10/27/2006

Letters to the Editor

At Issue: Elections

A protected songbird

The Grand Traverse Audubon Club urges Michigan voters to keep the 100-year tradition of protecting mourning doves by voting "no" on Proposal 3.

Opening a dove season would result in the discharge of toxic lead shot into the environment. Shooting doves also produces orphaned young, and will contribute to many similar birds being shot by mistake.

Doves are not overpopulated, do not cause harm to people or property, and are so small that they're not shot for food. The Grand Traverse Audubon Club supports hunting, but not the shooting of protected songbirds for target practice. Vote "no" on Proposal 3.

Cindee DuBey
Lake City
The writer is president,
Grand Traverse Audubon Club.

Not good for America

A lady's recent letter stated she was a Republican, but no more. Upon reading her typical liberal blatherings, I say she never was.

She can't see that the Democrats, along with their willing accomplices "the mainstream media," have done nothing for eight years but attack Bush and this country's ideals.

What does the Democratic Party offer that a person can vote for? They have to meet every two months to re-decide what their platform is going to be. It turns out that anything that's good for them is awful for our country. Their actions continually border on treason.

John Goodwin
Traverse City

Will follow the law

Benzie's current Probate Judge Nancy Kida seems to be challenged by rules. One of her large campaign signs was installed before she applied for the required permit.

Plus, due to a campaign finance error, the state requested her correction "no later than Aug. 23, 2006" or they'd make referral to the Attorney General. Her response is stamped as received by the state on Aug. 24, a day late.

Do we want a judge who can't follow the rules? How can she pass judgment on citizens who break a rule? Vote for John Daugherty. He knows the laws. He follows them.

Larry E. Lung
Beulah

Do the math

There is a perception that a "yes" vote on the Long Lake Township Natural Areas Proposal is just $3 a month. Doing the math, (taxable value divided by 1,000 x .46-mill increase = annual tax increase divided by 12 = monthly tax increase), will give you an accurate tax liability amount.

Don't base your vote on just the dollar amount. View the properties, ask questions of township and land conservancy officials.

Be informed when you cast your vote.

Michael Pifer
Traverse City

Preserve the future

Why would any voter over 60 vote no on the Leelanau Farmland Preservation proposal?

Within the last five years, the county has lost 5,000 acres of farmland to developers. At this rate, in 25 years, 25,000 more acres will have been lost, present-day seniors will be gone and the character of this beautiful peninsula they love will be history.

By paying a nominal amount now, seniors preserve at least some of this beauty for one's descendents. They will provide a land legacy for all the tomorrows they will never experience.

Touch the future and vote "yes" for farmland preservation.

Theresa Sullivan
Empire

There is no choice

As I see it there is no choice. Gov. Granholm needs to be re-elected. DeVos? Do you really want his campaign to win?

Consider his connections to Amway. Considering that I was sucked into this, I now realize the money we spent on conventions and books, even our memberships, all went to the 3 percent of Americans at the top.

Gov. Granholm had to turn this state; consider what she was left to do, after Gov. Engler left. My vote will go to her. She needs your vote to continue to fix Michigan.

Mickey Schaub
Kingsley