America is about freedom, even for signage

To the editor:

On the first day the polls opened, I stood in an unusually long line awaiting my turn and pondering how lucky we are to live in this country, where we are allowed to vote.

Even women can vote here, thanks to some very determined female citizens back in the last century, and some good men.  Race, creed, gender...all free to vote.

We can rant ad nauseam, tell some real whoppers and say just about anything on the public air waves to convince, but consequently we don’t get carted off to an icy land, imprisoned or murdered.

Why, even national figure Mike Huckabee (remember him?) can spout crazy talk with his big ‘ol sense of humor, as in let the air out of their tires so they can’t drive to the polls.  Whoa Nelly!

We used to hear that we don’t vote enough, that it’s our right, privilege and obligation, that we should all do it, and that we are the greatest, freedom loving nation on Earth, and proud of it.

And why is it that some people, under the cover of night, think uprooting political signs and destroying property is anything other than low down and cowardly? Among other things, it’s an illegal act, but more importantly, it’s unAmerican, beneath Americans, and more like the behavior of dreaded Fascists and Nazis, who still carry on in some countries.

In the mighty United States of America, we are supposed to stand for justice, freedom, fairness and civil rights, for which a good many fought hard.  Patriotic Americans should remember:  thou shalt not destroy other peoples’ political signs.  Furthermore, thou shalt not harass or threaten people because of their political leanings.  You may raise your blood pressure all you want.  After all, it’s a free country.

Elizabeth Neely

Waynesville

Maggie leaders need to act decisively

To the editor:

Congratulations to The Mountaineer on the great editorial in your Oct. 22 paper concerning the addition of light manufacturing in Maggie Valley.

As you indicated, economic times have changed, and they will continue to change in our great country. For us to set by and do absolutely nothing, when we are given a window of opportunity is a clear indication that the town leadership of Maggie Valley  has no clue as to what is needed to revitalize a market or town.

To run a government, business or municapility, there must be a business plan.  If the current plan is not working, and you are losing money and not moving forward, you have to look at new ideas, make deviations and come up with a new strategy.

Certainly Maggie Valley is a wonderful place and has a great heritage to build upon.  However, you can not live in the past.

Old facilities and insignificant new development have not kept pace with the demands that today’s consumers look forward to visiting.

If you had to take one business, isolate it and review its success carefully, you would choose Joey’s Pancake House — an institution which has stood the test of time.  People come from far and wide on a year round basis to visit perhaps the most popular breakfast in the southeast.  Joey’s is what real success is all about.

Maggie Valley needs leadership with a confident new vision that  brings positive activity to the  valley.  A new industry will fill an empty building, bring in revenue and provide year round activity for the community.  This is a very positive step forward and an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.

Now is the time to act and be decisive in moving Maggie Valley forward.  Any manufacturing noise that occurs will certainly be more acceptable than the horrendous motorcycle noise that is already here.

The good news is that something good wants to come to Maggie Valley during difficult times.  I challenge the town leaders to be decisive, move away from the past and show some real leadership in moving the town forward.  Don’t miss this opportunity.

Chuck Worrell

Waynesville

Examine the 47 percent problem

To the editor:

The ‘47’ problem: Sermon on the Mitt More than a few Americans are outraged by that infamous and revealing “47 percent” comment by Mitt Romney. You should be more than a little nervous, too, about another 47 in the Romney record – a number largely overlooked amid his empty boasts about what he would do for jobs growth. The “other 47” is this: Massachusetts ranked 47th in the nation in job creation when Romney served as governor from 2003 to 2007.

Just to be clear, there are only 50 states. Job growth in Massachusetts was 0.9 percent – less than one percent – compared to the national average of 5 percent, and waaaay behind the high-wage, high-skill economy of North Carolina at 7.6 percent.

Andrew Sum, a Northeastern University economist, found in his research, “On every measure you’ve got, the state (Massachusetts) was a substantial underperformer.” Independent think tank MassINC ranked the state 49th in job creation from 2001 to 2007.

So why would any sensible person favor the Romney record over the actual steady progress under President Obama of more than 5 million new private-sector jobs in 30 consecutive months of growth?

As for the more prominent “47” at issue, who is fool enough to let Romney off the hook with the lame excuse that his words were “not elegantly stated”? His apologists act as though it was a mere slip of the tongue. Are you kidding? That slip of the tongue was more like the Sermon on the Mitt.

It was a full-blown diatribe on how Romney views America from his wealthy perch – that there are 47 percent “who believe they are victims” and that his role “is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.” Sermon on the Mitt was delivered behind closed doors in Boca Raton, which in Spanish means “mouth of the rat.”

Bob Kearney

Waynesville

Article spoke to her

To the editor:

Thank you for publishing the article by Lucy Adams titled “Let There be Peace on Earth.”

As I told Lucy, we sing that song at church in closing every Sunday, and I realized that I had no idea where the song originated. I enjoyed being able to share that information with my minister.

Lucy’s article really spoke to me as I have been struggling with several personal issues — two of which I have absolutely no control over and yet I keep trying to ‘fix’ the problems.

I read the article on Monday afternoon, and, the following morning, I received an email from my church’s headquarters with our latest newsletter, which had an article about peace. I then realized that God was speaking to me and letting me know that He had everything under control.

I felt that peace that passes all understanding down in my heart and felt so much lighter. I am grateful to Lucy for writing the article, to The Mountaineer for publishing the story, and most importantly, to God for His love.

Susan Stilwell,

Waynesvile