Saturday, October 24, 1998

Un-fortune-ate trip

Recently, my daughter, age 11, along with a hundred or so other students from AISD, ventured to the Buffalo Gap Renaissance Fair.

We supposed this school-sponsored activity would be fun-filled, adventurous and exciting as well as a good learning experience.

Not true for my child. Even though my child knows fortune telling is witchcraft, she observed as other students were told their futures.

The lady playing the part of the fortune teller called my daughter forward and advised her:

She would marry a bad husband.

She would have bad children.

She would die from a disease.

This is not my expectation from any school-sponsored field trip.

Thank God, due to the spiritual teachings given to our children at home, our child did not receive any of the negativity into her spirit.

I telephoned the sponsoring party, Dance Depot, to voice my complaints. The spokesperson for Dance Depot seemed unable to believe the lady who played the part of the fortune teller was capable of such insensitivity.

The spokesperson further stated they had never before had a complaint about the fortune teller. The spokesperson also stated my daughter's having her palm read was optional.

These are children who attended this event. And it should have been a good learning experience. My family does not think this occurred. Could the "pretender" not speak life into the lives of our children? Why not give them a report of hope for the future instead of gloom and doom?

YVONNE WILSON

Abilene

Wind power needed

We drove out to Lamesa last week for a funeral. The fire breaks in West Texas are plowed wide up in Scurry and Borden counties. We drove with lights on in broad daylight and occasionally had to drive slowly for the river of topsoil to flow across the highway in the driving wind.

Oil pumps are busily running, and the wind blows. Most farms and ranches are using water-pumping windmills.

It's a shame there aren't more big wind turbines out to the west where there could be or factories producing parts for wind turbines, making jobs for Texans.

At 3 p.m. on this past Wednesday, Sen. Phil Gramm stood up in the Senate and stated, "We don't need production tax credits for wind power," even though major utilities in Texas are depending on those tax credits to put in wind farms in Texas, and even though the natural gas companies receive tax benefits for their energy production. Sen. Hutchison did not support wind production tax credits either.

In Culberson County, the wind farm at the end of the Delaware Mountains pays $400,000 in property taxes -- 10 percent of the tax base. Also, the LCRA pays more than $100,000 to the Permanent School Fund all over Texas from that wind farm, every year.

Many Texans would like to see wind power added to the list of resources that can be used by west Texas ranchers and farmers for making a living whether it rains or not, regardless of the price of oil or the price of gas.

Keep this in mind next time you go to the polls.

MARJORIE WOOD

Abilene

Beginning anew

Lesa Hart Crosswhite is the fresh start we need in the Taylor County treasurer's position.

Lesa's responsible endeavors in all her personal and proprietal business encounters are proof positive of her responsible and ethical conduct and hard work. With Lesa as treasurer, the past troubles of that office, which have been our recent legacy, will end.

Let's begin anew with the proven, responsible work ethic of Lesa Hart Crosswhite by electing her to be Taylor County treasurer on Nov. 3.

DERRELL RIGGAN

Merkel

Republican's vote

I am writing to state my concern over the 17th District congressional election. I am 39, I have a wife and 6-year-old son, I am a Christian and own a small business. Also, I am a registered Republican and have voted for Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bob Dole and George W. Bush for governor.

I am supporting and voting for U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm. Charlie is a good man who has done an excellent job for two decades representing our district. Charlie loves people and is genuine with every action he makes. Charlie and Cindy are Christians and have strong morals and values.

I believe Rudy Izzard is the type of Republican who gives many Republicans the label as extremists. Why is Rudy misrepresenting the facts and saying things that just are not true? Is this the kind of man we want representing us as Republicans or Americans?

The seniority and experience Stenholm have gained in Congress make him one of the most powerful and influential U.S. congressmen. Can we afford to be without this kind of representative?

I challenge everyone to thoroughly examine the issues and don't let partisan, negative politics get in the way of making the best vote for our region and country. This may be a very defining vote to shape our future.

ANDY HOLLOWAY

Stamford

Christian statesman

Rudy Izzard, challenging incumbent Charles Stenholm in this area's race for Congress, has begun a television advertising campaign accusing Stenholm of supporting the value-added tax. Izzard knows the real story but prefers sharing a fabricated one for his ads.

Stenholm said that of various plans being discussed, this one has most merit -- but not in its present form. Clearly, he does not favor the value-added tax.

The blitz includes other slanderous charges and absurd allegations against Stenholm and is funded by Izzard's special interest group in Washington. This Washington bunch is spending millions of dollars to try to defeat one of the finest congressmen of all time.

One message he continues to trumpet is that Stenholm voted for a bill that would destroy Social Security. Stenholm's position was that he could support no bill that had a provision for Congress to take 10 percent of all monies paid into Social Security to spend as it sees fit. The bill he voted for forces Congress to place all Social Security monies into a national bank, as is currently being done.

I am proud of Stenholm's wonderful record during 19 years in Congress. He was a Christian statesman going into congressional service, and his work across the years has made him a hero to Americans in general and West Texans in particular. He remains a Christian statesman. I resent and deplore efforts made by Izzard and his cohorts to impugn the character and record of a true national leader.

GORDON WOOD

Brownwood

Two for Randy

We are writing in support of Randy Wilson for judge of the 11th Court of Appeals. Knowing Randy since childhood, we believe he is our best choice. After years of experience in the legal field and trying cases, we feel Randy Wilson would represent us well.

Randy does not need his pocketbook to speak for him. His qualifications say it all. Let's put our support behind the man with the experience -- Randy Wilson.

MIKE AND KAY LANIER

Abilene

Taking the heat

Rudy Izzard and his supporters are at it again. The misleading and downright false attacks against Charlie Stenholm are just negative, dirty politics.

I seem to remember Rudy saying all manner of things against Charlie in the last campaign, but Charlie didn't. For Rudy to claim Charlie is running a negative campaign is like the pot calling the kettle black.

Grow up, Rudy. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. But I suppose the truth hurts.

MONTANA WILKS

Abilene

Anyone listening?

I enjoyed reading the Oct. 14 letter from Michelle Wootton. She praised Rudy Izzard because he was unlike other politicians -- he was willing listen.

Hello? Has anyone ever met a politician who didn't at least pretend to listen to the folks he or she was talking to?

I wonder if it has occurred to folks that Rudy does a lot of listening because he doesn't have anything of substance to say.

CODY BUNCH

Abilene

Privatizing plan

If there is any doubt what Rudy Izzard's true motives are about Social Security, you need to look no further than the Republican Party platform: "The party supports ... transition to a system of private pensions ... of individual retirement accounts and gradually phasing out the Social Security tax."

These are not scare tactics. Rudy and the Republican Party want to privatize Social Security. Under Rudy's plan, each individual will be responsible for their own retirement. According to Rudy, people may slip through the cracks. That's the breaks!

If you like Social Security and are depending on stability for your retirement, vote for Charlie Stenholm.

CATHERINE LYNCH

Abilene

Thoughtful voting

Whenever our American political process goes into high gear at election time, it becomes a "really big show."

Everyone who has served in office is attacked for all decisions they ever made. Office seekers pledge infallible commitments. From their promises, one could assume they expect to have complete autonomy and absolute power over the votes on every issue.

The political ads become more and more outrageous, often without foundation of fact or truth.

The average voter has become so cynical that he pays little attention to the actual content of the ads. Instead, decisions may be based on the candidate's demeanor, personality, charisma, party affiliation, or on such abstractions as family and friends' comments, personal prejudices, emotional reaction to media, "gut" feelings.

Our government has become large and unwieldy and so subjected to media manipulation that it is difficult to make informed decisions at the polls.

That is one of the reasons for opting out of the process, by neglecting to vote.

That is an understandable attitude, but a dangerous one, for the welfare of our country. If caring citizens give up, the process will become more endangered and the results more skewed.

Voters who have a strong, negative agenda will be pushed to the polls by their anger and aggression.

Their votes will determine the fate of our government, unless thoughtful, responsible citizens put aside their doubts and confusion and go vote their convictions.

EVELYN KIRK

Cisco

No one better fit

We citizens of the United States are blessed with a form of government called a representative democracy. We select an individual who is one of us to act on our behalf while we are busy in our won workday world.

I can think of no one better fit to represent us in Washington than Charlie Stenholm.

A good representative should be a person of integrity, high moral values, knowledge, experience and wisdom. Another attribute to look for in a candidate is a willingness to work, not only for constituents but for the best interest of the country as a whole.

To be effective, a representative must also enjoy respect, not only from those of his own party but from both sides of the aisle. Charlie is all of the above.

Perhaps most important to me as a farmer is Charlie's understanding of agricultural issues, particularly those relating to cotton, for instance, his staunch support of boll weevil eradication, which has been so important to growers in the 17th District.

Charlie recognizes the importance of exports in marketing our crops. This is why he has continued to work for trade initiatives needed to promote the sale of U.S. commodities overseas.

Charlie has used his influence to ensure that EPA and USDA work together on regulation of pesticides. In addition, he has worked to improve crop insurance and to make sure it is funded adequately.

Charlie deserves our continued support. He has served us well in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

ROGER BLACKWELDER

President, Rolling Plains Cotton Growers

Vision of fake city

In 1986 I visited Panmunjom, Korea. On the road to this city I could look across the border into North Korea and see what appeared to be a beautiful city with loudspeakers blaring propaganda, trying to lure people to cross over.

They made it sound so good. But this was a fake city, and it reminds me of Rudy Izzard. They both put out false information in an effort to bring people to the other side. People who crossed into North Korea regretted it and found they had been told a bunch of lies.

Don't be deceived by the old saying, "The grass is greener on the other side." Stick with the man who has proven he is right for the job. That man is U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm.

KREGG SANDERS

Weinert

Rookie mistakes

We need to keep Charlie Stenholm as our congressman for the 17th District. As an ag producer and past president of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, I know that Stenholm always gives prompt attention to the concerns of his district and works tirelessly to assist in solving their problems.

I am sure that Mr. Izzard is a nice person, but the only qualification I am certain of is that he was a football player and a former member of the San Angelo City Council, neither of which I consider adequate preparation for the challenges that face a U.S. congressman.

Izzard has the "R" by his name, but this may mean "rookie," and rookies often make mistakes and fumble the ball. We in the 17th District cannot afford mistakes from our congressman. Let's keep a proven, hard-working, experienced person in the job by sending Charlie Stenholm back to Washington to continue working for all of us.

ALLEN TURNER

Coleman

The work required

I am writing so that the voters of Taylor County may become better acquainted with Lesa Hart Crosswhite, who is running as a Republican for Taylor County treasurer. Many know her from her high school years at Merkel, from college or through her involvement in the community and the schools.

Lesa is capable of handling the responsibilities of the office. She has experience as a business owner and the motivation, commitment and drive to make certain that the office is managed efficiently. Since I have known Lesa, she always comes across as having a positive, "can-do" attitude, and I'm confident she will carry this into the office.

The treasurer's office has had a lot of conflict over the past several years, and I feel it is time we elect a person who will do the work that is required of the office. It is important that we have someone in the office who is willing to do their job in an efficient manner and make it a priority to get the work done on time. An elected official is the sole person responsible for their office. We need someone like Lesa to take the responsibility and the accountability for the performance of the office.

I know we can't go wrong by voting for Lesa as county treasurer.

DANIELLE BAKER

Abilene

Time for a nap

I just wanted to tell all of the people writing in to support their favorite candidate that you're boring us to pieces. Your letters to the editor stating that you have known Stenholm, Izzard, etc., all your life and he is the ‘'one for the job" are as yawn-inducing as those "how we met" Ann Landers letters.

Has anyone ever read one of those letters and swayed their vote because of it? Give is a rest.

TROY WHITE

Abilene

Good health, Bob

It has been my recent pleasant experience to read the story of Robert Tiffany in the Oct. 4 Sunday Life section of the Abilene Reporter-News, and I want to congratulate Bill Whitaker for "catching" Bob as he really is. It is a wonderful story and a true tribute to one of the finest men I have ever met.

I have known Bob since the fall of 1947 when we met at an Equitable Educational Conference at Camp Waldeman in Kerrville. I met him and liked him, and we have been friends for all these 50-plus years. To go along with the Clyde Grant story on whether Bob is real, I must relate the story of a visit I made to the Equitable Home Office about two years after Bob had arrived there. In visiting with a vice president, Bob's name came up and this VP said, "I stay amazed at this fellow, Bob Tiffany, his always pleasant attitude, his hard work, his dedication. Is he for real?" I quickly responded that Bob was all he appeared to be, truly genuine and committed to leading a full Christian life.

I regret losing this longtime Equitable associate, but if ever a fellow has earned the right to be a TIE (take it easy) Boy, Bob truly has. I wish him and Clarine good health and a long and happy retirement.

FRANK FATA

Lubbock