Mohave Daily News: Opinion

Editor:

We need help in setting up our art studio for the promotion of the arts in the Tri-state. We are asking for donations from any group, business or person to make this studio a place for our local artists to meet, create, show their work and have classes on developing their art to a higher excellence.

Recently the River Valley Artists' Guild opened a studio at 2580 Highway 95, Suite 106, in Bullhead City, AZ, 86442. We are a nonprofit and charitable (501c3) tax exempt organization.

We co-sponsor scholarships for art students in the high schools in the Tri-state and also Mohave Community College as well as local art show and craft events. Our main goal is to keep the arts alive & prospering in the Tri-state, but we need the help of the community. We have asked several of the larger retailers in the area for donations, but thus far we have received no help.

We are quite sure that there are those in our community who could and would donate to the arts, if they were aware of the situation. If you can help in any way, please let us know.

Phone 928-768-1488 or 928-788-2641 or mail to above address.

Barbara Wright

Fort Mojave

Book signing goes well, author reports

Editor:

Thank you for publishing a press release about my recent book signing of “Cross-Stripe: A Christmas Miracle on Route 66” at Hastings.

I relate the event's success directly to your publicity, because signings in other nearby communities where the press release was forgotten did not do as well.

These promotions of the arts are essential for building a more creative and educated community. Many authors from the River Writers Group have been very satisfied with your cooperation and support. Together we can encourage the importance of reading and good writing.

Cheryl M. Gower

Fort Mojave

Everyone needs to be energy-efficient

Editor:

In answer to Joe Carranzza's letter. I have the same energy-saving and producing things that he had plus a few innovations of my own.

I heard through the back door about the “Sun Watt” program and decided to go for it. Then began the most frustrating six months of my life. I believe that Joe has the wrong whipping boy. According to my contractor, the county was dragging its feet on the license.

Anyway I am sure this is a worthwhile program and if you call Mohave Electric Cooperative they will be glad to give you their information on it. They will reimburse you for almost everything but your fingernails. I just got my check and the project should be finished this week.

Come on folks, a few of us can't do it. Don't think, “someone else will if I don't.”

Use your vote on the slowpokes in government and make them realize the importance of action now. Not in the future sometime.

Earle Burney

Fort Mojave

Proposition 201

bad for homebuyers

Editor:

Be aware: Proposition 201 is bad for new homebuyers, disastrous for first-time buyers and terrible for Arizona's economy.

On the November ballot is the seductively titled “Homeowners Bill of Rights” (Proposition 201). Some of the major provisions of this terrible proposition are as follows:

A prohibition on homeowners and builders agreeing to resolve differences without a lawsuit;

Encourages frivolous lawsuits by prohibiting the defendants from recovering attorney's fees;

Permits prospective buyers to file lawsuits against builders before actually owning a home;

No arbitration is permitted. All differences must go to court.

Currently, in the state of Arizona, all new homeowners have an eight-year warranty on the structural components of a new home. This radical proposition will significantly increase prices by attempting to include warranties on all appliances, carpeting, tile, roofing and paint for a 10-year period.

Such an extreme warranty will increase selling prices for all new homebuilders and, most significantly, affect first-time buyers who are desperately trying to get into their first home.

Finally, this is a terrible proposition, but the timing could not be worse. The homebuilding industry is mired in a deep recession. Increasing costs in this irresponsible manner will further cause layoffs, increase selling prices, reduce demand and punish the industry and all new homebuyers throughout Arizona.

Please join many of your friends and neighbors by voting NO on Proposition 201.

Daniel Green

Scottsdale

Research candidates before going to polls

Editor:

In response to the letter from Joseph Santa Maria, Hillary Clinton's middle name is Diane. Rodham is her maiden name. I'm past the part of amusement with some people's ignorance regarding Barack Obama.

Yes, his middle name is Hussein, yours is Santa. Should my children be writing you letters this Christmas? Come on now. Barack Obama is a born citizen of the United States of America and is a Christian.

I personally don't believe that last part matters as long as the person running for office is qualified and has the same ideals as me. I ask all registered voters who believe everything they receive in their e-mails to please check before you pass on the lies.

Snopes is a great place to start. Your right to vote is a privilege and should be treated as such. Whomever you vote for, whichever party you affiliate with, take the time to get at the truth and don't believe the mass mailings means to spread propaganda and lies.

The election is way too important to go into the polls without knowing the facts. By the way, I want a new laptop for Christmas. And I do realize that Santa is part of your last name. I was just making a point. Thank you.

Kimberly Lawrence

Bullhead City

Fight exorbitant wastewater rate hike

Editor:

Your attention please all Mohave Wastewater District customers: By now you have all received your letter from Jeffrey Stuck, Arizona Wastewater director of operations, where he has requested a rate hike of almost double our monthly wastewater bill.

If you are truly interested in getting the Arizona Corporation Commission to refuse to grant this exorbitant rate increase, here are the steps you need to follow so it will fail:

Every one of the Mohave Wastewater District Customers need to e-mail or write a letter to the Arizona Corporation Commission requesting they refuse granting Rate Request No: SW-01303A-08-0227. Remember to include the rate request number in any/all of your correspondence.

Here is the Arizona Corporation Commission's e-mail: www.azcc.gov or by mail to: Arizona Corporation Commission Utilities Division, 1200 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007-2996.

Another great consumer advocate source for all to contact is by e-mail: www.azruco.com or by mail for those without computers: Arizona Residential Utility Consumer Office, 1110 West Washington, Suite 220, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

If we all contact these two agencies asking them to refuse this exorbitant rate increase, we may just see it fail completely!

Robert Rejzek

Fort Mojave

Obama tax plan returns more to your pockets

Editor:

Under the Obama-Biden tax plan, a single person over 65, with a $20,000 income, no dependents, no mortgage will save $1,111 a year. McCain's plan, zero.

Under 65, single, $20,000 income, no dependents, no mortgage, $500. McCain's plan, zero.

Under 65, single, $20,000 year, with three dependents, no mortgage will save $1,119 per year. If child care expenses, $2,027. McCain's plan, zero.

With a $20,000 income, one dependent, child care expenses, no mortgage, $1,019. With a $50,000 mortgage, $1,324. McCain's plan, zero.

Check out what it'd be for you, Obama's tax calculator is at: http://taxcut.barackobama.com (notice there's no “www.” in address).

And Obama's going to immediately start producing energy from wind, solar, geothermal, creating millions of permanent jobs that cannot be outsourced!

Yea!

Kathy Wadsworth

Bullhead City

Make responsible choices when voting

Editor:

Media has a responsibility to inform the public and a right to provide us with opinions, analysis and commentaries on the information. The public has a responsibility to verify the information and decide if we believe what they say or not and a right to ignore any spin.

I can't tell you whom to vote for as president and vice president. I will remind you; historically, al-Qaida has struck with a major attack after a significant change in leadership. The World Trade Center underground parking was bombed just a month after Bill Clinton first took office. The World Trade Center was brought down within George W. Bush's first year. Ask this question; “Who Do I Think Can Best Handle The Terrorist Threat/Attack?” McCain and Palin? Obama and Biden?

Each of us has a huge responsibility to decide what is best for our country. Forget party allegiance, it comes down to vote for the people most likely not to crumble or stumble under the pressure of terrorist's threats. I hope there is no attack, but history suggests there might be. A strong leader with more to offer than a rousing speech is what we need. So read, investigate, learn and don't just accept the media. We have to form our own opinions, because we are responsible for our choices at the polls. We vote, they do. We don't study enough, they don't have to either.

Herberta Schroeder

Kingman

Gould is watchdog over taxpayers' money

Editor:

The following is my personal endorsement and recommendation on several issues in the upcoming election.

We all know that the federal government is running amok and are frustrated our vote seems almost insignificant. Thankfully we have a much louder voice in state and Mohave County issues that affect us as least as much as the inevitable inflation and devaluation of the dollar we face due to unprecedented greed and incompetence in Washington, D.C.

I have had the pleasure as chairman of the Arizona Tax Revolt of working closely with Arizona State Sen. Ron Gould on two property tax rollback measures that Gould introduced to the Senate to benefit Arizona's property taxpayers. These bills would have significantly reduced our property tax by establishing reasonable limits to shield us from for example, the 40 or even 50 percent annual tax increases on our homes and businesses due to unbridled spending and the blank check currently available to fire districts.

Unfortunately the fire department labor unions lobbied successfully against these taxpayer protections. Want proof? Check your last couple of property tax bills and you will see that you're paying perhaps several hundred dollars more each year for the same level of service. Neither Gould nor I want to see any more of our neighbors lose their homes to either foreclosure or a tax sale.

Gould works tirelessly to tighten the reins on unnecessary government spending and waste. Ron supports education but not double taxation. Some consider the MCC bond measure that could dramatically increase our property taxes to be double taxation since we already support the MCC through a 2 percent plus growth annual property tax increase. Now they would have us believe that we should tax ourselves again to pay for buildings to support future growth that we are already paying for with the existing 2 percent plus growth increases. Join me in voting NO on the MCC bond measure.

Gould has once again earned the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers award as the No. 1 tax fighter in the state Senate. He has earned our vote!

Lastly we have an excellent write-in candidate for District 2 county supervisor. I know Roy Hagemyer and trust him to be our voice for spending restraint and lower taxes as evidenced by his opposition to the aforementioned and ill-conceived MCC bond and support for property tax limits.

Marc Goldstone

Bullhead City

Hagemyer a fine choice for supervisor

Editor:

It is pleasing to see someone who has come forth to challenge Tom Sockwell for District 2 supervisor. His new challenger, Roy Hagemyer, whom I met while he went door to door talking to people, is a refreshing change with his attitude of taking care of the citizens and regular taxpayers. His grassroots supporters for his campaign are small donors wishing to see clean politics and not having a candidate who is owing to special interest groups.

In talking to Roy you find him refreshing and thoughtful about how our tax money is being spent and questioning why it is being spent. Tom Sockwell, on the other hand, claims to be a fiscal conservative who gave back $100,000 to the general fund. What happens to the money? Is it distributed to be spent in the other two supervisorial districts or do District 2 taxpayers get a refund?

Roy wants to have meetings in Bullhead, Fort Mojave and Mohave Valley to talk to the people. I don't remember Tom ever doing this. Roy questions the need for the Vanderslice Project and why should residents be displaced to build it. Tom says that some have to suffer for the greater good. He has spent millions of dollars on Vanderslice that could have been better spent on road improvements throughout his district, rather than in District 3.

I would like to see a public debate between both candidates before the election in order that other voters might see the differences between the two candidates and cast a better educated vote. The Mohave Valley Daily News is now doing some investigative journalism and they may find some good stories in looking into statements made by politicians and verify if they are actual.

In closing, we now have an alternative for District 2 supervisor who has the vitality and zeal to make some much needed change to the landscape in District 2.

Mike Asquith

Bullhead City

Historic election likely to come down to wire

Editor:

A year ago this historical election was regarded to be a contest between Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani. A month ago John McCain had a lead in the polls after his successful convention. Today for the first time in history the election itself has become of secondary significance compared to an unprecedented global financial crisis. When political scientists focus on DOW and LIBOR even more than Gallup and Rasmussen, it should be no surprise why the momentum has shifted so dramatically.

The huge economical crisis and the uncertainty that materialized at the end of an unpopular Republican administration improved the public's opinion of the Democratic challenger who claimed his party's generic advantage on the economy with the help of his well-tuned and flawlessly executed cash-flush campaign machine.

However even though the pundits usually opt for premature closures, the race may still tighten. Currently Real Clear Politics average is a 7-point lead for Obama. As well known, the number of swing states that are going to be in play will be different if this lead widens or shrinks. As of now Obama has a commanding position in Electoral College and is in the lead in all 2004 Kerry states. McCain can fight for Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire but it will be an uphill battle. One intriguing scenario would be to get one district vote from Maine resulting in a 270-268 Electoral College victory for McCain under some possible although unlikely outcomes. As for the Red States, Iowa is now in Obama's column and he is ahead in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Virginia with Ohio and Florida as virtual ties. However, since McCain had the lead in all these states before the financial crisis, he can turn the tables around again if national polls move in his direction.

The polls of course are not actual representations but rather projections of different voter turnout predictions. Obama's polls have been consistently inflated; meaning he overpolls. Now it will be all about turnout and undecideds which are twice as many this year compared to 2004. After all, how an election turns out is directly dependent on who turns out on Election Day.

In the final analysis this historical election is between a true American hero and a very charismatic, brilliant young senator promising change. Both deserve our well wishes.

Will Tannery

Fort Mojave