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Not every voter has access to candidates

Fliers, phone calls annoy, not inform, Diane Steinle column, Sept. 6.

Your attitude is sniffingly haughty, to say the least. Elections and electioneering are such a bother and so, so declasse. That these pathetic office seekers would actually promote themselves to voters in multiple venues is just, well, a bother.

Too bad the average citizen can't have access to the candidates like a member of the editorial board of the Times does. Then again, all that citizen really needs is the considered opinion of the Times to guide him. How cost efficient. No fliers, no phone calls, no knocks on doors. Perhaps there should be a law that restricts the political drivel.

Seriously, how do you propose that the candidates get their messages out? You don't seriously think that they should spend time on unregistered people, do you? Or that they shouldn't at least introduce themselves to voters via pamphlets, phone calls, etc. Should everything be controlled through TV ad sound bites (there are few newspaper ads these days) or be left to the whim of the occasional news story?

Bill Northrop, North Redington Beach

Don't like fliers and calls? Come up with better way

 Fliers, phone calls annoy, not inform, Diane Steinle column, Sept. 6, and Sept. 10 letters to the editor.

I challenge supporters of Steinle's opinion to define a better way for candidates to communicate with voters, especially voters like the Sept. 10 letter writer who chooses "to express my views by not showing up at the polls until this practice is reversed."

Is that a case of cutting off his nose to spite his face? Is his absence a display of ignorance, not rights? Is he willing to not complain when things go wrong because of his no-show?

I look forward to enlightening remarks and suggestions from Steinle and others who have the answers.

Joyce E. Martin, Clearwater

Voters are angry about candidates' numerous calls

 Fliers, phone calls annoy, not inform, Diane Steinle column, Sept. 6.

I agree. We are so tired of the phone calls. What can we do for November?

I worked as an inspector at the polls in Indian Rocks Beach. Ninety percent of the voters I registered were livid about the political phone calls and asked me what they could do. I had no answer.

Something has to be done. What are our rights? Being on the no-call list does not matter.

I want to call every candidate who called (half of whom I could not even understand, they talked so fast) and call them at dinner time, on Sunday, all day.

I am venting, and everyone is upset, no matter what party you belong to.

Nina Crawford, St. Pete Beach

Tax hearings make one ask if democracy still exists

My Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice stated times and places of hearings for officials to receive opinions from the general public prior to final action in setting the tax millage.

I attended both the Largo and the Pinellas County School Board hearings. At both meetings, the budgets and the minds of the majority of the members had already been set. At both meetings, we were told that we should have been there sooner.

The School Board meeting made one wonder if democracy still prevailed. No one was allowed to applaud, and police were called to ensure that all were kept in a subdued state.

Martha Gibson, Largo

YOUR VOICE COUNTS

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Letters should be brief and must include the writer's name, city of residence, mailing address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be printed.

[Last modified September 17, 2006, 06:56:39]