Not all corrupt
Regarding Stanley Schaffer’s letter quoted atop Monday’s opinion page, “The term ‘honest politician’ has got to be the greatest oxymoron of all time”: I share Mr. Schaffer’s frustration, but while some politicians may be corrupt, many are not, and to suggest that all are dishonest is inane, sophomoric (to use another four-syllable humdinger) and simply wrong. It would be nice if our intrepid opinion editor could have found something more enlightening to highlight.
But I was reminded of the old saying about how, before you criticize a man, you should walk a mile in his shoes. This has three advantages, one of which is to make you understand his perspective more clearly. A second advantage is that when you do criticize him, he is a mile away. And third, you’ve got his shoes.
Will Power
Arroyo Grande
The rat in Congress
Grover Norquist smiled when on “60 Minutes” he compared Republicans who resist his insistence that they pledge to never raise taxes to finding a rat’s head in a Coke bottle. Maybe it is time for the GOP to recognize that Grover is the rat in Congress. It is amazing that contributions to his lobby are tax-exempt while the rest of us contribute after-tax income to politicians.
It is time rid ourselves of legislators who put Nor-quist and his nonprofit lobbying machine ahead of their obligation to pay for the wars we fight, the criminals we catch, the fires we put out, the education of our children, the bridges we build, etc. Who would want to support a rat in anything?
Jack Heninger
Templeton
Why regulate?
Saturday’s (Nov. 19) article about the zipline and Sunday’s (Nov. 20) article about regulating alcohol makes me wonder: Why do government entities like the county and the cities, as well as state and federal governments, think they must regulate every little bit of our existence? Are ziplines inherently hazardous? Why clamp down on businesses in the community instead of holding those who get out of hand responsible?
Mike Goodwin
Atascadero
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