Letters to the Press: For the Week of Nov. 4 – Nov. 11

Press columnist and Publisher of The Independent Jerry Della Femina apparently struck a chord with a few of our readers with his Oct. 14 Jerry’s Ink column, “What The Hell Is Wrong With Us?” Here are a couple of the responses we received.

Jerrymandering

Dear Editor,

Jerry Della Femina’s column began with a quote: “The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who will not.”

He said the quote was from Thomas Jefferson but he gave no documentation. Jefferson lived at a time when large government social programs were hardly an issue. All governments except our own were monarchies, the income tax hadn’t been invented, and Karl Marx, the father of modern socialism, was only 8 years old when Jefferson died in 1826.

I’m wondering if that quote is just another example of the propaganda we read on the Internet. It promotes the idea that to be a real American you must oppose income taxes, inheritance taxes, universal health care, Medicare and Medicaid. And if you support Social Security, it ought to be privatized.

I find it really remarkable that many who hold these opinions go to church Sunday after Sunday and hear New Testament readings over and over, expressing concern for the sick, the poor and the unfortunate.

I don’t understand how these church-goers reconcile their politics with the teachings of Jesus Christ. In my view, he couldn’t possibly be a Republican.

James E. Stubenrauch, Massapequa

Jerry Pandering

Dear Jerry,

Per your article, all I can say is, “Right on.”

This country has forgotten how it was created and what has kept it great.

We need leadership from people who have worked for a living, not professional politicians.

Morton Perlman, Great Neck

Don’t Ask…

Shame on you, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. You want to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

The enlisted man is the backbone of the military. They willingly face death, physical disability and mental disability. They also enlisted knowing that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell were the terms they enlisted under. Marine General Jim Jones said 95 percent of the enlisted men want to serve with the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. The morale of our fighting men means nothing to Mrs. Gillibrand.

Mrs. Gillibrand is worried about the cost of over $100 million to replace the gays who were discharged. Since when are the democrats worried about saving money? Not on Obama’s watch.

She was not elected but she feels free to force her will on the enlisted men, like it or not. The military is not a democracy. The men are not held to the same rights as regular citizens. It has to be that way so the military can function.

Gays were never allowed to serve in the military before because of unwanted sexual problems.

John C. Meyer Jr., East Islip
U.S. Navy, Korean War Veteran