A Crackdown Onanimal Abuse Urged Pitts Nixes Farm Bill Founding Principles Winter Of Discontent Who’s Paying? Reducing Us Military Ruoff’s Love Of…

A Crackdown Onanimal Abuse Urged Pitts Nixes Farm Bill Founding Principles Winter Of Discontent Who's Paying? Reducing Us Military Ruoff's Love Of Music Gop Voter Wants Choice Freedom Of Choice

Over the past few days, I have seen stories on TV of people abusing their pets and animals.

One case was of a man who left his pups in bird cages on Green and Shippen streets without food or water. Unfortunately, the dogs had to be put down.

In the other case, someone shot a dog in the back. The dog served as a caregiver at a hospice. The dog was fighting for its life.

In the first case, the pups' owner received only a $500 fine. This is not only disgusting but unacceptable.

The governor and attorney general should demand that state legislators change the law so that anyone who abuses an animal would be subject up to five years in jail, a fine and should never be allowed to own a pet again.

I hope the governor, attorney general and state Legislature will create a registry of animal abusers, the way they have one set up for child molesters.

A pet shop should not be allowed to sell a pet to anyone convicted of animal abuse.

As for the animal abuse registry, I think the people of Pennsylvania have a right to know who these animal abusers are so they can lobby their elected officials to make the crime of animal abuse more severe.

We animal lovers are sick and tired of seeing stories about animal abuse and then the abusers getting off with just a slap on the wrist or just a fine.

Prison time should be mandatory.

Bill Mattern

Lancaster

On Jan. 29, U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts voted against the bipartisan farm bill that passed the House and the Senate and was signed into law by President Obama.

While parties from both sides have conceded that the bill is far from perfect, it is an important piece of legislation for the residents of the 16th District.

The farm bill provides support and numerous subsidies to farmers, including a new insurance policy for dairy farmers to protect them against steep declines in milk prices.

The bill also deals with a number of issues, including the SNAP program, more commonly known as food stamps. This bill made significant cuts to food stamps, to the tune of $800 million per year.

According to Pitts' colleague, Rep. Pat Meehan, who supported the bill, it is expected to end up saving taxpayers $23 billion.

Given that agriculture is the biggest industry in Lancaster County, and that about 56,000 Lancaster County residents receive SNAP assistance, it would seem that Joe Pitts owes us an explanation.

Lancaster Newspapers reported that Pitts did not respond to their requests for comment. Well, we're not the newspaper, Mr. Pitts. We're the taxpayers you were elected to represent. You work for us and we want an explanation.

Dan Sweigart

Ephrata

I just finished reading both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with all its amendments and, except for the beginning of the Declaration, where God is mentioned once as God, once as the "Creator" and once as "Nature's God," no where is it stated that our country is founded on "Christian" principles.

The principles of morality, justice, fairness, honesty and compassion, the bedrock of every major religion, yes, they are all there.

As a Christian, I'd like to hope all those who write in to this newspaper would allow for the freedom our Founding Fathers hoped for.

Bruce Kalas</person>

East Hempfield Township

This has been the winter of my discontent, and I look forward to seeing the smiling faces of spring instead of the weather-weary frowns of my fellow Lancastrians.

I would like to thank the PennDOT crews that did such a phenomenal job of keeping the roads clear and open during our arctic winter. It was no easy task, and I applaud you.

If the Easter Bunny arrives without frostbite, perhaps with time I will be able to forgive TV 8 meteorologist Joe Calhoun for being so incredibly accurate in his winter weather forecasts.

Kathy E. Hondares

East Lampeter Township

I'm writing in response to the article, Feb. 11, regarding state Rep. Robert Mensch's proposal to help get Pennsylvania out of debt by "helping" us to determine who should supply our electricity. Frankly, I'm surprised that there has not been more reaction than I've seen in the paper so far.

I've been a PPL customer since 1976 and have no reason to abandon them. Since we were given a "choice" of electricity suppliers some years back, I have twice investigated what my savings might be. On those two occasions, the alternate suppliers agreed that I would not save enough money to justify the switch.

I assume these alternate suppliers are in business to make money. If they're willing to pay the commonwealth $100 for my business, I assume they figure they'll get that and more in return.

Do the math, folks. How do you think they'll make up that extra $100 and more? From their customers, of course.

And then, if I am made to switch to an alternative supplier, and decide to return to PPl after three months, "someone" sends me a check for $50? Who's footing the bill for that? If the $50 is to come from the alternate supplier, they will have invested $150 in a losing effort to secure my business. Believe me, they can make a lot of phone calls and send a lot of junk mail before they've invested $150 to secure one new customer.

And, lastly, as a senior citizen, I'm really getting tired of "well meaning" citizens and enterprises trying to "help" me out. If proposals put before us (young or old) are written in plain language, we'll do just fine.

Richard Colberg

West Lampeter Township

The Pentagon's proposals for shrinking the U.S. Army, reducing the other military services as well as the National Guard and closing military bases around the country is a dangerous decision.

Does anyone think the world is any safer now than it was 13 years ago? The country has relied too heavily on technology to fight our modern wars and too few Americans have sacrificed too much in multiple deployments in the war on terror.

We seem to forget about what happened when there were fewer ready troops when the nation was swept into major conflicts.

In 1917, 1942, 1950 and again in 1964 the Selective Service (the draft) was needed to rapidly increase troop strength to respond to military crisis. How can we be so sure that we will not be in that position again?

The folks at the Pentagon have stated that they don't like the draft and prefer a more professional, all volunteer military. If that is the case, then how can America afford to reduce the numbers of these professional fighters now?

Maybe I am missing something. However, how is it possible for America to be responsive to a crisis in what Chuck Hagel describes as "a more violent, more unpredictable world" with a smaller military footprint?

The Pentagon believes that a more nimble military can protect our interests in the world. Webster defines nimble as being quick and light in movement, or quick to understand, think and devise. I contend that you cannot do this without people.

Technology is a tool for our forces, not a replacement for them.

Gary M. Levinson

Lancaster

I would like to send a huge thank you to Rich Ruoff, but not just for the deliriously fun of the past weekend. I want to thank Rich for what amounts to a generation of amazing music for Lancaster and beyond.

I can't count how many times I or someone sitting at the table with me said (or shouted): "I can't believe I'm seeing and hearing this in downtown Lancaster!"

Rich was our own John Hammond Sr. of musical excellence. He found it, helped preserve it, shared it and often helped it along, especially many young musicians.

All kinds of music qualified, as long as it was first rate, but Rich always had a special love for the roots and blues we heard so memorably again this past week. He celebrated it whenever he could (financially) get away with it, but especially on the blues festival weekends that were his birthday present to himself and the rest of us who shared his addiction.

Our Barons Blues Band had the pleasure and privilege of sharing many dates with Rich, beginning way back to the first Chameleon in the alley off Queen Street. As customers and players, the memories are more than we can do justice to.

One more thing: Any musician who "plays out," full-time or part- time, would be unlikely to celebrate club owners (as a class) for their warm fuzziness and generosity. Rich Ruoff, despite his sharp sense of business and large ambitions, was never anything but gracious, encouraging, fair and appreciative. He loved the music too much not to appreciate those who often gave up a lot to do it.

So how glad are his fans that the festival will continue and grow? Wait until next year and see.

So, thanks, Rich, for everything.

Mike Riley

Manheim Township

Forgive me if I am mistaken, but I was under the impression that it was registered Republicans in the 36th Senate District who, voting in the primary, would select the Republican candidate for the November election. However, judging by some articles and editorials, it appears that some believe that selecting the candidate is the exclusive responsibility of the county GOP Committee.

Traditionally, prospective candidates submit themselves to the GOP county committee for endorsement, but does that mean that the losing candidates must immediately accept the judgment of these committee members?

I'm not here to pass judgment on whether Ryan Aument is a better candidate than Gordon Denlinger. However, I would appreciate a choice in the primary.

Apparently GOP Chairwomen Ann Womble and the editor of the Lancaster New Era believe Denlinger should withdraw, leaving voters like myself the sole option of voting for the committee's endorsed candidate.

In countries where democracy is but a sham, party leaders get to select the one and only candidate for voters to choose from, but I thought this was the United States, where a vote is supposed to count for something.

Jim Wohlsen

West Lampeter Township

Pennsylvania wants to have an auction to select my electric generation supplier for me? I have read the honorable Sen. Bob Mensch's 19-page amendment (SB 1121).

Well, Sen. Mensch, I want this bill to fail.

If the bill passes the Senate, anyone who does not switch by June 1, 2015, would have their service auctioned off by the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission.

Winning suppliers would pay $152 per customer auctioned, with $100 going to the state, $50 to the rate-payer whose service was switched and $2 to the PUC for expenses incurred to let people know about the new system.

The state is expected to receive about $320 million through the deal, and bidding suppliers are expected to save advertising dollars now spent seeking new customers. It seems to me the focus of SB 1121 is about making money for the state of Pennsylvania.

I want to make my own choices about who my electric-generation supplier will be and which company will get my dollars.

Finally, the bidding supplier's profit and growth are paramount to them.

I know any meager savings, on my electric bill, will disappear in time. I remember when cable companies told us we would no longer have to endure commercials if we purchased their programming.

I am hopeful Pennsylvania electric customers will unify to stop legislation SB 1121 from passing by communicating to our senators that we want to keep our freedom of choice.

Carol Smith

Salisbury Township

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