Letters to the editor

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Dec 8, 2008

Voting conscience

In her letter of Nov. 21, titled "Equality for all," the writer quotes scripture from Matthew 7: 12. This scripture says you should "in everything do to others what you would have them do to you."

Now, wouldn't this allow people, black or white, to vote their conscience without being blasted for their votes? The black people's vote for Proposition 8 in California that the writer mentions had nothing to do with the color of their skin or former injustices, but everything to do with their faith and love for God.

Believers, black or white, believe all scripture, which tells us of our sins and of our Savior.

The writer speaks of love that is sacred. Dear writer, the love you speak of is not sacred.

The people who voted for Proposition 8 feel so strongly about marriage because God instituted marriage. Beginning with the first book in Holy Scripture, Genesis 1: 27, we read that God created the first man, Adam, made a suitable helper for him from Adam's rib and brought her to him.

Also, we read in Leviticus 18: 22 that God says, "Do not lie with man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." (The King James version calls it an abomination.)

Please read all of scripture and see that God does exist.

This season we again celebrate the birth of his son, Christ the Lord.

GENEVA SORBER,Topeka

Non-smokers rights

Some Emporians oppose that city's ban on smoking in public. What makes their rights more important than mine? If people want to smoke in their cars or homes that is their business, but when they want me and my children to breathe their second-hand smoke, then it is my business.

Lawrence also was respectful of other people and their health. I wish Topeka could show the same respect.

Is it fair for people to destroy others lives and continue to raise health costs when they light up?

I cannot go into a North Topeka bar for karaoke now because the smoking there was so bad I got a sinus infection. The bar even serves good food, which I can no longer enjoy.

I went to a restaurant on the south side that has smoking and non- smoking sections, but as soon as I walked in the front door I was hit with a huge cloud of smoke. That was all I could smell on my clothes all through dinner.

I wish the department of health would demand better air vents and ceiling fans in restaurants that have smoking sections.

SUZANNE JONES,Topeka

A bad idea

I am greatly concerned for this country.

One of our local television stations recently asked for comments about whether President-elect Barack Obama should wait for inauguration on Jan. 20th or just take over as president now.

It is precisely to protect this country from that kind of irresponsibility that we have the Constitution, which itself contains the legal means to change it.

Perhaps the person who thought this was a good subject for blogging needs to read what George Santayana, 1863-1952, had to say about those who fail to learn from history.

I would expect this from someone who was not a citizen of the United States, but from one of our news media? That kind of broadcasting is irresponsible.

MICHAEL L. BECKETT,Topeka

Race vague

As defined by Mosby's Medical Dictionary -- Race: A vague unscientific term for a group of genetically related people who share certain physical characteristics. Multi: prefix meaning many.

It seems inaccurate to refer to President-elect Barack Obama as black. Perhaps we should be more exact and use the term biracial or multiracial.

WILLARD STEINKUEHLER,Topeka

Bailout a mistake

During the campaign, President-elect Barack Obama chided Joe the Plumber for being unwilling to "redistribute" part of his money to others if he earned more than $250,000. It was assumed that Obama meant Joe's money would go to those less fortunate, since trickle down was a dirty word to Democrats.

On Oct. 4, the Senate, including Sen. Obama, passed the $700 billion Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the largest redistribution of wealth in American history.

Did the money go to the less fortunate? The answer was pretty clear to the taxpayers who called their legislators. For every "yes" call Congress received about the EESA, it received 100 "no" calls. Many of those who voted for EESA campaigned against trickle down economics, yet voted for bailouts, which dump money into the top hoping it will trickle down to the bottom.

After Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson was done yelling the sky is falling and Congress caved, Roosevelt's New Deal became a small deal in comparison to this big deal, and the financial benefit did not go to the poor.

Since the EESA, which was going to save the day, passed, the Dow has dropped like a rock. Perhaps fewer injuries would have resulted if we had just let the sky fall. The latest idea is to overcome the tight credit caused by a crash -- which was caused by easy credit -- by giving companies billions to make credit easy again.

Does anyone else get the feeling that there are too may experts with screwdrivers trying to adjust a financial machine that would run better if it were left alone?