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Our system is broken

Editor: Assemblyman, Danny Gilmore's recent comments about the political process should be viewed as yet another confirmation of the broken nature of our legislative system of government both state and federal.

Like a vehicle that keeps breaking down, instead of finally replacing it with a new one that will get us where we need to go, we continue to elect the same kind of replacements that merely allow us to keep traveling the same limited route because it's all we think we can afford.

The old vehicle keeps draining our resources, posing the danger of becoming stranded, and restricting our ability to travel to greater destinations. And yes, even with the election of what the majority of Americans thought was a new vehicle in our last presidential election; it's not hard to see that the vehicle is still severely damaged.

Good people who have unwavering character like Mr. Gilmore are out there, but seldom run for office because they know how ruthless and corrupt government has become.

Is it any wonder why people think that registering to vote is a joke? "What difference will it make" is often their comment and that's exactly what our government would like to see happen. Make the American people as apathetic as possible so that they say and do nothing and the greedy, power driven, corrupt politicians will continue to have they way.

I don't care what political party you belong to, we are all living in America the greatest nation on Earth! People who do not believe in freedom and the values of our Constitution have the option to move to another country that espouses their beliefs. "We the people" need to start thinking and acting like Americans. It's an insult to every man or women who has shed blood for our freedoms to allow politicians to dismantle our constitution and manipulate our goodness.

We all need to stand up for what is honorable and not be persuaded by the rhetoric of politicians or their parties. What will make a difference is voting for men and women like Danny Gilmore to replace all the broken parts of the "clunker" we keep feeding with our tax dollars.

Character does and always will matter.

Sherill Calhoun

Hanford

(Oct. 26, 2009)

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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Hanford Sentinel

Alan G wrote on Oct 26, 2009 12:26 PM:

" Unfortunately, most politicians are (Democrats or Republicans) first and Americans second. It's not about doing what's right for their constituency, but rather about victories for the party or making sure the other party doesn't get a victory.

Yet another reason why districts need to be re-drawn so that politicians have to fight for their political lives and not feel so comfortable, otherwise they can lose their seat if they;re not working in the best interests of their districts. "

Deb wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:27 AM:

" As long as lobbying continues and the pockets of politicians are lined with green provided by those lobbyist's then the people will never really have a say in what matters.

I believe it imperative that no politician be able to vote for anything as long as they receive money from the lobbyist's of those directly involved.

Unlike what Sherill has seemed to experience, "Is it any wonder why people think that registering to vote is a joke?," I've seen the exact opposite happening. I do hope the trend continues - and it matters not which political party.

Good letter, Sherill - your drive and intentions are very good. "

Alan G wrote on Oct 27, 2009 11:13 AM:

" Deb, I agree 100% with your opinion about political donations from private interests. Politicians should be excluded from voting on any matters that would benefit private interests who have contributed to their campaign.

I think the best system would be a "Blind" system in which a private interest could donate to a collection entity that would then distribute the amount to the designated politician without informing them of where it came from.

This way lobbyists are making contributions to political candidates that they believe share the same philosophies and might vote in a manner that they feel would benefit their cause without the politician being bought.

Naive, I know. But a man can dream. "

the oracle wrote on Oct 27, 2009 1:23 PM:

" When I first heard about Danny's possible retirement from office, I was not surprised. He is and has always been an honorable guy. Im sure he is completely disillusioned with what he has encountered. His choice Im sure is either get on board and "play the game" or stick to your principles and leave. Do you realize how hard that would be when you worked, sacrificed and sweated so hard to get there? If he does ultimately leave, I for one would like him to write a book, detailing the broken system we have.
People, this goes beyond democrats VS Republicans. Neither party is listening to us, they are simply doing what is in their best interest. "

Deb wrote on Oct 27, 2009 4:09 PM:

" Alan G: GREAT idea - I like it. PAC's are quite similar - for example actblue is a PAC for democrats and democratic causes. It's a very good fund raising site - I've not seen anything quite like it on the Republican side - the nationalrepublicantrust is as close in terms of size and ranking that I could find to compare. Something in line with actblue but broken down by industry would be ideal.

In any case - as long as special interests exist to the degree they do, we the people are insignificant. "

Skip wrote on Oct 27, 2009 7:25 PM:

" Gilmore is too HONEST to be a politician! He steps on the toes of both parties because he does what he thinks is right, not what someone else thinks is right. Bet you can't name ONE other politician who is as honest. "

SJT wrote on Oct 27, 2009 7:58 PM:

" A lot more conciliatory than previous letters. Perhaps a precursor to her own budding political segue, to balance her previous public expressions of doubt that our President is a U.S. citizen and Hate-fest (t-party) organizing.

Speaking of Gilmore - a search of the Sentinel's archive reveals nothing on his thoughts on pulling a Palin, except this letter and a brief reference in the Thomas interview. Is there nothing there to see? "

Paul wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:56 PM:

" Deb wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:27 AM:

" As long as lobbying continues and the pockets of politicians are lined with green provided by those lobbyist's then the people will never really have a say in what matters."

I agree with your statements here Deb. Everybody that makes it at the local, state or federal level have some "lobbyist" knocking at their door the moment they arrive at office.

The intensions are always good, but sooner rather than later "they" realize that to "get along" they have to "play along."

And you can have the best law to "stop" lobbyist but there is always a way to get around ANY law. ESPECIALLY at the federal level. Just open an offshore bank account or have your parents "donate" an amount for “services rendered.” "

americantaxpayer wrote on Oct 28, 2009 3:51 PM:

" Our system has been broken for years. When you vote in a politician into office, you give them a licience to steal! They will steal your money, your dreams, and the sacrafices of our vetrans to line their pockets and secure their future while sacraficing ours. I have never heard of a government who will protect non citizens over it's own legal citizens and provide benifits to illegals when citizens are the ones supporting the system. Our elected officials have taken this once great country and are turning it into a third world country where english in now becoming a second language and turning the once "Golden State" into the "Welfare State"! What is it going to take to get our elected officials to wake up and smell the coffee to see all the damage they and there elected partners have caused. Our founding fathers would turn over in their graves over how our elected officials and liberal judges have twisted our constitution to serve those who take from the American Dream! "

Alihandero wrote on Oct 28, 2009 5:54 PM:

" the oracle wrote on Oct 27, 2009 1:23 PM:
" Neither party is listening to us, they are simply doing what is in their best interest. "

Very correct and to the point, Oracle, but the Democratic Party is simply "not listening" to us MORE; it wants to fundamentally change America into meeting their secular progressive way of life.

Quite a few of us didn't sign up for that. "

Paul wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:41 PM:

" Alihandero wrote on Oct 28, 2009 5:54 PM:

"but the Democratic Party is simply "not listening" to us MORE;" WHINE, WHINE, and WHINE!

Quite a few of us didn't sign up for that. “And WHINE SOME MORE!!!!

So much for "See - we actually CAN get together!”

Until AT and you threw in your two pennies into the mix, everyone here was putting blame on both parties EQUALLY.

But in your true republican talking points at blamed "liberal judges. illegals,licience (license? maybe) "to steal, and since the Gov't that was just elected is Democratic under President Obama, of course, a government who will protect non citizens over its own legal citizens and provide benifits (benefits?)."

Then you blame the "Democratic Party" for not "listening."

Then you say you didn't "sign up" for this Gov't. There was a saying quite popular back in the 60's, you member, "America, Love it or Leave it."

So back it up. Put on your walking boots.

Like in the Middle East, as long as you draw those lines in the sand to benefit one side over the other, we'll Never get together. "

manuel wrote on Oct 29, 2009 1:47 PM:

" Alihandero You praise Oracle for his artical, but you failed to mention that he said Democrats and Republicans fail to listen to the people whom they serve, not just Democrats "

jeff wrote on Oct 30, 2009 11:10 AM:

" "Alex",

"Very correct and to the point, Oracle, but the Democratic Party is simply "not listening" to us MORE; it wants to fundamentally change America into meeting their secular progressive way of life."

You shouldn't assert your opinion as fact and honestly, this is the kind of thing that makes it so hard to take you seriously.

For 8 years a Republican administration didn't listen to half the country. Just because a Democratic one is doing the same thing you can't magically make it the Democrats all the time. Where is your independent thinking? "

Skip wrote on Oct 30, 2009 12:07 PM:

" Neither party listens to us. When Republicans are in power, they spend and waste billions and Democrats do the same. People like Paul will NEVER be EQUAL to us because they don't want to be! With them it's will always be "oh poor me, where's my handout". Perfect example of a Paul is Keith Olbermann cause all he does is criticize people. It always happens, when a person thinks they are so much better than everyone else, they usually are not. It's really too bad that some of them have children. "

korruptcounty@yahoo.com wrote on Oct 31, 2009 5:44 AM:

" Danny has been a good man and i do believe has lived an unsoiled life both professionally and personally, i think the board of supervisors along with the city council among others should see if Danny would consider teaching his level of integrity honesty justice fairness, perhaps he can be a consultant. God knows this county really needs help in the way it does business as far as local govt is concerned. Karma goes around to everyone good or bad and i wish Danny and his family the best of luck and your public service in my belief was absolute paramount. Sometimes when we think the one bad apple in the bunch is the only rotten one then we cut into each one and we see there all rotten to the core.good luck Danny "

Alihandero wrote on Oct 31, 2009 4:31 PM:

" RE: My opinion that the Democrats and Obama want to fundamentally change the United States into their vision by using their secular, progressive agenda:

jeff wrote on Oct 30, 2009 11:10 AM:
"You shouldn't assert your opinion as fact and honestly, this is the kind of thing that makes it so hard to take you seriously.

Where is your independent thinking?"

Why, "jeff, " Here ‘tis:

"Five days from now we will fundamentally change America."
- Obama speech in MO (10/30/08);

"We're going to change the country and change the world."
- Obama speech in NH (10/17/08);

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time.
...We are the ones we've been waiting for.
...We are the change that we seek."
- BARACK OBAMA, speech, Feb. 5, 2008

"We want to make sure that prosperity is spread across the spectrum of regions and occupations and genders and races"
- BARACK OBAMA, New York Times, Apr. 28, 2009

Can’t get any more honest than that. "

Paul wrote on Nov 1, 2009 12:30 AM:

" Skip wrote on Oct 30, 2009 12:07 PM:

"People like Paul will NEVER be EQUAL to us"

" cause all he does is criticize people."

Oh skippy. On Oct 28 this is what I said: "everyone here was putting blame on both parties EQUALLY."

But like some, they read what they want to read and then use, oh gee, what was that phrase ali used on me, oh yeah, a "racially-based diatribe."

So skippy, say what you want, but "many" here can't accept that Barack Obama IS President. CAN'T accept that there is a Democrat in the WHITE HOUSE.

And with your comment about children at the end of your "blog" you weren't criticizing people.

Oh, no. It only happens when "other" people do it, and not you. Right??!!

BUT you are correct on one point. I WILL NEVER BE EQUAL TO YOU (I wonder who "us" is?? Say want you mean and mean what you say), because I am already above you.

Of that skippy, I have NO DOUBT, and am certain of. "

jeff wrote on Nov 2, 2009 8:01 AM:

" Alex, I'm not sure how you feel copying and pasting Obama quotes proves that Democrats are worse than Republicans or that you're an independent. Here, let me show you an example.

Why, "Alex, " Here ‘tis:

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." --George W Bush, Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005

"You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror." --George W Bush interview with CBS News' Katie Couric, Sept. 6,

"This is an impressive crowd -- the haves and the have mores. Some people call you the elite -- I call you my base." --George W Bush at the 2000 Al Smith dinner

Can’t get any more honest than that.

According to your logic Alex I have just proven that Republicans are worse than Democrats and that I am a great independent thinker. "

ToldYouSo wrote on Nov 3, 2009 6:31 PM:

" Danny is truly the opposite of Obama. Danny always tells the truth and really wants to help our great Country. "

SJT wrote on Nov 4, 2009 8:46 PM:

" Jeff owns Ali. "

jeff wrote on Nov 5, 2009 11:01 AM:

" lucky me huh "

Alihandero wrote on Nov 5, 2009 2:56 PM:

" Since all of my responses have been blocked by the new moderator (and believe me they were succinctly apropos), I will attempt to impart a truth via another classical quote we all can learn from:

"The inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries."

- Sir Winston Churchill

Thanks for sharing, Boys. "

manuel wrote on Nov 5, 2009 3:21 PM:

" TYS You are right, Danny is truly the opposite of Obama, Danny always tells the truth, just like Rush Limbaugh and Bush "

SJT wrote on Nov 5, 2009 6:23 PM:

" It is rather a dubious honor. "

ToldYouSo wrote on Nov 6, 2009 3:24 PM:

" Manuel you may be going a little far comparing Rush with Danny since Danny is without a doubt superior to Rush. I do lump Obama and Rush together since both like to stretch the truth a lot if you know what I mean.

By the way why are we getting censored here so much all of a sudden. Maybe the Sentinel thinks free speech only applies to them. "

yaknow wrote on Nov 20, 2009 1:02 AM:

" without change things become stagnant and die...open your eyes people we have entered a new century & millenium, without change we would not be afforded the priveleges that we now have, without change we would not have grown as a nation...does the depression or segregation ring a bell at all. the scariest thought of all is the generation that has just come of age running this country!!!!! "

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