To the editor:

The approval of Question 1 may be seen as a radical action, as stated by The Sun Chronicle editorial on Oct. 19, but like the Boston Tea Party, radical action is sometimes the only way citizens can curb a government that does not respond to the citizens it serves.

The leading opponents to Question 1 are the unions. These are the same people who demand that their feedbags be full regardless of the hunger experienced by the rest of the commonwealth. They are recipients of overpriced contracts that result in projects that are loaded with inefficiency, delays and are blatant ripoffs of the taxpayers. Fear is their main instrument of argument which goes like this: If you fail to continue to trust the politicians who continue to demand more and more of your money and waste over 40 percent of it, you will lose all security, educational benefits and the quality of life in Massachusetts will collapse.

However, the quality of life is already collapsing under an obese government that refuses to curb its appetite.

A case in point is Deval Patrick. Under his watch, the commonwealth has gone from millions of dollars in surplus to having to borrow money in order to pay the bills. Now his honor, who has added 1,800 state jobs and established offices and staff in Washington D.C. and China, is telling the citizens they will feel the "pain" of fiscal reform.

The Sun Chronicle further fuels the fear when they tell us that if Question 1 passes it is likely that Beacon Hill will usurp the will of the people and pass new tax laws and abolish Proposition 21/2. When our ancestors dumped the tea into Boston Harbor, they left us with constitutional instruments of law that protected us against tyranny.

I have no doubts that if the people have the courage to pass Question 1, this courage will be extended to making sure that elected officials carry out its intentions. If they do not, they will be pursued and recalled.

It is time to take back our government. Vote Yes on Question 1.

Dave Silvia

Attleboro

He'll buck insiders

on city's behalf

To the editor:

As a current city councilor, I have the opportunity of working with both candidates for state representative. Both have their strengths, but I believe only one is truly suited to be our next state representative: Councilor George Ross.

George already has worked with the members of the House of Representatives. He is prepared to continue this work as state representative on Beacon Hill. As a proud Attleboro homeowner, husband, father, and recently, grandfather, George will take an active role in making sure that Attleboro is well taken care of.

Bill Bowles can't assure Attleboro of anything. As a Democrat, he will be just another number, and he'll be expected to follow the leadership of the House of Representatives. That won't be good for Attleboro.

We need a leader who will stand up to the establishment and not just assure us that local aid won't be cut, but will actually reduce the reckless spending on Beacon Hill.

George Ross will continue the work of John Lepper, supporting quality legislation that will benefit the City of Attleboro.

Like his constituent work on the council, George will be accessible and responsive to your needs, and will bring that same caring to the Statehouse.

George Ross is the best candidate to go to Boston and join with state representative Betty Poirier to continue to stand up to the establishment on Beacon Hill. Place your confidence in George Ross for state representative when you vote Nov. 4.

Brian Kirby

Attleboro

THIS WRITER is a city councilor at-large.

This one comes out

of McCain playbook

To the editor:

In response to your article "GOP says this joke is no laughing matter" (Oct. 22):

I am ashamed of Jay Barrows and his campaign for attacking Democratic candidate Devin Romanul based on his appearance on Improv Boston's mock news show Boston News Net.

The comment the Republican party absurdly misrepresented was a follow-up to Romanul's stance on Question 2: He is firmly against it.

Devin appeared composed, articulate, and wise beyond his years in the Boston News net interview.

He had a genuine banter with host Smarz while maintaining a professional stance.

It looks like Massachusetts Republicans and Jay Barrows are taking one out of the McCain Campaign book: the kid looks too good, let's play dirty.

Shannon Connolly

Wellesley

Rights bill deserves

local respect as well

To the editor:

Regarding Robert Saquet's letter of Oct. 19 where he stated, "that the Republican minority in Congress reached out and worked with the liberals of the Democratic party in 1964 to pass the Civil Rights Bill," I'm glad to see Mr. Saquet is so giddy about the 1964 Civil Rights Bill. But his talk is cheap.

It is the very same 1964 Civil Rights Act that Mansfield town manager John D'Agostino was found to have violated in the federal lawsuit. Mr. Saquet has not only supported this civil rights violator, he tried to mislead Middleboro selectmen searching for a new town manager and diminished the importance of the act's intentions when he said the violations of the civil rights of two town employees by Mr. D'Agostino was "no big deal."

He goes on to mention his longing for "those wonderful days when the world looked up to the United States as a country that believed in equality, justice, and the rule of law."

That type of longing starts at the local level. Can the residents look up to Mansfield as a town that believes in equality, justice, and the rule of law? With Mr. D'Agostino still employed as town manager after the multi-million dollar federal civil rights judgment against him and the board of light commissioners, that is a very difficult question to answer.

Mark Gendron

Mansfield