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,7
2 -- December 17, 2015
editor@newslj, corn
Our view
L;
With Christmas rapidly approaching, many of you have probably
had to share this refrain with one or more of your children as they've
revealed the more ambitious items on their holiday wish list. We can't
help but wonder, though, if we are willing to practice what we preach,
especially when it comes to local politics.
On page one of this week's paper, you'll notice that a proposal
to add soccer to the list of sports offered through Newcastle Middle
School was approved by the Weston County School District #1 board
last week on a 5-4 vote, and the Calves will hit the pitch in the spring,
in spite of concerns expressed by a number of district leaders.
Of the front of last week's paper, it was revealed that while the
Weston County Event Center is finally being repaired, the Weston
County Commissioners aren't entirely thrilled with the condition of the
building that we will finally be able to use in the near future.
And in next week's paper (spoiler alert) you'll find out why a grant
application to complete the community's bike paths and build a set of
tennis courts was denied by the Wyoming Business Council.
In all three of these instances, some or all of us didn't get what
we wanted, but we want to encourage everybody to embrace what we
do have and make the most of it. We seldom, if ever, see this concept
put into practice at the state and national level anymore, and we all
suffer as a result of it. Our insistence on continuing to "fight the good
fight" after the fight should be over means that there are never any real
winners because when issues are never resolved, we all lose.
.We could ensure that is the case here by sabotaging the efforts of
the people who will put the middle school soccer program together
over the next couple of months. Doing so would make it difficult or
impossible for the program to succeed, and those who questioned its
ability to succeed in the first place could claim a hollow victory by
making soccer proponents suffer a defeat in the wake of the victory
they celebrated last week. We'd suggest, however, that everybody give
the proposal a chance to work, and hope that it will indeed allow all
of us to celebrate even greater success for our high school soccer pro-
grams at some point in the future.
We could also dig in on the Event Center and continue to lament
the things that are wrong with it, but we think we would all be better
served if we instead focus on finishing the work that will produce an
adequate facility for this community-- and actually begin using it!
Finally, we could write letters and attack the grant proposals that
did gain the approval of the WBC. We could do so with the belief that,
since we didn'tget the. money we wanted, nobody else~should either,
but we would be better served by looking at those successful proposals
as examples of how to submit more favorable grants in the future.
No, we aren't all getting what we want from 16Cal government this
Christmas season, but as Mick Jagger said, "If you try sometime, you
just might find that you get what you need."
Climate
h
is
not
Allow me to summarize my response
c_an ,e a to a few of your paragraphs. Yes, big
nhenomena oil is crooked and helps elect who they
new
t-=-
want in office for their benefit. I'm not
Dear Editor, saying that all oil is bad or that they are
Before I write this, please first let the source of this evil. Ask yourself this,
me apologize. I am one of those people who is the prostitute here, the one paying
who recently rarely watches/reads the for goods received or the one whom
news. But this week I went through the offers it.
letters to the editor and once again as I No, wind is not abundant and the only
read them my frustration grew. I'm not way wind power still exists is because
looking for a response, I would just like it is government subsidized. Our taxes
to share my opinion so please bear with pay for it and you get to pay for it again
me. to the power company (who's a crook
As for "The cure from global now?).
warming must come from all of us," The Forest Service could plant trees
(NLJ, December 10, 2015, page 2), I that would help if they didn't have to
did enjoy your carefully worded letter, fight these massive fires because certain
but education is key. The climate is groups will not allow them to thin forests
changing, but to what. We see our little properly (the uneducated won again).
snapshot that exists in our lifetime and One major forest fire produces more
give our opinion on what is happening in harmful emission than all coal combined
the world, each year.
Sir, it has been proven that the polar Where should we place our focus
ice caps are growing and the global sir? Do you really think the folks in
weather pattern is moving, the polar bear Chicago, Detroit, and other large cities
population is booming and as Mr. Gore are going to grow their own vegetables or
had predicted, Manhattan is not under beef?. Really, don't mess with farming,
water in 2015. Yes, sir the weather is ranching and the truck drivers jobs too.
changing, but to what. Lastly, the cleanest burning electric
I remember a white Christmas, the power plant in the world burns coal.
snow was deep and the temperature The technology you speak of exists, but
was cold, but what does Mother Earth the EPA wins because certain people of
remember. Think about this, we live in power who won didn't get an electoral
a state with an abundance of fossil fuels, donation from coal.
Fossil fuels are formed from the fossil- Be careful using words and phrases
ized remains of dead plants by exposure like, "we will get hotter than Hades fairly
to heat and pressure in the Earth's crust soon, coal fired power plant will kill us."
over millions of years. AI Gore won a Nobel Prize using these
In other words, Wyoming once was a kinds of catch phrases, and where are his
tropical rain forest and it must have been predictions now? They wish they never
for a very long time due to the amount would have awarded it to him.
of fuels in the ground. By the way; the Stop scaring folks, educate yourself,
glaciers that are receding in Greenland and if it is mindless consumption I will
are exposing trees which are thousands be awaiting anxiously for your next letter
of years old. It wasn't always covered possibly entitled something like "My
with ice. wonderful life without fossil fuels," or
But your snapshot letter tells me that "'What life is really like after I shut off
you are convinced that what we now see my main breaker for good."
has always been. ' • --Nick Brooks
Bonnar
Publisher and
Editor
Vdlm Dean
Circulation/
Accounts Manager
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Office/Sales/
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Stalin hill
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Tom Mullen
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Roll Hicks
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FAX: 307-746-2660
E-maih editor@newslj.com
Deadline for Letters is noon on Friday
What
Our great national experiment
may have run its course
Dear Editor,
tn 11 years, the USA will be 250 years old.
History records that almost all countries last about
250 years. Kingdoms, empires and republics all fall
apart at about that age. Without exception, it has
been that way for at least the last 3,000 years.
Most likely, it is caused by the imperfect nature
of man. States exist to serve their citizens, not vice-
versa. One would think that if they had a good thing
going, the people would try to keep it going.
Whatever the cause, the dissolution of our
country seems inevitable. The distance
between the "wants of me" and the
"needs of we" seems to be a chasm too
wide to negotiate.
A "me" politico has ascribed the
impending dissolution of our republic
to "Sliding down a progressive rat
hole into an over-regulated shabby
future."
A "we" politico might opine that
the captains of capitalism have over-
stepped the bounds of common sense
and killed the goose that lays the golden eggs.
We desperately need to reach some kind of
practical agreement about how to run our country or
we will be added to that list of failed states.
The great difficulty is that the process we cur-
rently use to select lawmakers is deeply flawed
and encourages or at least allows all kinds of
mischief. Since the rewards of being elected are so
great, there are a myriad of ways employed to 'game
the system' and gain an office in Washington.
With few exceptions (damned few) the candidates
are, at best, the best self-serving con men the world
has to offer. Self enrichment is the over-riding goal
and no altruistic thought dares enter their conscious-
hess.
In the free for all of American politics, the
only rational, moderating factor would be the elec-
torate. Unfortunately, we are and have been easily
misled by clever propaganda, including negative TV
ads. It is the curse of free speech.
To the best of my recollection every negative ad
has been a big lie. And still, some people believe
them! Both you and I sound so much wiser after we
have been without TV.
William Randolph Hearst said, "If it bleeds,
it leads!" He built his empire on excitement and
hyperbole.
--Jerry Baird
People involved in government
always have conflicts
Dear Editor,
Can any one come up with a profile for a person
who would satisfy Jerry Baird's requirement for a
congressperson?
That person would have to have independent
wealth to afford to run a campaign. He would have
to be able to afford to live in D.C. Many of our
present members of Congress live in their offices
and go home on weekends.
He could not have been engaged in any business
which might receive any form of tax relief from
the government. He could not be a member of any
organization which lobbies congress. He could not
have ever accepted a gift from any person who was
involved with a business which receives any form
of benefit from the tax laws. He could not accept a
dinner invitation from anyone in a business. The list goes on and on.
Such a person probably does not exist, and if he
did, he would not want to be involved with
the government.
Jerry does make a point that there is a
lot of favoritism in our government, but
that is pretty much the way life works. We
tend to do things for those who do things
for us or to us.
I have to take issue with Jerry
regarding his condemnation of the Koch
brothers. These people run businesses
which generate new money from raw
materials, in contrast to those like George
Soros and Tom Styre, who support numerous liberal
causes and make money by investing in other busi-
nesses.
The Koch's employ over a hundred thousand
people and make large contributions to various
charities. The ultimate source of money is from the
earth, and those who extract raw materials either
from mining or agriculture are the true motivators of
our economy. They invest their money in the politics
they believe in, not where they can receive favors.
The people on Wall Street who mainly churn the
stock market and who are major contributors to the
liberal politicians do not create anything, but make
money by gambling with other people's money.
Are these really the people you would support?
--Don Thorson
Grateful to those who enhance
our holidays each year
Dear Editor,
I was walking on the overpass this evening. From
this higher vantage point, I could view as a won-
derful panorama the beautifully decorated homes in
the Frontier Addition part of our town. Also I have
noticed many other homes lighted with a beautiful
array of colorful lights around Newcastle, and Upton
as well.
Especially impressive, I think, are the lighted
displays put up by our city and honor camp workers
around the courthouse and the park at the end of
Main Street. They really help all of us to get into the
spirit of the season and publicly enhance the celebra-
tion of the coming of our Savior.
So on behalf of those like me who are too lazy
We strive to cover all the news and
or busy to do any decorating, this is just a short note entertainment important to the people of
of appreciation to those who do take the time and Weston County, Wyoming. Our entire staff
trouble to put up and take down these little glistening takes part in the decision-making process
proclaimers of hope and happiness each and every of what appears in these pages and all
content is locally generated. If you have a
year. story idea please contact any of the people
Your efforts (not to mention the financial outlay you see here. NLJ editorials appear in the
involved) improve the joy of the season for all of us! upper left hand corner of this page and are
Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to written from the position of the newspa-
per, usually with the influence of several
openly thank both the vocal and handbell choirs that people, and in the hope that they will carry
performed a most pleasing Christmas Cantata this the weight of our 100-plus years of lead-
afternoon to praise God for His ultimate gift to the ership. The personal columns and letters
human race. appearing elsewhere on this page, and
others, represent the opinions of single
What a tremendous amount of work all those individuals and do not necessarily reflect
involved expended for our enjoyment. Please be the position of the newspaper. The NLJ
aware that it was certainly appreciated, welcomes and encourages your Letter to
the Editor. We will print all signed, original
--LeonardLang letters of local interest. Please provide a
phone number for verification. We will not
The holidays are a timeto publish letters that are libelous or scurri-
lous in nature. Letters of thanks are offered
at a reduced price in our classified section.
remember we're all Americans
Dear Editor,
This letter is to Hillary:
This time of the year is my favorite time, a time
for reflection, a time to give to those less fortunate "~/~ Y ~'~ ."..'~ ~ :~
so they too can enjoy the spirit of Christmas, (~-i~:i C
however they choose. Stop in Monday through Friday
It is not a given right, for Americans have earned at 14 West Main Street,
the Bill of Rights! We could refuse to extend a hand Newcastle, Wyoming
to all, although I have not, in my lifetime, seen it. POSTMASTER: Please send any address
Americans are a sharing people. We are a proud changes to the News Letter Journal, PO Box
40, Newcastle, WY 82701.
people. What we have, we want to share with others. Annual Subscription Rate:
Americans are volunteers, and I say that with pride, In Weston County ............. $45.50
not prejudice. I served my country with pride. I did Out of County .................. $57
Senior Citizens (65+) ............ $30
not run to Canada. I did not burn my card. Military (Active) ............... FREE
I roomed with Americans, not a hodgepodge of Student, In State ................ $27
nationalities, but with Americans! I remember them Student, Out of State ............. $33
as if it was just yesterday.
One was of Mexican heritage (a brown man),
another was a Cherokee Indian (a red man), another
was (a black man). They were all Americans, plain
and simple, and to this day I would share a foxhole ~{ A T~ z~,~
with any one of them! ..
Do you hear what I just said? I would give my News Letter Journal is published each
life for them, and with confidence and admiration Thursday at 14 W. Main Street in Newcastle
I know they would honor me with the same. We (Weston Co.) WY 82701. Periodicals post-
respected one another, but above all we trusted one age paid at Newcastle, WY. USPS No. 389-
940. Deadline for advertising is the prior
another!
I can live with that when you say, "I am your Friday at 5 pm
enemy," for I believe in my Constitution, not just the
2nd Amendment, but the entire Bill of Rights! What
I cannot live with is your attitude. When you call me
your enemy, you're calling millions of my American~,r~,~,,
friends your enemy also. Just because you're a &./&/
woman does not ensure you their vote. Gender is
no longer an issue. Now, standing up for America, To provide ne e t f0r, and
alongside the American male, is the American to serve the best interests of, the people of
female. Weston County.
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!"
I have no best wishes for you during the holiday Serving Weston County since 1889. All con-
season, just a "no" vote will suffice. Have a nice tents are property of the News Letter Journal,
(NLJ) Copyright 2010. NLJ is a publication
day! of News Letter Journal, LLC, Thomas R.
--Dick Crawford Mullen and Robert H. Hicks, owners.