Term Limits? We Don't Need Them!

We don't need term limits. Voters have the power to limit the
term of any politician. Yet,it is always the disgruntled voter who
whines, "we need term limits." Quit whining! Quit voting for
incumbents and limit their terms! We, the voter has the POWER!

Just say Merry Christmas

Political correctness has been choking American freedomof speech. While doing some research for a blog, I come accross a letter to the editor written by my cousin. I have chosen to post that letter here.

Dear Editor,

Advent season is in full swing. This should be a season of celebration as we anticipate Christmas and the birth of the Lord Jesus. Advent is also a time of preparation and reflection. What does the future hold? These thoughts come to mind as we look past Christmas and into a new year. It is certainly an interesting world in which we are now living. The events of our time as indicated in the news of our nation and world are more and more causing people to reflect upon the meaning of these days. Who can doubt that the happenings across our land are producing a rising level of excitement and nervous curiosity?

There is also an element of disappointment when one reflects upon the challenges that people of the Christian faith face regarding our traditions and heritage. Everyday there seems to be renewed attempts to remove from the public square those things that are held dear to most during this season.

In 2002, while I was still employed by the Montana State University Extension Service, agents were told that we could no longer wish clientele a Merry Christmas verbally or in any correspondence from our offices. MSU Administration told us this was a federal mandate. Well, I took it upon myself to challenge this notion and, with the aid of a conservative-minded legal organization, the University was asked to "show us the federal mandate." MSU Administration and their legal services could not produce this mandate and they were forced to back down. I retired in June of 2004 and guess what? Extension offices during Advent of 2004 were told they could not wish clientele a Merry Christmas. The politically correct secular progressives again had their way. The question I must ask, is this truly what the people of Montana want coming out of our tax-funded university system?

Recent occurrences to remove Christmas from the public square have been challenged. Two examples come to mind. Students at a university in Louisiana were told they could not refer to the "Holiday Tree" on their campus as a "Christmas Tree." The students challenged the administration and won. The tree on the campus is a "Christmas Tree." Secondly, the city of Fort Collins, Colorado had a task force of activists who opposed any hint of Christmas in the public square and demanded that the city council allow only white lights and secular winter symbols be seen on the city property. The city caved in, but briefly. Residents of Fort Collins challenged the city council and the council was forced to back down. The streets of the city are decorated again with red and green Christmas lights along with the traditional trees and wreaths.

Far too often the vast majority of people have been silent regarding these social issues. Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other secular progressives are demanding that we restructure society according to their very much out-of-the-mainstream views. Is it not time to stand up to them? Enough is enough of this craziness coming from the political left.

I would love to see a flood of protest go to MSU Administration and the Board of Regents regarding the Merry Christmas issue in Extension offices throughout the state. Let them know what you think. Call your local Extension office for names and addresses and then wish them a very Merry Christmas.

John J. Maatta
Chester

Corrupt Government: Is Perception Reality

Last April, I was in NW Louisiana as vendor at one of their trade days events and had an interesting with a fellow vendor who was from LA. He made the statement the LA had the most corrupt government in the US. I asked him if it was as bad as it's reputation. His answer was no. I asked him if LA Government was as bad as Illinois' reputation. He said yes. I then asked if he thought LA Government was more corrupt than Minnesota. He laughed.

In the wake of Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich's corruption charges, I've heard several times on local talk radio that four of the last eight Illinois Governors have been sent to prison for various crimes. I will concede that Otto Kerner and George Ryan have been convicted and served prison time. FACT: In the last sixty years and ten Illinois Governors, there have been no others who have served prison time.

These same talk show hosts also seem to believe that all of Illinois Governors are from Chicago and the Democrats are all part of the Chicago political machine. Fact: Only five of the last ten Illinois Governors were from Chicago. (We might concede that "Big" Jim Thompson was from Chicago since he was from suburban Chicago).

In the last sixty years, there have been five Democrats and five Republicans. The Republicans have served ten terms (38 years): Democrats five terms (22 years). And, two Democrats were anti-machine Governors (Dan Walker and Sam Shapiro).

So,what is the point? Some states have been aggresive in uncovering and prosecuting corruption. Hence, they have earned a reputation. Other states do not. Instead they find convenient excuses to look away and point fingers at other states!