Today's Letters: Party change not supervisor's fault

Not smooth going for some voters Feb. 6, letter

When I am wrong I will be the first to admit it. In my letter to the editor I wrongly accused supervisor of elections Brian Corley of causing my party change from Republican to Democrat. To him and his staff I apologize.

I still am not sure what actually happened, however it most likely was wrongly changed when I changed my address at the driver's license office. After a conversation I had with Mr. Corley, and I realize that I should have called him directly to discuss this situation, I still don't understand why, after my change of address, I was sent a card representing me to be a registered Republican while the computer records show Democrat. I do still feel like there are problems, but I cast my frustration directly at Brian and his office and did not fully investigate before jumping to conclusions.

All I knew was to my knowledge, I have been a registered Republican for more than 21 years. I am not a flip-flopper and was in utter shock on voting day. I take my right and privilege to vote very serious and if I had been made aware of the party change I would have taken action immediately.

I would suggest to anyone voting, especially if you have changed your address or any other pertinent information, to check with the Supervisor of Elections Office to make sure you are registered the way you "think" you are. Errors happen. This error, however, did not happen in the Supervisor of Elections Office.

Virginia Stevans, New Port Richey

Testing 0.0 proved costly

In May 2007, I was stopped for speeding in Pasco County. Having consumed one O'Doul's in the presence of a companion, I submitted to what I thought was a cursory field test and then would be on my way. The state trooper had to know my age, 58, and the fact I had a spotless Class D license and no criminal history. I was completely sober and unimpaired.

I was cuffed and placed in the patrol car, under arrest for DUI. I demanded a Breathalyzer, blew 0.0 and was still arrested and booked. The results of the urine test wouldn't be back for months, but I still had to undergo the humiliation of it all and be the only sober, unimpaired (and bored) guy in the drunk tank. I began to wish I really was plastered or high, then I could have slept through it.

What I learned during the seven-month process is the reason for all the plea bargaining: An innocent verdict means no money for the criminal justice system. Pleading guilty, no contest or even innocent, as in my case, causes the cash register to ring all morning with a long list of fees and fines; nickle and diming people who must rely on a public defender out of hundreds of dollars. A real lawyer would have cost me $4,000 or more. Call it checkbook justice or legal extortion.

Before this bogus arrest, I used to brag that I had never spent a night in jail. Thanks to wrong-headed, over-zealous law enforcement, I can no longer make that modest claim. If I'm ever pulled over again and asked to get out of the car, I'm staying inside and locking the doors.

Edward M. Gleeson, New Port Richey

Science vs. religion is not the real issue Feb. 19, column

Skerritt careful not to offend

Andrew Skerritt's careful tiptoeing around the question of religious dogma versus scientific evidence is depressingly familiar. Like most columnists, he's anxious not to offend either camp, and thus, as a religious "moderate," represents those fence-sitters whom Sam Harris correctly condemns in his The End of Faith.

In one breath, Mr. Skerritt bemoans the dismal standing of American students in science, and in the next seems to recommend that creationist nonsense be taught in the classroom.

Francis Crick, co-discoverer of DNA, encapsulated correct thinking: "There are only molecules," he said. "Everything else is sociology."

Nick Hobart, New Port Richey

A hard look at your partner may save you from violenceFeb. 18, guest column

Why not pass out guns and film it?

On ESPN they often blank out kill shots on their hunting shows. The other night I watched an episode of Cold Case. Those folks think it was necessary to show a man beating a woman to death with a hammer. Every single blow.

Animal deaths are evidently more sensitive than human deaths. That show was followed by the new show with "rave reviews," Dexter. Evidently, some genius thinks we will like and watch a serial killer vigilante. Perhaps they are correct, because I read the show is already up for some major awards.

Is it any wonder we have violence on our campuses and elsewhere in the United States? Maybe the networks could pass out handguns and film the results. Someone would watch.

Folks like Mary Ann Peavler, guest columnist and domestic violence expert, don't have a chance against the networks. I am giving up CBS for Lent.

J. S. Smith, New Port Richey

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[Last modified February 20, 2008, 19:49:01]