Imperative that both parties exist

After reading Glenda Bly’s letter in the April 4 CNJ (“Country in trouble with Democrats”), I vacillated between anger and astonishment at some of her statements.

The U.S. government has been involved in the lives of the citizens since the ratification of the Constitution.

The Federal Reserve controls banking practices; we all need FDIC to protect our accounts. Does anyone really want to abolish Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?

Perhaps we have not burned the Amazon rain forests, but all of us are guilty in one way or the other of being wasteful of our natural resources.
Global warming is real and we must be good stewards of the environment.

During the current Republican administration, we have seen the enactment of two very unpopular pieces of legislation.

No child left behind was poorly conceived legislation. As a Democrat I have literally pinned our Senate and Congressional candidates to the wall on this issue. I agree with Bill Richardson when he said at the Citadel in 2007, “trash it.’

The Patriot Act is scary and reeks of anti-sedition legislation established under John Adams and then repealed under Thomas Jefferson, who realized the danger and wrote the Bill of Rights establishing personal freedoms. As a prolific reader and a rebellious free thinker, I am angered that the federal government has the right to check my library reading record on the computer. Maybe I will check out a “dirty book.”

It is absolutely essential to maintain a strong two-party system. When I was a teacher at Clovis High School, I was called many names behind my back, but because I am a fervent democrat and support my party’s candidates, I guess I am now a despicable sleazy yellow dog Democrat.

Beware Republicans: I might bite.

Elaine Howell
Clovis

Love would do candidates well

After weeks of watching some of our presidential candidates in action, I realize they don’t have what the nation needs.

They don’t have love.

It reminds me of the song, now old, that was popular when I was younger — “All you need is Love.”

Remember how love operates?

Love is very patient.
Love is kind.
Love is not envious.
Love does not boast and is not puffed up or proud.
Love doesn’t behave badly, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, and doesn’t take account of evil.
Love isn’t happy about unrighteousness, but is glad when it hears the truth.
Love puts up with everything, believes everything, hopes in everything, endures everything. Love never quits.

But I don’t think the “never quits” part applies without the rest of it. We need to watch and see who loves best. And let them serve us as our leader.

That person will not abuse us and will benefit our nation. We do need love.

Carolyn Spence
Clovis