She does great job;

keep her on board

To the editor:

Please support Marge Kraskouskas for selectwoman in the Feb. 19 preliminary election and in the general election in April. Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to observe Marge in a number of different situations. In each case she thinks things through before acting, takes time to consider the options, then makes a decision. In each case it’s obvious that her priority in making those decisions is what is best for North Attleboro. This reasoned approach, combined with her compassion, is exactly what we need from our leadership.

We want to be able to respect and have confidence in the people we elect. We also want and need them to listen. Marge certainly fulfills all these requirements in great measure. When you talk to Marge you will find her respectful and straightforward. She has a wealth of very valuable knowledge about the town. Her experience is extremely important to us especially now when we face very lean budgets. In a few words, Marge does a great job of representing the residents of North Attleboro. Again I ask for your support.

Don Bates

North Attleboro

Keep top North board

on current steady course

To the editor;

North Attleboro town elections will be here before we know it and our preliminary election is coming up on Feb. 19. Once again we find ourselves in the very enviable position of having too many candidates for the open seats on the board of selectmen. I read this as meaning just one thing; that when it’s over, when all the votes are counted, we can be assured that only the best candidates will have been elected to the board.

Of course this means that we all have to hold up our end and actually go to the polls and vote. The North Attleboro turnout on Super Tuesday was quite good and I really hope the same spirit that brought so many people out then will bring them out again for our local contest. In some regards, the town race is more important than the national race, because it truly affects us where we live. If I may paraphrase Tip O’Neil, all politics are local and local politics are the most important.

Many changes have occurred in town since the last selectman’s race and from where I sit the changes have all been for the better. Perhaps most notable is that a plan is now in place to facilitate all town departments in working together, thus streamlining and making our town government more responsive to the needs of our citizens. This didn’t occur by accident. It came about because the present members of the board of selectmen listened to our citizens and have taken decisive and proper action.

Two of those members are running for re-election and they deserve our whole-hearted support. Marge Kraskouskas and Bill Moffitt are two of the most effective and dedicated people to have ever sat on the board. They have been instrumental in effecting this change and will see it through to the end. They have no agenda other than to serve the people of this town to the best of their abilities. Their legacy of dedication and commitment is without blemish. I hope you will join me in supporting both of these candidates on Feb. 19 and also on April 1. These will be two votes you will never regret. Herb McEvoy

North Attleboro

LETTERS ENDORSING candidates in North Attleboro’s Feb. 19 parade must be received before 5 p.m. Feb. 12.

Deficit spending snowball

keeps rolling right along

To the editor:

Can the government really afford to give us a “rebate,” under the guise of something called a “stimulus package”? This is an interesting question, since the current administration has, in seven short years, taken a budget surplus and rolled it into a massive deficit. I would think that giving out money that they don’t have, along with what we’re spending in Iraq, is bankrupting our country. This gives new meaning to the term “deficit spending.” If I’m wrong about this, I’m sure that you’ll let me know.

Now that the horse is out the barn door, the administration will now attempt to cut 141 programs, including funding of community action agencies, food for the elderly poor, and even a cut in Medicare, to provide the “balance” necessary to make them appear fiscally responsible. I guess that’s OK, as long as you’re not from the groups affected. At least that appears to be their attitude, since the people making these decisions are not living from paycheck to paycheck, or choosing between paying for heat or paying for food.

What is happening to this once-proud country?

Congress, with an even lower approval rating than the president, has repeatedly rejected these cuts, in the past (whether Republican or Democratically controlled). Let’s hope that they are successful in accomplishing this, at least one more time.

It’s obvious that our priorities, in this country, are out of whack. If we can hang on for another 320 days, or so, maybe we can look forward to a day when our elected officials actually work together, to solve these problems. Can’t we, at least, dream for that day? If not, we might just as well pack up now, and move north. Parlez vous Francais?

Mark C. Ambrose

Attleboro

Give pigs same degree

of compassion as dogs

To the editor:

Re pig roast photo of Feb. 2:

Why are people outraged at what Michael Vick did to dogs, when they do as bad or worse to pigs they consume. With intelligence and sentience like the dogs we love and protect, humans have selectively designed a mythical barrier between their ethics regarding pigs, mammals like us, and dogs.

We do it with all so called “farmed” animals to enable our lust for flesh to outweigh the moral obligation to stop animal suffering. Pigs travel up to 30 miles per day, root, love their young, have strong social bonds, can feel pain, fear, stress, loneliness, and experience horror and terror when slaughtered. What a tragic lesson to teach young children who already suffer from the role models in adults who can’t understand that the violence we eat is the violence we reap.

What a macabre activity a “pig roast” is. In our denial of how much suffering and pain we cause pigs, and other “food” animals, we lower our capacity to feel much of anything, except full on the parts of animals who, like us, love life, love their families, and desire life. If we extend our compassion and mercy to all animals, our organs would not need replacing, especially...our hearts.

Laura Beth Slitt

Bartlett, N.H.

Contraceptive use should be promoted widely

To the editor:

Almost from the very beginning of time, voices of common sense and rationality have been all but drowned out by the insistent, incessant one-note-samba drummed into every aspect of our lives by the far-right, anti-choice minority. What does open, unbiased education, as one nears the age of puberty, possibly prevent, anyway? In addition, what desirable, positive results are achieved from the availability and proper use of various forms of contraceptive (pregnancy and disease prevention devices) by adults and pre-adults? The answer is, or at least should be, as plain as the nose on one’s face.

Contraceptives prevent unexpected and unwanted pregnancies. Usually, these devices are effective and have few, if any, side-effects. At one time, however, there was often quite justified fear of the contracting of some types of cancer from some of these devices such as “The Pill.” Secondly, with more and more reliability than initially occurred, contraceptives prevent getting and spreading various serious and often life-threatening diseases. Yet, more of the anti-choice minority still is unwilling or unable to comprehend or accept these indisputable, proven facts.

Once more: the best possible cure of all is sensible, rational, inexpensive prevention.

ARDavid Daugman

Attleboro