Blood stain in the road

In reference to the homicide on Kamph Road last week, don’t the police make sure that those things are cleaned up? I have to drive on that road twice a day because my son goes to Clover Ridge School nearby. It appears that the blood was not cleaned up. There is an obvious stain in the road and I find it very disturbing to have to drive over it!

Cindy Darden, Albany

Palin’s critics embarrassing

When men like Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, Keith Olberman and Howard Guttman (Obama’s finance director) trash an able woman like Sarah Palin, they are disrespecting all women. I wonder what the women in their lives, their wives and mothers, have to say.

When Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC, Rachel Maddow of NBC, the condescending snotty Sally Quinn, the Doyen of D.C., and other celebrity types criticize Sarah, they are diminishing wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, secretaries, bank tellers and bank presidents, doctors and nurses, business owners and CEOs and every other woman like me across this country.

Oprah Winfrey is afraid to have Gov. Palin on her show. Oprah is supposed to be the epitome of a successful woman and her refusal to have Gov. Palin on her show until after the election puts a lie to Oprah’s very existence. Oprah is truly the American Dream come true and she should not close the door to anyone, especially a governor and candidate for the vice presidency of the United States.

Sarah Palin is me and every woman, be they professional, a stay-at-home mom, career or home maker, teacher, principal, or waitress, CEO or governor — women capable of doing and achieving everything they commit themselves to accomplish. The junk yard dog, gutter treatment of Gov. Palin and her family is shameful and embarrassing.

Linda Bartcher, Albany

Tell Congress what it must do

Despite all the flag waving and rhetoric we’ve been bombarded with over the past few weeks because of the national presidential conventions, all of it is a moot point since our Congress can’t and/or won’t do its job in keeping the executive branch of our government in check. And, also, thanks to Alberto Gonzales’ and Michael Mukasey’s stellar performances as Bush’s shadow, the judiciary branch of our government is corrupt as well. In effect, our democracy is dying a slow painful death.

There is some hope for saving the life of our democracy, though, and this means that each one of us must do our part to take our power back from those in power who abuse it. This means educating ourselves through several sources rather than depending on just one; this means contacting our representatives in Congress and demanding accountability of those suspected of committing crimes in office; this means contacting them by email, snail mail, fax or phone at least once a week and letting them know that their jobs depend upon their performance and not corporate money and interests.

Our representatives need to hear from you and me about the job they are or are not doing. They need to know from us that we are paying attention, and we will decide if they get to continue to serve us or not.

For a listing of your state and federal representatives, see: http://www.votesmart.org.

Leonora Rianda, Albany

Burning saves on chemicals

Why does the governor want to eliminate field burning? Doesn’t he know that it kills mites and they are the ones that kill our bees?

All the chemicals go into the ground and in our wells. He should come to our place and taste our water. Maybe he will change his mind when he drinks chemicals.

And just maybe he would pay for the swarm of bees I have to pay for.

Also, keep your nose out of field burning. Let the farmers burn when they want to. They know when the wind blows, not you. So keep your nose out of it.

Vic Hamel, Jefferson

Be heard on health care

Health care reform efforts are building momentum and there are some very important events coming soon to a place near you. Please put these dates on your calendar and plan to attend.

As you may remember, the Oregon Health Fund Board was established by the state legislature last year and charged to present a proposal to the legislature this fall that would provide health care for all Oregonians. The board and its committees have been busy and have developed a plan that is now being presented in a series of public forums for final input before it goes to the legislature.

Sept. 17 will be the date for the Albany-Corvallis area, at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, 35th and Harrison, Corvallis, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Be there to make your wishes known on this critically important issue.

Also, on Sept. 29 representatives of the presidential candidates will present information about their candidate’s proposal for health care reform, and on Oct. 7 state candidates for public office will discuss their positions on health care reform. Both of these last two meetings are at 7 p.m. at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library on Monroe. Residents of Linn County are urged to attend these meetings to represent our viewpoint.

Edith Orner, Albany

Trust Palin more than Obama

My gut reaction to Mr. Mike Wolf’s statement in the Sunday Democrat-Herald letters (Sept. 7) regarding Sarah Palin showing poor judgment in choosing to have a child after the age of 40 is ... what arrogance!

I have a brother and a sister who were both born when my mother was past the age of 40 and they are just fine. Even if they weren’t, my family would love them just the same. If this is the only perceived problem with Governor Palin’s judgment, she will be an excellent vice president.

Barack Obama’s judgment however, can be challenged by his comment of the Russia-Georgia problem. He said they should show restraint. Wrong answer, Senator Obama. “Poor” judgment.

I would trust Sarah Palin’s ability to run this country as president if called up to do so, much more than I would trust the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama.

Senator Obama, when asked difficult questions, stutters and stammers and appears to not know what he thinks; an obvious indication that he just wants to say what he believes everybody wants to hear. In contrast, Sarah Palin is not afraid to say it straight, as she believes it.

She is a sincere, honest and real person and her approval rating and experience in Alaska shows that.

Her family’s decision on whether to have a child after the age of 40 is really no one’s business. Perhaps Mr. Wolf thinks she should have checked with him first!

Susan King, Albany