Democracy for sale

Our congressman, John Faso, held his first public meeting in Sullivan County since his election on Tuesday February 21 at Miss Monticello Diner. It was a breakfast meeting. The cost of entry was $20. Apparently, Mr Faso does not know his constituency. He ought to know there are families in Sullivan County that struggle to put food on the table. A $20 tab for breakfast is well beyond their means. Does Mr. Faso only represent the rich?

Francis Cape

Narrowsburg, NY

That Muslim ban, by the numbers

The Trump administration has been emphasizing the dangers of immigrants, especially Muslim immigrants from Africa and the Near East. As a result, they have proposed a travel ban excluding Muslims from seven different countries from entering the U.S. This ban has been blocked by the courts. This is good, since these people are often refugees from hostile governments.

Many feel the ban is necessary, since we are in such “grave danger” from these people. I thought it might be good to look at the statistics to see if this ban, which would be quite expensive and painful to implement, would really be advisable.

Islamic terror attacks: Since 9/11, 50 Islamic terror attacks have killed a total of 145 people in the U.S. Other causes of death have been:

1) Automobile accidents—32,000-plus/year (448,000 since 9/11); 2) Pedestrians killed by cars—2,000-plus/year (28,000); 3) Bicyclists killed by cars—700-plus/year; (9,800) 4) Drowning—Recently 4,150 in one year (56,000); 5) Gun homicides—Recently 11,078 in one year (154,000); 6) Shoveling snow—Typically 100/year (1,400) 7) Hit by lightning—Typically 32 (532); 8) Police officers shot on duty—Recently 33 in one year (462); 9) Killed by right-wing extremists—(173 since 9/11).

Since 9/11, 145 people in the U.S. were killed by Islamic extremists, while almost 700,000 died by these other means. Also notice that 173 people were killed by right-wing extremists—18 more than by Muslim extremists. Maybe the press and the GOP should spend their time reporting on the real dangers we face, since Muslims (most of whom become valuable citizens) are obviously not one of them. In the meantime, be careful when you drive your car, since automobiles contributed to 486,000 of these deaths. Likewise, remember that 154,000 were killed by guns.

The travel ban is the result of stupid fear mongering, and it is directed at one religion (clearly this is unconstitutional). It should be blocked.

Chet Rideout

Milford, PA

More letter love

I so much enjoyed Cass Collin’s column “Happy Mail” in the February 2 issue, regarding the old-fashioned hand-written letter. She wrote how she loved to get a letter in her box—a personal letter from a friend.

Who could even have imagined a day when it would be a rare event?

How about my own experience? One day, a few years ago, I received a letter from the State of Illinois. This woman and her husband were former residents in Liberty and White Sulphur Springs. She had received a folded-over White Sulphur Springs church bulletin, and when opened, a piece of mail dropped out. What had gotten stuck insider her bulletin had my Liberty address on the return label. When her husband recognized my name and address as being those of his childhood neighbor, his wife and I began a pen-pal friendship. We both love to get a real letter—not a bill!

Fran Kupil

Libery, NY

[This letter was handwritten and sent via the U.S. Post Office.]

Problems hunting in PA

I bought eight acres of land in Milanville, PA two years ago and I have cleared trees, made brush piles, planted fruit and nut trees, grasses and bushes. I hunted there for the first time this year.

I had hunted in NY, FL and DE in the past but not in PA. I was shocked to find out I was too late to get a doe tag. Then I was further shocked to find out that I could only take a buck (if I did not already use my buck tag) with my bow during Flintlock season. So I bought a flintlock rifle and got out only twice for a few hours, but the wind and the damp weather worked against me.

Wayne County has too many does. I have at least six does per buck on my trail cam photos in Milanville. All you need to do is drive on Milanville Road or Atco Road at dusk to see what I am talking about. PA needs to make some serious changes to the buck/doe ratio by allowing more does to be taken without the hassle of special permits/doe tags.

As I sat in my tree stand during rifle season, I watched multiple cars/trucks go by slowly with rifles visible. Road hunting is terrible in this area.

I even found a doe that was shot from the road and not recovered last year on my property.

I love this area, and my neighbors are friendly, but they, too, are concerned about all the does and road hunters.

Where are all the game wardens and police?

John “JP” Pasquale

Livingston Manor, NY