Christie hypocritical
when promoting beaches
The recent photos of Gov. Chris Christie promoting the beaches in New Jersey are a bit hypocritical. After all, his buddy, Mitt Romney, is all for offshore drilling. What's going to happen to our beaches if Romney is elected president? Is Christie going to stand up to Romney and protect our natural resource?
Christie has a habit of talking about what a great job he is doing in New Jersey. Let's see which matters more to him - the state and its beautiful beaches or his political career.
KATHLEEN DAVIS
Beesleys Point
Boardwalk benches
•eed cleaning in O.C.
My husband and I enjoy going to the Ocean City Boardwalk at least once a week. We like to walk, especially in the south end, where the wood is so nice to walk on (hint, hint).
We also enjoy the family atmosphere on the Boardwalk, with hardly any smoking, a pretty clean environment, well-maintained store fronts and no panhandlers.
But the filthy, sticky, sandy benches have become a problem.
Couldn't people who have to do community service, or beach badge checkers during down time, use soap and water to clean the benches?
This wouldn't affect the city budget but would make the benches more user-friendly.
Also, while the renovations to the Music Pier ladies room are very nice, has the city ever given thought to stenciling foot prints on the floor leading to the lefthand door to indicate that it's an exit? Ninety-nine out of 100 women exit the entrance door.
This is especially bad after a show lets out. God help you if there ever is a fire.
DARLENE GRANT
Mays Landing
Why support Obama?
To save middle class
Regarding the Aug. 27 letter, "How can so many still support Obama?":
Really? Since Ronald Reagan's administration, unions and workers have been under relentless attack by big money and the Republicans.
The decline of the middle class in America directly follows the decline of unions. The fat cats under the Republican tent are running things now. To say unions are running things is laughable. And the "liberal left media"? Please. That's really funny - and a fantasy.
Unions are the weakest they have ever been in history. It is nice that the writer doesn't let facts get in the way. That makes it easier to fool the uninformed.
If you hate Medicare, Social Security and all those benefits that haven't been taken away yet, don't vote for Barack Obama. But try to remember history.
STEPHEN KLEMASH
Sicklerville
Slain Phila. officer
was a true hero
Regarding the murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Moses Walker Jr.:
Here is a hero. This man spent his adult life protecting the public from low-life slime. His life was taken by such slime - a worthless, useless person, not fit to walk the streets or live among humans.
My heart and deepest sympathy goes out to Walker's family. There is nothing or no one I respect more than law enforcement officers. The loss of one is very saddening.
VINCENT SCOTTI
Margate
Our Afghan 'allies'
are killing U.S. troops
Regarding the very serious Aug. 27 editorial cartoon that showed a U.S. soldier in the war in Afghanistan in a psychiatrist's office saying, "Sometimes I feel like no one knows I exist - which is crazy, because it seems like everyone is out to kill me":
What are we doing there, training those who shoot their trainers? Bring those soldiers home now.
They don't want us there. They'd rather kill Americans.
Where are the president and the brains in Congress? The Afghans don't want democracy. They rule by their religion.
Everyone should write their members of Congress and President Barack Obama, telling them you will vote for their competition in November.
Our soldiers are being murdered by our "allies."
LOIS SCHULTZ
Manahawkin
Don't criticize people
for being successful
Why are we critical of the tax rates paid by successful people and corporations and not about those who are on the government dole?
The government loaned mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae $200 billion, the largest bailout in U.S. history, and General Motors got another $50 billion because it, too, did a lousy job running its business.
But Exxon is vilified for making billions and is one of the best-run companies in the world.
Mitt Romney has paid a lower rate than many of us, but no one can argue that he hasn't paid significant taxes and that Bain Capital wasn't successful.
The voters should be concerned with the ever-expanding army of non-productive people that our government is borrowing trillions to support instead of criticizing the Exxons and billionaires who are paying a tax rate that might be too low.
ROBERT FREIDENBERG
Galloway Township
