http://www.publishaletter.comTen recent posted letters to editors, of Publishaletter.com en-ushttp://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=17825Dear Editor: I understand that the purpose of a front page of any newspaper is to catch readers’ attention. Well, you have succeeded; it certainly did catch my attention, albeit for wrong reasons. First of all, it would be nice, if media in general stopped using the term “visible minorities”. It is clearly, at least in Metro Vancouver, a misnomer – according to the last data, this term no longer applies. More than 50% does not exactly mean minority. But, more importantly, since you are trying to be politically correct, maybe you should re-think your terminology when it comes to those who do not belong to the “visible minority” group. We, in Canada, made a conscious decision not to call people by the color of their skin and given the historical context it probably was not a bad decision. But, why is it alright to use the term “whites”? The defining point of racism is that there are different standards applied to different groups of people and that those different applications of standards are based on color of skin, religion, ethnicity, etc. In other words, I am asking you to stop being racists.http://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=17824Dear Editor: I wanted everyone to know my horrible experience with Telecheck. I have been writing checks for 40 yrs and never bouncing one or having a problem with over limits or overdrafts on my checking account. I have A+ credit. So you would ask what is the problem. 1st on Christmas Eve I was in Kmart and wrote a check, I was told my check was not good and would not be excepted. I asked why and was told they had a new system in place called telecheck and if I wanted to know I would have to call them, which they handed me the #, I told Kmart that I don't understand I have been dealing with them all of these years without a problem, I was told that they have nothing to do with this and if I wanted my merchandise I would have to pay cash or charge. I ended up charging it even though it was not what I wished to do. I went home and called telecheck and was told it made no difference if I have money in my account nor that I have never bounced a check. I asked them why then and they responded with they don't know just that they can. They stated the list changes daily and it could be for any reason. I kept repeating that they need to explain why and they had no explaination. The only things they could come up with is maybe I used my checks to often or it was for a large amount or any reason they could come up with. Then they told me that there is nothing that they could do about it and neither could I. Well now today is 3-10-10 and again I needed to speak to them because of another store Bed Bath and Beyond did not except my check, same scenario. This time I went to my back and they called Bed Bath and Beyond to see what the problem is and they were told to have me call Telecheck and find out the problem. The bank told them I had enough in my account and it did not make and sense they repeated themselves that I needed to call telecheck. The bank told me they were not involved and I needed to go home and call, which I did. I called and got no where I was told by the manager that I could not speak with the executive office however I could write to them or I could go on line to get info. at www.telecheck.com which I have since done both and have not received any feedback as to why this is happening. I went on facebook and found out that I am not the only one with this problem. What happened to the Constitution where we are innocent until proven guilty????http://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=17822Dear Editor: Democrats changed Senate history and tradition in 2004-05 by using the filibuster to block Bush judicial nominations. Believing a parliamentary bypass was the only way to preserve history and tradition, the GOP leadership tried to use it to force a simple majority up or down vote on judges. Only the Gang of 14 (7 Dems and 7 GOP) prevented it from happening. When John McCain helped form the Gang of Fourteen he killed his own party’s ability to shut down democrat filibustering of Bush judicial nominations. Prior to the Bush Administration, no minority Senate party in American history had used the filibuster in this way. For McCain it was all about protecting the rights of the minority in the senate. For the democrats it was all about stopping Bush. The Dems were happy to receive GOP help – they got what they wanted and killed or delayed Bush nominations throughout his second term. While McCain and his allies bucked their own party on principle, the democrats used McCain to change the role of the Senate Now we are faced with a democrat majority democrat party using reconciliation as a vehicle to pass a health bill that will affect every American. Reconciliation has never in American history been used in this way. With 100 % GOP opposition in the House and Senate, and with polls running 55 to 43% against the bill, the democrats still want to force this bill down the throats of the American people. Wow, Senator McCain must feel pretty lousy about his former democrat buddies betraying him when the shoe is on the other foot. The former democrat gang members (six still serving) have no interest in a new gang. What a surprise. To the democrats history means nothing. To the democrats, acting in a bipartisan way (like the Gang of 14) to protect the rights of the minority party means nothing. The only things the democrats value is ideology and power. They want national health care and they will use any means to achieve it. If the democrats succeed, the American voter should elect new senators who will reverse the bill and restore the checks and balances in the Senate that assure we get good legislation that enjoys bipartisan national support. Voters should recognize betrayal of our history and traditions and punish incumbents accordingly.http://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=17821Dear Editor: Good Luck all Toyota owners,Back in 1992 I purchased a high dollar car from one of the big three in Charlotte N.C. right from the git go I had a problem just like whats going on with Toyotas problem,It was in and out of the dealer ship often, but no matter what they did the problem would not go away,we moved back to Jersey and the local dealer did some more to solve the problem,At a drive in bank i allmost dug a hole in the black top trying to get the car to idel down,the next day i was on the phone to detroit,and even got to know the customer service person by name because i called so often,and then one day he said"oh yes, you have that sail on problem problem" so back I go to the dealer and he askes me what the problem is and I say out loud I have that sail on problem" well you could have herd a pin drop in the service department, a fellow came from somewhere and asked me where I herd the expression "sail on"I told him and the secret was out. To end this story my wife had a problem like i did and we ended up selling it,and the dealer ship did all they could and still could not fix even though they said they had. Good luckhttp://www.publishaletter.com/editorchoiceletter.jsp?plid=17820Dear Editor: The 2012 elections may be the most important in US history. Our choices will dictate whether we continue down a certain track to destruction, or make drastic changes to reverse course. The lousy politicians who brought us the current national mess must go. The rallying cry for the next election ought to be – “Incumbents Must Go!” The Congress has failed to create and the executive branch has failed to run sustainable national programs. Social Security is bankrupt, Medicare is bankrupt, Medicaid is bankrupt, and the post office is bankrupt. Government-run FANNIE MAE and FREDDIE MAC brought us to the brink of financial disaster from which we have not fully recovered. AMTRAK is bankrupt. We have 13 trillion dollars in debt and total liabilities of 63 trillion dollars. In one generation our elected leaders have taken us from a global power and prosperous nation to a declining power with a struggling population. On top of all this, the President now wants to socialize medical care, putting 1/6 of the US economy under government control. Wonder how that will turn out based on the government’s track record? I will bet the house on spiraling insurance costs, massive fraud, rationed care, declining quality, and massive government overspending. Beyond the budget, we are also destroying our national economic security. We are increasing our dependence on foreign energy suppliers while limiting exploration and use of our own energy resources. Limits on cheap and plentiful coal supplies raise energy coasts and kill jobs. Also, the Congress tried mightily to pass “Cap and Tax” which would have increased energy costs for every American and business. Our Congress has robbed the Highway fund that is supposed to keep our transportation infrastructure in tact and it is in decline. We have cut NASA and our ability to launch payloads into orbit, making us dependent on foreign nations. We can spend 8 billion dollars on ACORN but don’t have 4 billion dollars to keep America on the cutting edge of space technology and competition. This does not make sense. This report card on our government’s failings has fatally serious implications for all Americans. Whether you receive a check from Uncle Sam or not the current economic situation is not going to last long. With the treasury printing money like an East European mafia counterfeiter, the dollar’s worth and credibility is rapidly declining around the world. Would you want to hold a trillion dollars of US debt (i.e. China) if the US government is devaluing the asset on a daily basis? Of course not. The dollar will inevitably reach the tipping point where a run on the dollar will start that cannot be stopped. The result will be the destruction of the US economy and the bankruptcy of the US government where the only alternative is massive cuts in programs and services. Your government will not be able to send you a check or voucher and your pensions and investments will be largely wiped out. Every American will be affected and tens of millions will be in extreme financial difficulty with no way out. The second American depression will begin. The US voter is the only hope for the future. You must forget the flighty and emotional appeals about hope and change and get back to reality and the fundamentals. Incumbents who brought us this impending doom must go. Career politicians who have voted year after year for more spending must go. Any politician who votes for this latest health care fiasco must go. Whether democrat, republican or independent you must vote to save the country. Unlimited spending on entitlements is not sustainable and we are arriving at the moment in time when we must account for our irresponsibility. Government control over institutions and large elements of the economy is a formula for failure. We stand on top of a mountain watching two trains hurtling towards each other at high speed. One train is unlimited spending the other is accountability. The moment is now to stop this inevitable train wreck. Incumbents must go. Elect new senators, representatives, governors, state legislators, and mayors who will correct these gross imbalances and put Americas back on a sustainable path to the future.http://www.publishaletter.com/editorchoiceletter.jsp?plid=17819Dear Editor: Every day farmers of Vidarbha are committing suicides and more or less same trend is seen in entire India. As per one survey, more than 40000 farmers have committed suicides in entire India in the past one and half decade. The figure has become alarming. It seems nobody bothers since farmers suicides have become daily affair. Few years back farmers were happy community. They were earning sufficient and were leaving dignified life as they did not have to face inflation. Farmers by nature are simple and straight people. Now they cannot cope up with rising inflation and they prefer to die instead of facing society as a dejected person. They feel ashamed in the society if they are not able to repay the loans which forces them to take the root of suicides. The reasons of suicides are purely economical policies of the govt. The policy of LPG i.e. Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization have hit the poor sections of society bitterly. It gave the farmers suicides in legacy. Maharashtra govt has set up a committee to find out the reasons of suicide. A fat report was submitted blaming on failures of monsoon, uncontrollable pests, reduction in sizes of land holdings due to population increase, increase in the cost of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. etc. Real reason of suicides is rising cost of living which is a byproduct of LPG. No doubt , there is economic progress of India but it has benefited Industrialists and urban higher middle class. The ill effects of LPG have hit the poor sections of society. Profit margins of Industrialists have multiplied but the incomes of farmers gone downwards. It has become difficult for farmers to cope up with the inflation and they get trapped in the vicious circle of debt. Govt has not come with any concrete policy to counter the affected sections of the society suffered by LPG policy. Another example is privatization has fully stopped the recruitment of SC/STs. .No govt has bothered about ill effects of LPG. Farmers are dying but no politicians are bothering. In fact the top politicians and Industrialists are multiplying their wealth and farmers are becoming poorer and poorer day by day. They have become insensitive towards the sorrows and pains of the poor. I recall the sensitivity of Freedom fighter Sane Guruji . This great man has written mind boggling books like Shyamchi Aai and also gone in jail while fighting for freedom movement of India. But independence has not brought any relief to the lives of the poors. It was unbearable for him to see the poverty of the people and he preferred to die by consuming a poison. No one is asking today’s politician to die but at least become fractionally sensitivs towards the lives of the poor. Bodhisattwa Shendrehttp://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=17818Dear Editor: The harsh realities of north korea's king jong-il's brutal regime was never more evident than in the powerfull and shocking documentary king-jong-ils comedy club two danish comedians, one called Jacob who was handicapped were surprisingly allowed to show their band of humour to a carefully selected few, although most danish elements had to be altered to fit in with north korean rules, like the handicapped having to pretend he wasn't ! they wanted to highlight the effects their brand of humour would have and how it would be perceived in a totalitarian state they were ushered around by a government employee who seemed very uncomfortable with their comedy act, and always seemed tense the almost robotic audience clapped and laughed at their appalling comedy. most handicapped people are murdered or put in camps so when the the climax to the film had Jacob asking his chaperon why they hadn't come across more people like himself, knowing full well she wouldn't be able to answer, and with a great punch-line, Interrupted 'maybe I'll see some next time' !http://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=17817Dear Editor: In discussing ways to reform the USPS it is important to bear in mind the harm done if there are THREE days in a row without mail. The Saturday elimination is one thing, but followed by one of the many holidays now observed on Mondays, would mean no mail after Friday until the following Tuesday. Some accommodation should be made for those instances.http://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=17815Dear Editor: As a member of the public I want to thanks all the Bus Drivers in Greater London. I have notice and seen what a deflect job it is and what under pressure the Divers are. Why do they not get any awards for the service to the community? They are on the road every single day of the week and have to deal with some of the most difficult passenger they do such a fantastic Job day in and day out. Please make sure that we have this people have around for along time to come. Thanks again for a fantastic Job. Alexander Surreyhttp://www.publishaletter.com/editorchoiceletter.jsp?plid=17814Dear Editor: Different road tax rates are prevailing in different states. In case of transfer of vehicle from one state to another, one is required to deposit raod tax in the new state at rates prevailing in this state. This is leading to a lot of unnecessary paper work and corruption and practically, it is never possible to get the refund of tax from the old state. India is a democratic country and in any democracy, the Govt should be by, for and of the people and, hence looking into the public convenience, I strongly feel that uniform rates of road tax should be applicable throughout the country with liberty to use the vehicle anywhere in the country. This will lead lead to clean and efficient bureaucracy.