Letter writer: As a registered nurse, and Bible-believing Christian, I stare in disbelief at the ignorance of ‘Vote no on Question 3,” the group opposed to the use of God-given herb for medical purposes.
Romney shows he’s unfit to govern U.S.
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney makes comments on the killing of U.S. embassy officials in Benghazi, Libya, while speaking in Jacksonville, Fla., Wednesday.In response to the attack on the U.S. embassy in Libya which resulted in the deaths of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other foreign service officers, President Obama said: “I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi. [The four Americans] exemplified America’s commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe.”
Bear that in mind when considering Mitt Romney’s first statement: “It’s disgraceful that the Obama Administration’s first response was not to condemn the attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”
Of course, Romney spokespeople later tried to clarify his remarks as referring to a statement by the U.S. embassy in Cairo, not cleared through the State Department or the White House, condemning “...the efforts by misguided individuals (the producers of a video that ridiculed Muhammad) to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims, as we condemn efforts to offend believers in all religions.” This has become typical of Romney... issue a blatant lie, and then try to weasel out of it while repeating it. If this is how he campaigns, this is how he will govern.
– DAVID VARNER, Granby
Former Mayor Ryan smart, free thinker
I must respond to a letter that appeared in Tuesday’s issue of The Republican from a gentleman I recognize as a former television news reporter in the area. The gentleman chastises his old friend Charlie Ryan for crossing party lines to endorse Republican Sen. Scott Brown.
While reading this letter, it occurred to me that this gentleman sounds like a Kool-Aid drinker for his political party. Mayor Ryan’s action demonstrates to me that he is a free thinker.
Some of this former reporter’s views are strong which causes me to wonder how objective this reporter was during his career!
– PAUL S. HODGKINS, Chicopee
Opinion polls threat to U.S. democracy
As we approach the elections of 2012 we will see a constant stream of polls. We should be asking if they are they being used to measure public opinion, or to influence it?
Following are some of the reasons why:
In many cases the organizations that conduct and report polls have a definite bias toward a desired outcome. This should be an immediate warning sign to everyone.
Such things as how questions are asked; how the question is worded and in what context; the series of questions asked along with the reported result on a given topic; the timing of the question vs. other happenings in the U.S. or the world; who is asking the questions can make a difference.
If the question is asked by a person, voice inflections can also make a difference. Sampling human opinion is tremendously complex. David W. Moore a former senior editor of the Gallup Poll, said that most of today’s polls claiming to measure the public’s preferences on policy matters or presidential candidates produce distorted and even false readings of public opinion that damage the democratic process.”
Media organizations tend to report polls as truth. Many people are influenced by polls. Yet for all of the reasons above, people should be very skeptical of polls and their true validity in measuring public opinion.
– AL DILASCIA, Chicopee
Medical marijuana should be legal
As a registered nurse, and Bible-believing Christian, I stare in disbelief at the ignorance of ‘Vote no on Question 3,” the group opposed to the use of God-given herb for medical purposes.
In The Republican, Heidi Heilman, a member of the group, is quoted as stating, “Marijuana is not medical.” As a medical professional, I do not know where to begin with that ignorant statement. It has however fired me up to make sure Question 3, gets on the ballot, and passes.
– RANDY SMITH. Chicopee