Letters to the Editor
August 1, 2018

To the Editor:
I'm writing regarding last week's Letter to the Editor. It was a typical response in today's political discourse; attack the messenger without using facts or presenting the issues. Kelly Scoles letter stated "you" fifteen times. The response stated "you" once. Today's discourse is void of rational arguments, decaying into personal attacks of loud screams, name calling, and attacks. All to discredit the messenger and making their words not worthy of consideration.
Scoles emotional attack on someone she disagreed with included tag words: "desperate, toxic,[cry]ing, defensive, dismissive, judgmental, authoritarianism, hateful and afraid". Surprisingly xenophobic, racist, bigoted, homophobic and privilege didn't make their way in. Then there was a question of whether the editor should be allowed an opinion on his values regarding society, simply because Scoles contends that "half" of society disagrees with that point of view, implying that size of the crowd/mob should dictate what gets said or heard. Not once were fact presented to explain her argument, only emotional attacks.
I will present my own "tirade" using facts and first hand experience to explain why, after 30 year, I removed myself from the liberal Democratic "cocoon" 15 years ago.
Today our education system is completely controlled by the far left, (not an opinion, facts back that up) yet they take no responsibility for its condition. Example; While attending a class at a California university, I saw students/members of the nonprofit A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (a pro-Palestinian anti-Israel anarchist organization) receive class credit for making ANSWER posters. Those posters were used later that week to protest in the streets while burning our flag. I witnessed first hand how our schools and university embrace anarchists with open arms, but patriotic loyalty to our nation or disagreeing with anything the left is pushing will get you a failing grade. Not to mention that the LAUSD (2nd largest district in the USA) lowered the graduating GPA requirement to 1.0 which is a D average due an inability to teach usable skills needed in a functioning society. Today schools teach "social justice," anarchy, how to protest the "hateful" and "racist" American culture. Most social clubs are racially based and receive almost all the financial support available. Education's social engineering requires skin color, ethnic pride, being unisex, emotions/feelings take priority not just in the "studies" classes, it's promoted in all classes. I was shocked at how pervasive it is. Actual history, which teaches society not to repeat the mistakes of the past has been replaced with group/clubs like MECha; an untrue myth/con promoted by the left to install a feeling of entitlement in a specific segment of society.
Political correctness controls every discourse on campus and demands everyone feel guilty if not conforming to the new world order. Today a third generation of students are entering our indoctrinating education system where students must believe they are citizens of the world, not of this country. They must carry the guilt for the sins of the past, agree that minorities are all victims and ignore all those innate traits they are born with, even their sex. Indoctrination requires that society work as a group/gang/whole and that free thought must be extinguished and emotions become the road map to follow. Our own Fillmore High School still has an English teacher that throw our flag on the floor, stomped on it stating it was "Just a symbol".
The left has little respect for our Republic and Constitution, which tries to give equal rights to all. But our laws get in the way of their Progressive power thus law enforcement must be seen as unjust. For years Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals has been in the works infecting our institutions and creating power machines by using schools, nonprofits, Hollywood, media, IRS, and today we see the CIA, FBI and DOJ being exposed. The glitter of entertainers/athletes convince the youth they are part of the "cool" group. While some of those same entertainers/athletes overdose from their drug abuse. But that's forgiven, everyone is a victim, no one needs to take responsibility, because today drug abuse is an illness. Remove the crimes and everyone stays clean.
Have you noticed Californians practically live in a dictatorship; the controllers live along the coastal beaches and those controlled live inland, many on the government plantation. In Los Angeles, it's 405 freeway that marks the division. The pawns are given sports arenas to keep them entertained, just like Rome. Note the growing homeless throughout the state, along with importing cheap labor, government entitlements, immigrants needed to increase the tax base and you have all elements that toppled the Roman Empire. But history isn't important in schools, right?
If you're a home/property owner, would it surprise you to learn that for years the left has been using nonprofits, including C.A.U.S.E., to overturning Prop.13 and raise your property taxes. Yes, 501c3 nonprofits (like churches) get your tax dollars in the form of grants to promote leftist ideology and issues, which is what 501c4 PAC's are legally able to do, not 501c3's. But laws don't matter to the left. I guess Brown taking all the State's Redevelopment assets was not enough to feed the hungry lefts need for more money. Remember, to the left you're a citizen of the world, and you have to pay for it.
Our Republic is not perfect, if it were, Hillary Clinton would have been charged with destruction of evidence and Obama would be required to tell us why he lied to our citizens, saying he did NOT know Hillary was using a private server, when the facts show he was one of the 13 people using it to communicate with her. We would also be asking why Hillary, Obama and Rice lied about the 9-11 attack in Benghazi; remember, "It was a video". Have you liberals even asked yourselves why they lied? What excuse have you been told? Don't you want the truth? Just tell yourselves that's old stuff, we don't care or "What difference does it make now anyway?" Well four of our citizens were killed and I do care and want the truth.
Our Republic is not perfect, but far better than anything else out there, especially socialism; think Venezuela. President Trump is doing/working on many of the promises that got him elected. Not pandering to both sides of the "resist" movement whose goal is to keep the status quo that has slowly harmed our country; many didn't notice until it couldn't be ignored. The call for attacks, like Maxine Watters dissolves us into a third world country, where laws and a middle class barely exist. This is not the Democratic Party of years ago that I was proud to be part of. Not even close.
Jean McLeod
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
Re: to Kelly Scoles letter and Martin Farrell response:
For a number of years now I have subscribed to the Fillmore Gazette. I have always read the Editors Realities. Sometimes I agree with them, sometimes I have read them and said Realities"??
I am a direct descendent of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, He was also a contributor to the Constitution wording. So I take its application to our American lives seriously. My Grand Mother wouldn’t allow less. The foundation and development of both documents was based on, we Americans wanted freedoms we were not getting from the countries our countrymen were from, as well as taxation
Many, many hours weeks and months were spent putting together a Constitution they could agree on and live with. Supposedly the wording was to be forever and always applicable to American life, no matter real living, and evolutionary/changes.
A two party system of government evolved. Now Republican and Democrat, and some independents. Oh yes we even have some Green party and other extraneous parties developing. Nowhere in the document does it say one party is superior or has more position than the other, we are supposed to be equal. Liberal vs Conservative is interesting but neither here nor there, wording vanilla ??
I have been voting for 56 years. Thirty six of those were as a devout Republican, and the difference as a registered Democrat, although in that time, I voted for the person I thought would be our best leader and represent our country first.
It only changed for me, with the impeachment of Bill Clinton. I had been at home recovering from open heart surgery. (Within the time the hearings were televised and I watched all of them/it.) Representative Henry Hyde was the committee chair Republican, and Representative Conyers for the Democrat. The number of committee personal were not balanced more Republicans than Democrats. The process for deciding on the articles of impeachment was terrible.
I thought for sure these alleged fine Representatives could surly be collaborative and put together a solid agreed to process. Hyde was domineering and Conyers was run over more times than I can remember.
I thought and still do, if these supposedly educated People are all we have, we are in serious trouble. (The issue of impeachment was occasionally blurred between lying about an affair or infidelity denied. and other less pronounced issues.)
This Nation since inception has had Presidents and Congressional people who have had their (Human) failings and affairs. Until our fine investigative occupations of our country started to share what had been, personal issues not for sale, we were not enticed by malicious information.
It is now a mud flinging sport.
After the Impeachment had been realized, I decided I could not stay affiliated with a Republican party that could not collaborate with the Democrats. We needed Americans, for the best interest of the Country. We looked like fools then and still do today. The blast and outright astonishment was the information that came to light after the Senate acquitted Clinton. All of a sudden the news hit::
Mr. perfection personified Henry Hyde had an affair, This article is from the Congressional records files through Wikipedia.
This carefully crafted facade, however, is beginning to show cracks. As the House geared up to impeach President Clinton last fall under Hyde’s leadership, the pious Roman Catholic defender of family values and stern opponent of abortion was embarrassed by Salon’s exposure of his lengthy affair with a much younger woman while he was married and serving in the Illinois Legislature. When Hyde stridently pressed the impeachment case in the Senate, despite overwhelming public sentiment against removing the president, he appeared more right-wing sectarian scold than righteously sententious Solon.
Newt Gingrich also had extra martial affair along with the below information article As Newt Gingrich looks to complete his improbable political comeback, his opponents won't let him (or the electorate) forget about the scandal that ended the first act of his political career—a string of 84 ethics complaints in the House that culminated in a $300,000 sanction. "Newt has a ton of baggage."
Then the Speaker designate per this article from the congressional Wikipedia files: The Speaker-designate, Representative Bob Livingston, chosen by the Republican Party Conference to replace Gingrich as House Speaker, announced the end of his candidacy for Speaker and his resignation from Congress from the floor of the House after his own marital infidelity came to light.[15]
Two other notable members of Congress Dan Burton and Helen Chenoweth also resigned because of Martial affairs.
So I think that you might consider, all these People and their affairs, as liberals too, certainly they took the liberty to do as they wanted.
The above is for clarity of my views, of your distinguishing "liberals" based on some yesteryear platform. No one is a saint. I am a Christian I have been married 50 years this October.
President Trump. I Voted for him. I really thought he would-be a badly needed change. A Successful CEO of his company. With appreciation for a budget, goals, accountability, commitments Governmental process improvements. Cost savings planning Ya know controlling our treasury etc.
He should be working these possibilities with Congress for these actions; after all they are his party. None of those are apparent they would all be major improvements for spending our money. Money "Of the People by the People and for the People" fewer tax increase
Yesterday Secretary Of State Pompeo appeared with the Senate Foreign Relations committee... One major view point by the Republican senate chair, Senator Corker was quite informative and allowed me to understand what I had been thinking.
He said ::
“Mr. Secretary I can tell you we are very happy with the work you have been doing for our country. You and Secretary Mattis are doing outstanding work. How do you explain that every time President Trump opens his mouth the words seem to be contrary to your notable actions.?"
His answer was "Senator everything we have been doing is at the, .direction of the President" Unfortunately the President needs to not talk so much. (My words)
Honestly those words are as close as I remember, but right on in meaning. That question sub-concisely is what I hear as well. counterproductive to the country.
I do not accept that because he is President that he can be narcissistic, exaggerate, and demonstrate the posture of a benevolent dictator. Demeaning all in his path, here at home, and particularity with our allies. Even Mitch Mc Connell took exception with his mouthy words with our Nations allies.
I can tell you there is nothing in the Constitution with regard to bath rooms or any other personal sanctuaries, I choose the men's every time, I will say in South Korea they have coed if you will, facilities what a surprise I had.
Allow me to put out just a thought, I am a gun owner and they are not going anywhere. The Second Amendment if you really reflect on what were the living conditions when the 2nd was written.
we were in a war with England, we were entering an uncharted country with Indians and other inhabitants that did not like us, Our army was very limited and our population was spread far and away from each other, no phones no mail, no electronic media. They needed protections
2ND AMMEDMENT
"A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."
It does not say it cannot be reviewed and changed as the country may decide --another amendment?? But we like to hang on to whatever we view is our right, not what may need some additional thought for today's real time life/conditions.
I think that there are many differences in beliefs by our fellow Americans.
To defame or discredit their lives is too sanctimonious for me. It is never going to change even if you and I agreed; the ACLU will tumble us around.
Congress itself has eroded to near useless performance. Both the House and Senate are dysfunctional in terms of collaborative working/planning. Seems like one of them has to submit a legislative proposal while the other is off on some other non -connecting agenda. The two should work the same issues and when done coordination and finalization would be faster. Right now it looks like nothing is being achieved
The Supreme Court = 1/3 the power of the United States Government
The Supreme Court is MIA. I know the process has been a case must have gone through the lower courts before the Supreme Court takes a look.
There are however issues that only the Supreme Court can decide and could clear known issues in advance, there by having resolutions in place. Almost like a repair Manual?? Example what questions do we hear every day:
1) Can the President pardon himself
2) Can the President face indictments?
Just both of those would settle recent questions and allow both the President and the country to know the Courts position.
There is no reason they cannot get involved, only precedent holds them outside the Countries morass.
My Grandmother is Grace Bartlett 3rd Cousin to Josiah Bartlett of New Hampshire signer of the Declaration of Independence
A staunch Republican friend of mine sent me the below:
IF I AGREED WITH YOU WE'D BOTH BE WRONG"
Raymond S Brown Sr.
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
Your editorial of July 25, 2018
The First Amendment gives us the right to spew whatever is on our minds (generally, short of yelling fire in a crowded theater or deliberately inciting violence). However, we are often called upon to consider our duties as humans and Americans, and sometimes just as ethical people, to determine our personal limits in that constitutional exercise.
I would not have responded to your second editorial (July 25, 2018) except it failed to address the one essential issue of my LTTE and tippy-toed right over the second. Perhaps I did not make myself clear:
First, the most essential and egregious. You referred (July 18) to persons with sex identification issues as being a human “sub-species.” Do you have a constitutional right to say such a thing? You do. But, since you brought it up, what happened to “Judaeo-Christian values” here? The “good news” of Christianity made it clear that all God’s children are fully human and loved. Their issues are God-given and have existed since creation (these “pseudo-identifications” are not new, Martin. You are just now aware of them). Humans who respect heavenly authority are obliged to respect heavenly creation in all its forms. God alone will judge. I fail to see how this “saddles” you but, as I said before, I hear your pain.
Clutching your pearls and insisting that you don’t make judgments about who are “normal traditional citizens” is belied by your own words: you asserted and subsequently doubled-down that there are “normal traditional citizens,” the identity of whom you can discern from your knowledge of our constitution. Your judgment of exactly what “normal” and “traditional” means is left unexplained but vaguely tied to your perceived oppression by liberal judges and justices who create “innovative” protections (in negotiating, known as “making the pie larger”), an agony which you suffer in communion with “traditional Constitutional adherents.” Perhaps we should have only one political party, one which reflects only your views. No, wait, the world has tried that, many times, and it has always ended badly.
I am happy to ignore your screeds against Democrats, liberals, Democratic Socialists, feminists or any woman not interested in being nurtured by your sanctification/protection program for womanhood (at least in public bathrooms). We can take care of ourselves. But some people struggle a little more than others with issues the rest of us may not personally confront. Why, as a question of personal ethical limitation on the exercise of First Amendment Rights, permit your fears to dehumanize others?
Lordy, Martin, if you have some imprimatur or nihil obstat issued by the Almighty to pass judgment on those of mankind who do not share your views or experiences, or just that group that exists in America, please disclose it. Because if you can, the New Testament has been sorely misunderstood. If not, as you say, “God bless them all.”
Kelly Scoles