COMMENT OF THE WEEK “I find it hurmorous when people make statements such as ‘I’ve seen plenty of dead children’ to whip the public up into a frenzy instead of trusting professionals to use data and science to determine rules and regulations.” - “Matt Odlid” commenting on the elimination of the former speed limit on Sass Road in Chesterfield Township.
January 25, 2012
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The future is green... but not that kind of green
Matthew Fahr Columnist A Supreme Court ruling that was predicted to alter the mid-term elections in 2010 has already begun to rear its expensively ugly head in the 2012 campaign season. A 5-4 decision in January 2010 by the court in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission basically opened the floodgates to anyone and everyone who wants to either endorse or smear the candidate of their choice. It will blur the line between free speech and political influence. Under the smoke screen of clarifying the free speech portion of the First Amendment, the court struck down two prior decisions implementing restrictions on election spending and funding. The full weight of this decision will become evident over the next 10 months as moguls, investors, magnates, corporations and anybody
with money burning a hole in their pocket and a cause to attack or endorse will take to the newspapers and airwaves of the nation. It is a phenomenon that GOP candidates are already acquainting themselves with. So-called Super Political Action Committees (PAC’s) are springing up like crabgrass supporting Mitt Romney (Restore Our Future), Newt Gingrich (Winning Our Future) and Rick Santorum (Red, White and Blue). Karl Rove, a full-blown campaign killing professional, has fired up American Crossroads, a Super PAC aimed at defeating Barack Obama in the November election while the Democrats have The House Majority PAC standing behind them and targeting Republicans. These Super PAC’s are basically hired hit men that can and will do all the dirty work while the candidate remains “clean” and does not have to spend a dime of his or her own money. And the well is endless when it comes to money to be spent on ads that will misinform, lie, skew and misquote whoever they so choose. Factor in that corporations, foreign companies and unions can get behind candidates that are friendly to their views
Post did not intend ill will This letter is in response to the thank you letter from Teresa Smith, Ann Miller, and the Dorothy Labens family published Dec 21, 2011 (“True meaning of Christmas exhibited at Boomer’s”). First of all, Boomers was very gracious in helping out the family and made their Christmas party one to remember. Just another reason Memphis is a great place to live. As an active member of the American Legion Post in
Memphis I also was taken aback by the beginning of the letter. The post has procedures in place for rentals of the hall and I am confused on where the break down may have happened. I have spoken with the hall manager, and he said he did have a message on his answering machine and did return the call himself - having to leave a message. Also that he has not received any more calls on the matter. He also stated that he had no knowledge of a rental of the hall for a family Christmas party on that day. Unfortunately in the past Legion members have tried to do a rental on their own and this has caused problems with coordination, so it is highly discouraged. The hall manager is the only one authorized to book/coordinate a rental. Part of the procedure for a rental is for a contract to be written up and a deposit made. At this time a contract for the
ers.com. Thank you! LAURA CHRISTIAN Comfort Keepers, Business Development
Continue the volunteerism beyond MLK Day Stop Senior Hunger Campaign a success Comfort Keepers, Stop Senior Hunger Campaign was a HUGE success! Over 1,100 pounds of non-perishable items were collected and distributed to over 60 seniors. We would like to thank the following businesses and organizations: Comfort Keepers; Marwood Nursing and Rehab; Regency on the Lake; Seaway Bank; Beacon Home Care; Sanctuary at Mercy Village; Blue Water Lodge; Independent Floor Covering; Senior Outreach Services; St. Clair Chamber; Girlfriends Networking Group; Ark Angles - Woman’s Life Insurance; The Times Herald; WGRT - 102.3; The Voice; and About Town Magazine. For additional information, go to comfortkeep-
and pour money into attack ads and you have the recipe for mudslinging on a scale never before seen. In his dissent Justice John Paul Stevens wrote that the decision, “threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions around the nation.” The effects on the local level may outdistance those on the national level. If a union, group or individual does not like the rulings of a judge running for a seat on the bench, they can go out and spend as much as they can to keep that person from the bench. A mining company in West Virginia can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a “swing judge” onto their state Supreme Court to rule in their favor on strip mining bans or emissions laws. In the 2008 election then Sen. Barack Obama and his Congressional peer John McCain combined to spend about $1 billion on their campaigns. Spending will be outrageous for the rest of this campaign as Democrats and Republicans fight for control of legislatures in Washington, D.C. and state capitols around the nation. The only state that has stood up to the ruling is Montana. In December of
I want to thank each and every individual who helped make the New Haven/Lenox food pantry food drive a success. Our community truly has helped carry on the legacy of the late great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Do not let Jan. 16 be the end of our service to our community but a beginning to making 2012 the best year our community has seen. We can accomplish so much when working together for a greater good. The love for brothers and sisters in this community is unmeasurable. We are family connected not by blood but by purpose as we continue to turn a blind eye to personal issues and thrive for a better community. “I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love. And the beautiful thing is that we are moving against wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love. He who
PUT IT IN WRITING The Voice welcomes letters to the editor. Letters to the editor may be sent by e-mail, fax or mail and MUST INCLUDE a name, home address and daytime phone number to allow us to verify the identity of the writer. We reserve the right to edit letters for space and clarity, especially those exceeding 300 words in length. Send letters to: The Voice Letters to the editor 51180 Bedford New Baltimore, MI 48047 editor@voicenews.com (e-mail) (586) 716-8918 (fax) 2011 their state Supreme Court upheld a 1912 state law banning direct corporate spending on electoral campaigns in a rebuke to the U.S. high court. Granted their reasoning may fall under the category of “rural” based on the fact that total spending by all the candidates running for chief justice in 2008
supposed rental has not been seen, also if a deposit was placed initially, a request for reimbursement of the deposit has not been made either. Bottom line, this is a small community and The Voice is a widely read paper. This may not have been the best forum in which to bring up the matter of the rental. The Post’s reputation has been damaged, whether intended or not, and I feel this matter needs to be resolved. Please contact me at merrickpotterpost566@yahoo.com so that we may do so. LAURA SNYDER, Post Adjutant Memphis
Jack topped the list MIRS, the Michigan Information and Research Service that provides news and analysis of state government in Lansing, recently came out with
hates does not know God, but he who has love has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality.” Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? 1967 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. JAMMIE L. KINCAID, President village of New Haven
Riverside Cinema willing to help others I wanted to extend a public thank you to Matthew Bieth of Riverside Cinema. We are a program for adults with developmental disabilities. He works with our group and allows our friends to see current movies and have a great afternoon out. Thank you, Matt! On behalf of Blue Water Choices: STARR CARUTHERS Marine City
Holidays are forever and the thank you’s continue Another great holiday season has come to an end. The Pearl Beach Lions & Leo’s club would like to thank the community for
was $60,000. But U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts and his four other consenters did leave a few requirements intact. Full disclosure of donations is still required and every ad must say who its sponsor was, but other than that the gloves are off and the checkbooks are at the ready.
their annual ranking of “mostconservative” legislators. They do this by analyzing a sampling of a broad variety of votes and calculating the results to determine the legislator’s “conservative rating.” As a constituent and aide of State Senator Jack Brandenburg, I was extremely proud to see that Jack was named 2011’s most conservative senator. There are several important reasons that this is something for Senator Brandenburg and his staff to be proud of. First, Senator Brandenburg campaigned as an “unapologetic conservative,” so not only did he talk-the-talk on the campaign trail, he walked-the-walk after he took office. Senator Brandenburg can also be proud of the fact that his voting record closely reflects the views of his district. Michigan’s credit rating has already been upgraded and it’s
all their support with our first annual Tree Lighting at the Clay Township Water Park on Dec. 16. It was a great night. The High School Choir, led by Ms. Seely, did an outstanding job singing Christmas carols. Mr. Grass led the band with their holiday performance that was enjoyed by all. These teachers do a wonderful job with the students, and we were very proud to have them there. Santa arrived at 6:45 in his sleigh towed by his new Santa Car. He greeted all the kids with candy canes and a warm hello. Santa lit the tree at 7 p.m. and let the kids take pictures with him in front of the tree. Afterwards Santa and some kids got in the sleigh and led the crowd to the concession stand for free hot chocolate and sleigh rides around the park. We also had hot chestnuts and turkey bowling, hotdogs and snacks. Our 64th annual kids Christmas Party on Dec. 18 was also another great success. It started with Santa arriving by fire truck, then passing out toys to every kid while sitting in his big rocking chair. Kids all got milk and cookies and a picture with Santa. None of this would
What this will do to the political landscape is yet to be seen, but I can assure you it will get nasty, ideologies will be bought and sold at the drop of a hat and voters will have to work twice as hard to sift through the piles of misinformation that will be heaped on them before November.
economic and employment outlook have improved dramatically after just one short year of conservative budgeting and fiscally-responsible spending, and Senator Brandenburg’s conservative leadership has contributed to that turnaround. BRIAN PANNEBECKER, district representative for Sen. Brandenburg Shelby Township
Hold elected officials accountable People running for office make all kinds of promises then do a one-eighty after they are elected. After the election we are stuck with them for two, four or six years. We need a method to punish them while they are in office. Is there anyone out there who is willing to begin discussing the problem? DICK HARRIS Richmond
have been possible without the support of the following: Kroger, Margret Jeans Restaurant, Colony Bowling, Jerry Gordon tree service, Kurk Acatz, our Bingo Ladies, Clay Twp. Fire Dept., Joyce our cookie lady, our secret Santa who supplied over half of the toys, and the jolly fellow himself Santa. Let the spirit of giving continue through the hearts of those who believe. On behalf of the members of the Pearl Beach Lions and Leo’s: DAVID HACKER Clay Township
Algonac Cub Scouts show thanks The Algonac Cub Scouts Pack 222 would like to thank all participants and those that came out to support them with the third annual Chili Cook-off: First place restaurant, Snoopy’s Dog House; second place restaurant, Johnny Legas; Hottest Chili, Kyle Holmberg; Algonac’s Best, Jim Harris; Peoples Choice, Jim Harris; Best of Show, Jennifer Fisher; and the judges, Aaron O’Neil, Dave Cross and Denny Roland.
PAT PREVOST, Assistant Cub Master Algonac Cub Scouts Pack 222
TM
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