesity is also a growing problem in our society today. He suggests a program, which I fully support, encouraging children to walk or bike to school. However, I think it’s important to realize that, while promoting a healthy lifestyle to children, we should take care not to overemphasize this notion.
Children should be informed on the importance of nutrition and exercise, but it is imperative to remember that they’re only children. I find it difficult to imagine a young child truly able to comprehend the concept of a “healthy lifestyle,” through a balance of proper nutrition and physical activity. To them, as the media has taught, thinner is better or healthier.
Sarah Marker
Longview
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