Letters to the Editor

The Machines are heading back to Grand Rapids soon for the holidays, so I figured I'd check out the talk of the town in the Grand Rapids Press. Today was a banner day for people who like to read batshit craziness. I count my readers among that number, so I'll share:

Choose candidates wisely

Selection of political candidates dominates the news so I suspect people are trying to evaluate what they see and hear to make an intelligent choice. My concern is that because of misleading statements many will choose candidates for the wrong reasons.

One accepted chunk of nonsense is "exploration of working families by corporations." First of all, corporations don't do things, people do. A corporation is a type of business structure owned by stockholders who for the most part are institutions like pension funds and mutual funds owned by working people. They elect directors who choose management. There is an occasional bad-apple but how is it in their interest to exploit their owners?

Another favorite technique is to magnify historic grievances of groups to get their vote. First, the people who suffered are long gone and we have plenty of laws to prevent reoccurrence. Second, when has nursing, even legitimate hurts, increased our well-being or prosperity?

Ok, one more. Everyone likes freebies. Everyone hates war. So blame war on your opponent and promise to use the cost of war for government benefits. As has been said, "a government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. Is that what we want if we and our children aspire to become "Peters"?

Voters, please, choose a candidate who is knowledgeable, has management skills, is honorable in conduct, honest in word and deed, dutiful in service and respectful of the rights of all people, including those with an attached umbilical cord.

-- NORMAN J.E. ROE/Elk Rapids

Not a good moral

I have not seen "The Golden Compass" yet, and I don't plan to. After reading the Pulse letter "Wrong direction" (Dec. 13), I am even more convinced, being brought up in a Catholic family.

It bewilders me to know that people would pay money to see a movie by someone who doesn't believe in the creator of the universe, God. I hope that dissuades people from seeing "The Golden Compass."

Instead, why not see a movie that is fun to watch, has a good moral and is worth the money. I would suggest people see "Bee Movie." For those who have kids, or don't, it is fun to see by oneself.

-- NOAH VAN HARTESVELT/Grand Rapids

Handout is wrong answer

I am writing in response to the "Mother of triplets moves to Hastings apartment" (Press, Dec. 13).

Monica Roberts met a guy at a bar, had pre-martial sex and had three babies. On top of that she was homeless and living off the state. She claims she is a Christian. Part of being a Christian is to take accountability for one's actions, to be humble and unselfish. How is one (Monica Roberts) going to take responsibility for her actions if everyone else is handing out donations for her mistake?

I believe every child conceived is a blessing from God. Although every Christian sins every day, we also have to learn by fessing up and fixing our sins. I would rather have my tax dollars go to a single mom who works her butt off to provide for her children, and who is humble. This is why I believe some people who need the state's help cannot get it because it goes to women like Roberts.

The father has not stepped up to the plate, nor has Monica Roberts, everyone else has been providing for her along with her mother.

-- GENEVA R. WYNIA/Hudsonville

I make this offer now:
If Norm, Noah, or Geneva are reading this, they all owe me a drink when I roll into the Rust Belt. If they buy me a drink during my visit, I will repay the kindness by not knocking some sense into their heads.