Letters to the Editor for Wednesday, September 2, 2009

By: | Lynchburg News and Advance
Published: September 02, 2009

Two accounts of the same town hall
Concerning “Bad Behavior,” Betsy Grzybowski’s Aug. 31 letter to the editor, I was present at the town hall meeting held at Rustburg High School on Aug. 28 and I don’t know what this letter-writer is talking about! It must have something to do with that saying — we see what we want to see — and hear what we want to hear!

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Nearly every speaker thanked Rep. Tom Perriello for being there. Speakers were polite and respectful — outspoken, yes — insulting, maybe — abusive, no. The crowd was passionate — the sole reason for being there! I also disagree with Mrs. Gryzbowski that Mr. Perriello was there to talk to us. We already know what he wants from this plan. It was his night to listen to what we want! Not surprisingly, speakers had a copy of this health care plan and asked specific questions, many of which could not be answered by Mr. Perriello. Yes, there was a lot of cheering and clapping. Were it not for this intensely charged reaction to this proposed health care reform, a town hall meeting would not be necessary.

I was encouraged, inspired, exhilarated and so proud of the people who spoke up in opposition to the health care proposal. The speakers represented all that is good in this country and they made reference to this country’s beginning citing our Constitution, which is sad that our government has to be reminded.

In a world that is spiraling downward on a daily basis and, in my opinion, the Constitution is being shredded; it was indeed heartening to have been at this meeting where we, the people, existed!
LUCY WILLIAMS
Lynchburg

Good candidate
I am excited to find Democrat Jeff Price running for House of Delegates against Del. Ben Cline. He believes in the future of this region.

Most of my family left a small, rural town in Tennessee desperate to find economic and educational opportunities elsewhere. I was raised away from my roots and mountains.

I see young people here and wonder if they will be forced from their roots and mountains for the same reasons.

It’s up to us to prevent that outcome by voting in November.

Jeff Price knows and loves this area. He is running because he wants families to thrive here. Because he himself struggles as a small businessman, I trust his promise to work for small business … here. Because his wife is an educator and his children are in school here, I believe his promise to work for our children.
MARTHA JONES BURFORD
Monroe

Serfdom?
Something drastic has happened to our country over the past years. Many, if not most of us, have not yet realized it until now.

Our elected representatives no longer represent us; they are now representing themselves. Our elected public servants are not serving us; they are now serving themselves. Our elected officials now pose as our bosses and we their employees. Our elected dignitaries consider themselves as being an elite group superior to the rest of us, deserving of special treatments.

This is so noticeable in that they have their own ethics system, they have their own health care systems (paid for by us). They have their own retirement system (paid for by us).

If this continues unchecked, these public servants will become our tyrants and we their serfs!
BOB BONHEIM
Lynchburg