Page 10 — THE LACONIA DAILY SUN, Saturday, September 8, 2012
LETTERS I’m running for re-election to address state’s pension system
Delaying purchase of new engine handicaps Gilford Fire Dept.
To the editor, I am running for re-election to represent Northfield and Ward 3 Franklin in the state Legislature. Last term, I joined the efforts of my fellow fiscal conservatives, putting the state back onto solid financial ground and rolling back the 25-percent increase in state spending and the 100 different tax increases the Democrats placed on all of us. (Remember the good times we had paying the LLC tax, the campground tax and, who could forget, the automobile registration surcharge three years ago?) With strong Republican leadership we also successfully erased their $800-million deficit created by overspending in slow economic times. While some may argue that worthy projects did not see funding increases in this budget, I’m sure you’ve noticed we have yet to experience the promised “blood running in the streets” from the reduced spending. Please ask yourself if you have even noticed the reduction of almost 1 billion dollars in state spending. The job isn’t finished however. My focus is to correct our ailing state pension system next. Across the coun-
To the editor, To the voters of Gilford: Much has been discussed regarding the proposal to acquire a new fire truck to replace our 1987 Ranger attack engine (Engine #4). While I and my fellow selectmen initially favored the purchase during our budget preparation session in late 2011, we all were convinced by two well meaning taxpayers that Engine #4 could be repaired for less than $20,000, saving the taxpayers a tidy sum and hopefully deferring the purchase for three years. Hindsight being 20/20, we now know that the repairs will cost more than $75,000 with no guarantee that we will extend the life of a 25-year-old truck. The time has come to vote YES on the warrant article for the new fire truck (September 11th Primary Day voting). The fire chief has reviewed a number of used trucks to replace Engine 4 in an interim capacity. None of them meet the requirements of a replacement vehicle; especially the engine power needed to carry the load up Schoolhouse Hill Road, Cherry Valley Road, Belknap Mountain Road, Liberty Hill Road, and through Gunstock Acres. Comments have been made by a few that we should just wait until Town Meeting in March 2013 to act on this. However, waiting does not change the impact on taxes in 2013; a YES vote on September 11th will the same tax impact (delivery is eight months after an affirmative vote) as a March vote.
try, we see cities declaring bankruptcy and at the heart is usually their pension obligations. Here in N.H., we haven’t reached that dire stage but we easily could if the situation is not addressed quickly. So while the state financial picture is in jeopardy, my concern is also for the ordinary N.H. taxpayer because under the current system, we taxpayers assume all the risk. If (or when) we have another stock market downturn we taxpayers make up for the losses to the pension plan. In these times, when most taxpayers can’t afford to save for their own retirement this comes as a double shock. Thus far, my experience in the retirement plan world has been useful and I would like to continue until the job is done. I need to point out the new plan will be used only by future state employees but the redesign will also strengthen the current pension system for our current workers and retirees creating more peace of mind. As I said, more is left to do and with your help we will succeed. I will appreciate your vote and your help keeping the ship of state on course. Rep. Gregory Hill Northfield
Bill Grimm only cares about Franklin and is a dismal choice To the editor, In a recent letter, a gentleman from outside the district claimed to “not understand Neil Young’s claim that Bill Grimm is a Franklin only candidate for Senate District 7” I would like to clarify this point for him. I first met Bill at the Belknap GOP Committee meeting at Top of the Town in Belmont. Unfortunately, Josh Youssef had a prior commitment to his 8-year-old son and therefore could not attend (to answer another of Racicot’s questions). Mr. Grimm and Mr. Neil Young (acting as Mr. Youssef’s surrogate) were asked for their positions on Northern Pass. Mr. Youssef opposes Northern Pass, correctly, as the project would grant the government a dangerous precedent (use of eminent
domain to give to a private corporation) and would burden most N.H. communities. Mr. Grimm favors it regardless of the high cost to Laconia, Belmont, Gilford, Northfield, Anover, Boscawen, Canterbury, Salisbury and Webster, because it will bring temporary unionized jobs to Franklin for six months. Another indicator may be that Mr. Grimm has refused to appear with Youssef outside of Franklin, to discuss the issues. Mr. Grimm only cares about Franklin, which makes him a dismal choice to represent the 10 towns of District 7, and I hope citizens of the other nine towns remember this on Sept. 11th. Tim Messin Belmont
I believe what God’s word says about homosexual marriage To the editor, Come on people, this is America, and the last time I looked at my dollar I read “In God We Trust”, the God of Heaven and Earth and the Father of our Lord, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. God made man (Adam) and woman (Eve) and they produced children. Homosexual same sex marriage produces nothing, period. homosexuality is a disgrace to manhood and womanhood, a real marriage is made in heaven and lasts a life time and our children are our greatest blessings. Sex is a wonderful God-given experience, but only between a man and woman, not between Adam and Steve, or Jill and Jane. The vast majority of Americans are against same sex marriage, thank God for strong men like Dan Caty, of Chick-Fil-A who warns us about risking divine retribution. I believe what God’s word says about
homosexuality. They try to change the truth of God into a life and God gave them up to vile affections, for women, did change the natural into something against nature, and likewise men, left the natural use of the woman, and lusted after men they became reprobates. (Rom 1:22-32) Listen folks, stand for that which is right in the eyes of God, and for a president who believes marriage is between a man and a woman and the Lord will bless our nation. This is not a hate letter by no means, Jesus died for all people including homosexuals, if we ask him to save us, he will and you can be set free and enjoy a normal holy relationship, even get married and have a wonderful family. God Bless the U.S.A. William (Liam) McCoy Belmont
In the meantime, we are handicapping our Fire Department and borrowing apparatus from neighboring towns provided they don’t have an emergency of their own. Further aiding the tax impact aspect, the $56,000 Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) loan payment was completed in 2012; the new truck payment is to be approximately $50,000 per year, allowing the town to keep the fire department capital equipment tax burden level. The Selectboard (3-0) and the Budget Committee have both voted in favor of the purchase being made at this time. The judge who reviewed our petition to hold a special vote also concurred, noting that putting any more money into a 25-year-old vehicle was fiscally irresponsible. Each day we delay this purchase and run with just one attack engine brings us one day closer to a possible serious emergency, risking life and property. As a resident of Gilford, I urge you all to get out and vote on September 11th. There will be two ballots that day, one for the state and county primary and one for the fire engine. You need not be party affiliated to vote on the fire engine; registered independents are urged to make every effort to vote (Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Middle School). It’s time to put rhetoric and bickering aside and pass this warrant article. Selectman Kevin Hayes Gilford
Feather hair extensions are cruelly harvested from roosters To the editor, Feather hair extensions are all the fashionable rage today. How are the feathers really obtained? Are they gathered from feathers that just “fall off” the bird? The answer is “no”. Hair extension feathers are obtained from roosters who are raised for this purpose only and are caged in filthy misery. The largest supplier of feathers for extensions is based in Colorado. Each rooster has available only 5-6 tail feathers that can be sold for extensions, sometimes non. Therefore, up to 1,500 roosters may be killed by this farm each week for the fashion industry. After the feathers have been plucked, the dead roosters are then trashed like garbage. “They aren’t good for anything else”, brags the company’s president, demonstrating the cruelty and waste of the feather business. The roosters are not killed humanely. To keep blood off the feathers the farms asphyxiate their birds with carbon dioxide, a terribly painful death, as the suffocate in terror. The birds panic as they realize that they cannot breathe. Each inhalation to
try to get oxygen expels the poisonous gas from their lungs which tightest the strangulation. Even though the companies claim that the roosters are killed painlessly, it is simply not possible to obtain millions of feathers for the feather trade humanely. Actually, some feathers may be picked from live birds, causing incredible pain. What can you do to stop this cruel trade? First, don’t buy feather extensions. Politely inform an establishment selling the extensions on anyone wearing them about the waste of life and suffering endured by the roosters. Education fashion and teen magazine editors, or store managers to not promote and sell this product of misery. Point our that there are many beautiful, feather free fabrics, beads, and other hair ornaments that you can purchase or even make yourself that don’t come from abused birds. For informative pamphlets you can distribute to educate others, contact the United Poultry Concerns at www. upc-online.org/merchandise or phone 1-757-678-7875. Barbara J. Bonsignore Concord
from preceding page future retirees. Residents of Northfield and Franklin’s Ward 3 are very fortunate to have someone so dedicated working for them in Concord and they’d do themselves a great favor if they once again re-elected
him to serve on their behalf in NH’s state Legislature. Please be sure to vote for Representative Greg Hill, Northfield and Franklin’s Ward 3! Check out his website at www.greghill.fornhhouse.com Rep. Kathleen Lauer-Rago Franklin