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Online comments on letters
We do not publish anonymous letters and have no intention of changing that policy. But we do think that some of the comments posted online are worth consideration by readers who might not have an opportunity to see them. So, here are a few excerpts ...
On Rep. John Murtha's vote for the cap-and-trade bill:
"Coal is not our friend and untill the coal companies start being good stewards of the environment, we need to pass laws that limit its pollutants into our environment ... Coal is not clean as we are lead to believe; ask the farmer that just wants his water back; ask the community that has seen the number of cancer cases rise; and what about the miner that has gotten black lung from all the years he worked in the mine? So, is it to much to ask them to clean up their dirty coal to save the next generation?"
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in bars:
"I do agree that expanding gaming in this state to bars and clubs is a no-brainer as long as the proceeds go to college tuition. Let us face it that many of these bars and clubs have been using these video poker machines for years now, costing law enforcement time and effort to enforce the laws. Make them legal so that the player in the state has some protection in that the state will set payout minimums on handle."
On raising the state sales tax:
"Since 2000 the whole state has become poorer. Median household income is down and the poverty level is up. That's not from people being lazy, that's from all the taxes Pennsylvania is famous for. They keep taking and taking putting our elderly out of their homes. Do you believe that happens because they are lazy? A sales tax increase INSTEAD of an income tax increase is a good idea. Let's get some of the tax evaders' and drug dealers' money too and stop taking away peoples income."
•
"For clarification, none of us rejecting the tax increase are against fixing bridges and roads, etc. What creates the rejection is the lack of restraint on the part of the government ... Businesses throughout the nation, including locally, have recently cut back expenses, incluidng employees. They are living within their means provided through the sale of products or services. Not so with the PA government. After the hiring freeze, 1,000 jobs have been added. Salary increases have been given to government workers. Only a few in the Harrisburg group are wanting to curtail services."
On taking the Book of Genesis literally:
"St Augustine (354-430 AD) was not a Bible literalist. He preached that the Bible should NOT be taken literally if it contradicted what we knew from our "God-given reasoning." It is only since the end of the 19th century that a relative few, mostly American Protestant, fundamentalist sects have given up their "God-given reasoning" and proclaimed the biblical inerrancy position, which says Augustine was wrong and that biblical accounts of the natural world are literally true."
Opinions, opinions, opinions .... : 7/3/2009
Yes, everyone has an opinion, just like everyone has a .... wait for it ...................a belly button. LOL Thought I would make your day!
Why don't you... : 7/3/2009
Allow the comments to letters to be updated in real time? This would save time and effort on the part of your staff, and potentially increase traffic... I think most have us have caught on to the fact that there is no point in checking for comment updates past 1pm...
Anonymous Posts : 7/3/2009
I stand with all who use their name. Anonymous posters have "keyboard" bravado and little else.
ns, : 7/4/2009
Funny comment! Thanks for the chuckle. But, people generally just have ONE belly button, and MANY opinions! Also, while the right to express opinions in this country is thankfully EQUAL, the actual opinions are NOT EQUAL in value. Some are well-informed by facts and careful thought, other opinions ignore facts and are tossed of without much thought.
Ahhh.... : 7/6/2009
Silky, glad you laughed. And both sides of any polarized issue think the same way, just from a different view point and sometimes they are all ill informed. :-)
Real time posting : 7/6/2009
e... Great idea. Except that was the format of the Poll Comments feature, which degenerated into a cesspool because of three or four people. There is no reason to think the same wouldn't happen here. A consistent and prompt moderation of postings would be much appreciated, however. Sometimes, postings are next day, sometimes two days, sometimes one hour, sometimes not at all. I have not posted many pieces because I don't know the outcome of my effort. It is too bad that so few destroyed the Comments Poll idea. There are so many topics to discuss and exchange ideas. The other Forum is just drivel from a few inside folks that means nothing.
belly button : 7/6/2009
Every "test tube baby" who reads the O-R is crying in their pillow right now.
nader : 7/6/2009
We again find a point of agreement. We have our share of disagreements, but I consider you worthy of discussing issues with due to your conviction. Take care.
Nader, : 7/6/2009
I can tell whether a post has worth just by reading it, and maybe doing some internet fact checking, so I strongly disagree with you that “Anonymous posters have "keyboard" bravado and little else.” Some anonymous posts are very good, others worthless. Taking the time to post intelligently is a whole different animal than being willing to get hate calls in the middle of the night from cowardly knuckleheads.
R. : 7/6/2009
That is a self-fulfilling prophesy... The "in" crowd has been diluted recently through the increased activity of some new people. It's not like the posts are a zero-sum proposition... If you feel that a viewpoint is not sufficiently covered, it is your responsibility to voice it. I'd love to see you, Joe, NS, silky, ted, and others join over there... the more, the merrier.
Anonymous posting is like, : 7/8/2009
anonymous voting. It should be the responsibility of the poster (voter) to be respectful and thought-provoking instead of merely provoking. Some anonymous posts, like silky and ellipses, inform and entertain. Others are like anonymous scribblings on public restroom walls. Mr's Nader and Furjanic are very worthy posters as well.
Ellipses : 7/9/2009
Is my name, damnit :-)
r : 7/9/2009
we've sparred over executive compensation, wages, and security for working people and such. you've came down on the side of the corporation in every instance. i have a bit of data. the exiting CEO of UTC is getting a divorce. his expenses were made public because of it. did you know that one individual is taking 250k a week out of the till. a quarter mil a week in living expenses. you asked in a different thread, would it make a difference in how long GM could surivive if wagoner worked for $1 a year. how long would GM have survived if every stinkin executive like that had their wings clipped 25 years ago? every GM executive. the executives at all the suppliers and dealer chains. look at the massive expense these privileged fools thrust upon society. a quarter mil a week in expenses like, shirt allowances, gyms, pedicures. there are a few legit. expenses listed... but the totals are staggering. please think before defending these massive ego's. the corporate propaganda machine has folks feeling guilty for their 50k and benefits. the 401k match has already been cut... do the math. the vast majority of Americans are wage earners. the top 1% doesn't have a very hard time enslaving the rest of us without any help from ourselves. they've already corrupted the political process with bribery, i.e. lobbyists and campaign finance laws. the representative republic cannot flourish with such disparity. these guys do not earn that type compensation. they take it because they can
