Not funny

Let me start this by saying I got no further in Gene Lyon’s column (“Contortionist Romney”) than the Seven Dwarves comment. I fail to see the purpose of his remark, unless of course it was to appear witty. I suppose when writing an opinion column the desire to interject a droll or seemingly entertaining comment to keep the masses amused might be understandable, however I do not see the humor. Not at all.

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Shame on you Mr. Lyons. Instead of an opinion, you mocked. How is that an editorial? To me your comments exemplified disrespect.

I challenge you Mr. Lyons to write an article supporting your candidate on the basis of his own merits that does not throw the other candidate under the proverbial bus based upon what you see as flaws. Translation, can you write an editorial comparing the two candidates, giving a fair shake to what you consider the strong and weak points of the two? Then I would become an avid reader of your column.

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Lisa Waite

Spearfish, S.D.

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For Obama

As the time grows closer and closer for Americans to choose who will lead this country for the next four years, the big money people have started down the road to self actualization. The Supreme Court gave our country away and it shows.

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If you believe the pollsters, Romney is pulling ahead of Obama after the last debate. The debate is a farce from the get-go. The corporations have rigged it to only answer those questions they want you to concentrate on. We are being asked to believe that one of these guys will save us from ourselves (I say that with the idea that they believe we’re too stupid to recognize the lies and misinformation, sleight of hand and outright deception).

Romney promises to bring more jobs to America. His company Bain Capital, from which he still receives dividends, just closed a plant in Illinois and is moving it lock, stock and barrel to China. If you want your job, please update your passport and apply there.

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A company in Florida told its employees that if they didn’t vote for Romney they would lose their jobs. This means if the majority of us, meaning you and me, vote Obama back in for the next four years they will lose their jobs whether they vote for or against him.

Romney at the first debate was for Obamacare. He said it was just like his Romneycare in Massachusetts. This would be funny except we’re past the laughing point. He got that through because his legislature is Democratically controlled. It took effect immediately upon passage and his signing it into law. The Republicans refused to let the Affordable Care Act become effective immediately because they needed time to make you believe it would kill you and cost you millions of dollars and cost small employers too much to add employees. Now Romney wants to revoke Obamacare if he’s elected.

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Romney will lie to convince you he will take care of you by bringing jobs here. He doesn’t mention that your wages will be poverty level. Corporations want high unemployment because it gluts the labor market with people looking for work and willing to work for anything. That’s why an employer can tell his employees who to vote for.

The road to privatization lies in the Republican camp. All you people that like visiting federal- or state-owned parks and wilderness areas, hang onto your hats. If they get privatized (which everyone seems to not remember) it means they will make a profit off parks. Right now your taxes pay to maintain our parks and wilderness. Where will the profits come from and how will it benefit you?

I am anxiously awaiting the election to be over because I think whatever happens, Arkansas will lose. We’ll lose because we have enough people here who still think they won the War Between the States. They still believe they can ignore history and vote against their own best interests and win. They will vote for reasons that they have no conceptual knowledge of or personal interest in.

I am hoping that the rest of the country carries us past our own self-destructive attitude and re-elects Obama. He may not be the best, being hindered by a system weighted toward the rich and greedy. But he is honest enough to know he has to do something for us or we’ll all go down in flames.

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Judy Ladd

Hot Springs

Don’t legislate personal choice

Seat belt laws say it is your body, but you cannot make your own decision. Motorcycle helmet laws say it is your body, but you can make your own decision. Drug laws say it is your own body, but you cannot make your own decision. Alcohol and tobacco laws say it is your body, but you can make your own decision. Physician-assisted suicide laws say it is your body, but you cannot make your own decision. Abortion laws say it is your body, but you can make your own decision.

There is a right and a wrong. However, legislating personal choice results in inconsistency.

Rich Hutson

Rose Bud

Better off

I am better off than I was four years ago. My community is better off, too. Everyone I know is better off. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are better off. President Obama and the first family are better off. All those jerks who keep telling us we are not better off are better off. We are all better off because there have been competent Democrats in the White House the last four years helping us recover from the last Republican presidential administration.

Gene Mason

Jacksonville

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