Read sample ballot
before Election Day
Having worked the polls in the past several elections, I am amazed at the total ignorance of some people when they come into the polling place to vote.
Many times they ask if they are in the right place. The poll workers do not know where they are supposed to vote, even after checking the sign-in books. Certain individuals live right across the street from the polling place, but because of the district line, they may not vote in that polling place. It takes time to sort out where these individuals are actually suppose to vote.
And here is the kicker:
When asked if they received a sample ballot, most will respond with, "Oh, I threw it in the garbage and didn't even look at it."
The county spends a considerable amount of our tax dollars to print these sample ballots. At least have the decency to read them and find out where you are suppose to vote.
FRANK TRZECIAKIEWICZ
Galloway Township
Rachel Handler's story
an inspiration and lesson
Regarding the Sept. 16 "Everyone Has a Story" feature, "Acting dream untouched by amputation":
The story about Rachel Handler, who lost part of her leg during a motor vehicle collision, is inspiring. I am happy for her that she is recovering and moving forward with her life.
And this story should also be a lesson for all of us.
Handler was struck by another vehicle while standing outside of her vehicle. If involved in a collision, either stay in your vehicle or get a safe distance away, if possible behind a guardrail.
FRANK BURBRIDGE
Brigantine
Retaliation fear stymied
challenge to mayor's raise
In May, the Atlantic City Republican Club was involved in a bipartisan effort to put Mayor Lorenzo Langford's raise on the ballot so voters could have their say. City Council had unilaterally decided that it was unseemly for a city employee to earn more than our "CEO" (council's word), so it passed an ordinance mandating that the mayor earn no less than 1 percent above the salary of the highest paid city employee (excluding firefighters and police). This effectively gave the mayor a 15 percent raise for next year.
So what is his current salary? A perfectly respectable - if not insanely generous, considering the economic facts on the ground - $103,000 a year.
Just why did City Council think our mayor deserves a $119,000 salary, given the horrible state of the economy and the increasing squeeze on those of us paying for all of this? Supporters of the raise said his current $103,000 base salary falls far below pay for executives running organizations of comparable size to City Hall. But comparing a municipal government to a private corporation is just laughable.
Considering all the circumstances, one would assume many residents would gladly sign the petition. However, even though most of those residents with whom we spoke, both Republicans and Democrats, wholeheartedly supported the petition's goal, many - including city employees and their families, homeowners fighting tax assessments, and others with city business pending - were afraid to sign because they feared retaliation by the city machine.
Is this any way to live? Are we, the people, so beaten down, so disheartened and intimidated that we are afraid of our own government? Somewhere along the way, we relinquished our power and allowed our representatives to hold us, and our money, hostage for their benefit and the benefit of a select few. This must stop. We must take back our power and our government.
ELIZABETH ROZSA
Atlantic City
Romney more dangerous
than he seemed at first
I used to think of Mitt Romney as a rational alternative - a Republican, of course, but one whom I could live with if necessary. That view has gone through a couple of changes. The rational alternative was replaced by the empty vessel, one who would say whatever the moment called for.
Now it seems that the vessel is not so empty. Within is a person not only of startling shallowness but of meanness. You can literally see his face turn red, boiling under the surface. Couple this anger with his simplistic judgments - half of Americans are looking for a free ride and are not worth worrying about, Palestinians don't want peace, and we should attack Iran - and you have a formula for a leader who will make life less secure for all of us.
The world's turmoil, and our own, will take a turn for the worse if Romney is elected.
RON GASKILL
Northfield
Comments at fundraiser
reveal the real Romney
Regarding Mitt Romney's secretly recorded comments about 47 percent of Americans just wanting a government handout:
At last we hear Romney speaking in a comfortable and unrehearsed manner. Gone is the robotic candidate who appeared to have motor oil in his veins; he's been replaced by a real person who has real passion.
But OMG - I liked the other guy better.
It is scary to imagine Romney as the president of our country. My wife and I have worked a combined total of more than 100 years. We have paid our taxes and paid into Social Security and our pension funds. To think that the leader of our nation would regard us and millions more like us as no more than skin tags is disgusting.
To think that the leader of the free world would marginalize a large segment of our people as worthless is beyond the pale.
What a terrible blot on the Republican Party.
JIM McMANUS
Ocean City
Don't blame producer
of anti-Muslim film
Various intelligence sources have claimed that the demonstrations and riots in both Libya and Egypt were planned for Sept. 11 and therefore had nothing to do with the obscure, low-budget film posted on YouTube. Eventually, 20 countries became involved in attacking our embassies, burning our flag and replacing it with the flag of the Muslim Brotherhood.
President Barack Obama's foreign policies have been an abject failure in the Middle East. Backing the Muslim Brotherhood - a radical, criminal organization bent on bringing the world under the yoke of Sharia law and Islam and destroying Israel and its allies (including the U.S.) - was a huge mistake, the consequences of which are now very obvious to any objective person.
Secondly, as we recently celebrated the 225th anniversary of the Constitution, one must ask, why are the authorities investigating the producer of the film and taking him in for a "possible parole violation"? Why are the media blaming the film and its producer for the violent acts of Muslims throughout the Middle East?
I do not agree with denigrating anyone's religion. As a Catholic, I was offended when a crucifix, under the guise of art, was shown in a jar of urine and an icon of the Blessed Mother of Christ was displayed with feces smeared on her, as well as by the scandalous movie "The Last Temptation of Christ." Yet no Christians rioted, burned buildings or killed anyone.
The Constitution protects free speech even when it may offend. I think it is time to examine the inherent violence of millions of Islamists who follow the Quran's instructions to commit violence against infidels or those who offend Muhammad.
These are not isolated incidents.
DAN McNEILL
North Cape May
