Foreign policy deadlock
is the last thing we need
Regarding the Oct. 21 Charles Krauthammer column, "Obama gaffe in second debate will cost him in the next one," concerning the attack on our embassy in Libya:
The country does not need the kind of political deadlock in Congress concerning national security that is already evident with domestic issues. That is what will happen if the Republican witch hunt over a bureaucratic failure continues.
Granted, the loss of lives - which might have been prevented - was tragic. But this event has been blown out of proportion, starting with a Republican-led House subcommittee that began the negative news cycle just days after the tragedy.
And of course Republican apologist Krauthammer has delivered the final torch for his candidate to throw.
ED DEAN
Somers Point
Vote independent
in Lower Township
Lower Township voters will decide their future on Nov. 6.
In the Feb. 6 editorial, "Political patronage/Rare public criticism," The Press praised Mayor Mike Beck for speaking out publicly about politicians being rewarded with government jobs. But the state and Cape May County Grand Old Patronage parties are still trying to crush the independent opposition.
I urge voters to vote for the independent (nomination by petition) Column 3 candidates: Mike Beck, Norris Clark and Jim Neville.
This commendation comes from the little people. The Milk Nun is my nickname for a semi-retired nun at St. Raymond's School who volunteered to count the nickels and dimes for the federal milk program. As we watched Beck taking his students over to church, she told me, "He's a very good man."
Given the fact that no one with any fear of the Lord would ever bet against the Milk Nun, my Irish-Welsh blood compels me to listen to the little people. "I like Mike" rings true to my Celtic ear.
JOSEPH E. THOMAS
North Cape May
The middle class
is slipping fast
I'm middle class at the present time. I'm not sure how long I'll last.
The current administration says I'm supposed to grow the economy. I guess they mean something like last week, when I hired a laid-off plumber to help me fix a faucet in my bathroom.
If your roof leaks, find a laid-off roofer to fix it. Whatever you need done, I'm sure you can find a laid-off somebody to help you. Is this what President Barack Obama is talking about?
I think not. I think he's talking about hiring more teachers, cops, firefighters, mail carriers and Internal Revenue Service agents. (Then the IRS can track down laid-off, paid-under-the-table plumbers and make them pay up.)
Maybe we'll get some more $65-an-hour, plus benefits, United Auto Worker spot welders at G.M. (Government Motors), making $45,000 electric cars that you can't drive from here to Atlantic City and back without recharging.
Where are all these middle-class, newly hired people going to get their pay checks from? Answer: from us used-to-be-middle-class taxpayers, via borrowed money from China.
I don't know about you, but I never got a job that paid well and had benefits from a middle-class person and certainly not from a poor person. Every job I had, some rich person signed the check. Obama has no idea how the economy works. If you want a job other than a government job, and if you want a life for your children and grandchildren, vote for the Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan ticket.
CHARLES D. KING
Villas
Seeking public office?
Hold public debates
During this campaign season, the public has been exposed to controlled scripts, poll-tested themes, well-rehearsed statements and theatrics. However, we have seen very little in the way of public debates, other than the candidates for president and vice president. And yet we have quite a full ballot, especially with the addition of school board candidates and ballot questions.
Public debates should be as much about the public as the candidates themselves. The public is entitled to hear about plans for the future, steps for addressing concerns about jobs, taxes, schools, community safety, infrastructure improvements and social challenges in our communities.
There continue to be some good individuals serving as elected officials in our area. There are some good candidates also running for these positions.
A debate would let the electorate hear firsthand how these folks plan to address the needs of our citizens.
We can move beyond the identity politics, sound bites and showmanship, and avoid the puffery provided by talking heads, and hear for ourselves the thoughts of the candidates.
If they can't deliberate in public for the benefit of the voting public, how can they deliberate the complex issues that come before the town council, school board, county-level government, Statehouse or Congress?
Let's put the public back into public service by public officials elected by the public.
ROBERT E. McNULTY SR.
Egg Harbor Township
