A huff and a puff and it’s simple to label another man’s opinion ‘craziness’
Dear Editor,
I recently saw an interview with Dan Rather where he talked about the fact based world. It was interesting that Dan was the mouthpiece for this point. A recent letter to the editor referred to the world of reality in battle with the world of crazy. This appears to be part of the talking points in our political discussion today. Today’s politics are indeed interesting. I agree that reality and fact are good things, but then what is reality and fact?
I have asked in past letters that citizens think more deeply. In politics the opposite of reality is not crazy. That talking point is a cheap, thoughtless way to denigrate those that you do not agree with. All of our politics and politicians operate in a world of political reality and I am not sure that really reflects reality. If you are going to talk about reality and crazy explain what reality and crazy might be.
I guess we could define as crazy to spend $3 trillion at the federal level and have a $1 trillion deficit. Is it crazy to have a debt of $16 trillion that will grow to $20 trillion or more in four years? This is reality. It is going to happen and when interest rates begin to rise the dollars to pay the interest on that amount will balloon out of control. That is crazy and reality at the same time.
Is it crazy to think that a video was responsible for events in Benghazi or is reality something else? Is it even crazier to think that the Obama administration has been able to delay, confuse, and lie for so long – or is that reality? It is reality that apologists for the administration refuse to hold the administration accountable? It is reality that there is no leadership, accountability, and no positive action by the administration for what happened in Benghazi. The reality is that the county, the individuals that risk their lives every day for this county, and the people who have lost their lives for this country, deserve better.
The reality of the mess we are in has been brought to us by both Democrats and Republicans. Reality and craziness are not the realm of one party or the other. To suggest that something is crazy because you don’t agree with it – and that what you think is reality truly is – should not be the kind of politics that responsible citizens embrace.
We should think more deeply and challenge what we may think is real, is fact, and the politicians and politics that we chose to believe. So, what reality won in this last election? I did not vote for Obama and many other Americans did not either.
I did not vote for him because I do not believe his solutions are good for America. I do not believe he leads. I do not believe that he has told the truth. I could detail why I believe these statements to be true. I am not crazy and nor are the many Americans that did not vote for Obama or who disagree with his policies or his actions.
What our country needs is what works and what will solve problems, so let us have a conversation with everything on the table. Do not stifle the conversation. So let us stop looking at ”reality” without data, not holding politicians accountable, and calling people crazy because they do not agree with you or your politics. In the end, it is true that no power can go up against reality, but don’t confuse politics with reality.
Mike Brusa, Morgan Hill
Sunset Gardens senior residents so thankful for so many generous Gilroyans
Dear Editor,
In this season, we would like to give thanks and appreciation for the volunteers and donations shared with the senior citizens living at Sunset Gardens in Gilroy.
Agencies and businesses such as Community Solutions, Saint Louise Regional Hospital, Habing Funeral Home, Walgreen’s, the Gilroy fire and police departments have given educational presentations making us feel healthy and safe. Weekly, Nob Hill and Safeway offer food supplies that volunteer Joe Martinez picks up and delivers.
Volunteer Ofelia Rodriguez gave us tickets to Gilroy Gardens for a fun day riding the train and enjoying nature in all of the different gardens there.
Through the year, we have had support from Gavilan College Service Learning students.
They have written our Oral Histories, created our Recipe Book and provided us a Spa Day offering free haircuts, make-up and manicures.
Dion Bracco and The Exchange Club of Gilroy cooked a wonderful barbecue in September and have offered funding for our monthly breakfasts in the past. Their support over the years has been invaluable.
South County Community Church vcolunteers spent the morning helping us with all of our housekeeping needs.
El Roble Elementary School treated us like valued neighbors and have come caroling. The school children keep us young at heart.
Thanks again to all who share their talents and generosity.
Peggy Huffstutler, Regional Director of LifeSTEPS, Gilroy
Outrageous prices for snacks at the movie theater leave consumer hopping mad
Dear Editor,
Price gauging is nothing new. In fact for as long as I can remember supply and demand has set the price on just about everything we buy, from hay, to gasoline. I’m grateful that there never seems to be a shortage of good citizens willing to speak up when prices spin out of control.
This is an action that is generally brought on by the intense pain that seems to emanate from somewhere around the pocket book. When gasoline recently exceeded $4 a gallon, it was all you heard about on the news, and when the country was at risk of falling off the “fiscal cliff” – that notion that milk was somehow going to reach eight dollars a gallon – was hung out on the line before the wash was even done.
My story is regarding the price gauging on something that most of us consume far less than milk, or gasoline. Please allow me to relate a current incident. I could not help but overhear a conversation; they were standing right behind me. “Do you have the stuff.” “Yes, it’s in my purse.” “Well zip it up so nobody sees.”
I could have just as easily been standing on a drug dealing corner in New York or Miami instead of the line to the movie theater. The purse that the young woman was carrying was ideal for the task at hand. You could have delivered mail from that bag!
With all honesty, I understood all too well why the couple behind us where smuggling sodas and whatever else they might have had into the show.
They did it because the price of concessions at the movie theater is only rivaled by the cost of beer at a professional sporting event. Now, I don’t mind paying $7.50 per ticket to see a movie that is often not the best movie of the year, as stated in the review.
But when the price of concessions is so absurd that it forces otherwise honest people to be dishonest, then there might be a problem.
A box of popcorn containing three bags of popcorn can be purchased at the ninety nine cent store, for 99 cents. I paid $6.50 for a medium popcorn that day at the Morgan Hill Cinemas.
When is it going to stop? Enough is enough. At least in Gilroy, you get flavored toppings along with the loan you have to take out for the popcorn.
David Owens, Gilroy
The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a well-penned letter.
