Letters to Editor

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: October 28, 2016

This letter was published in the Suburban Trends, 1027/2016

Allow me to respond to two letters which appeared in the Suburban Trends on Oct. 12, 2016. First, we had a letter by a writer who usually goes on an anti-Japanese rant every December on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, even though World War II ended over 70 years ago.

This time around the writer attacked athletes like Colin Kaepernick who didn’t stand for the national anthem at recent football games. The writer equates patriotism with blind nationalism evidently, which are two different things entirely. I wonder if all the "Fox News Conservatives" out there realize America didn’t have a national anthem until the 1930s or that the tune to which the anthem’s lyrics are set to is actually an old English drinking song.

Details: Written by: Erol Sirimoglu; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: October 19, 2016

Originally Published in The Record, October 18, 2016

Regarding "A meeting of the minds at freeholder forum" (The Record, Oct. 14, 2016):

At the Bergen County freeholders candidates forum last week there were seven candidates: six "Republicans: and one Libertarian.

Details: Written by: Mike Mazzeo; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: October 02, 2016

Published in The Record

I have been reading the many less-than-positive things people have to say about Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for this election.

It seems the majority of people find both to be a "hold your nose" choice. Their aim seems to be to keep the other from winning the election.

Details: Written by: Michael Chazukow; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: July 01, 2016

Published in Suburban Trends, June 30, 2016

Dear Editor,

Over 80 percent of the town has not voted for town council yet, but 12.5 percent of the vote is enough to guarantee that one of these men will sit on the town council next year. This is because there are two seats available on the town council and these men will only face one opponent in the general election: Me.

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: June 27, 2016

Published in Suburban Trends, June 26, 2016

Dear Editor:

Will people in the journalism field such as your writer Holly Stewart ever take a consistent stand on behalf of individual liberty and the Bill of Rights? If her op-ed of June 15th is any clue, I guess the answer would be no. It almost seems that the politicians and the media mouthpieces look forward to mass shootings to crank up the "gun control is needed more now than ever" machine.

The sad events in Orlando, Fla., are reported to create the idea that if you’re supportive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community you must be anti-gun and if you’re for the Second Amendment than you must be a "hate-filled homophobe." This is how the media frames the debate; alternative viewpoints generally get ignored.

For example did you know that there is a pro-gun group in the LGBT community known as The Pink Pistols (pinkpistols.org)?

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: June 07, 2016

Published in The Record, June 6, 2016

Regarding "Libertarians could hurt candidate, but whom?" (Other Views, June 1):

The Op-Ed article by Bloomberg News Columnist Albert Hunt stated "there probably wouldn't be much support for Libertarians among Latinos and African-Americans…"

What a patronizing and misguided statement. Is Hunt suggesting that individual liberty has no appeal to minority voters? Racial and ethnic minorities have to deal with government interference in their lives on a daily basis just like everyone else and perhaps more so.

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: April 21, 2016

Published in Suburban Trends, April 11, 2016

In your paper's "Our View" editorial on April 3, you quote Benjamin Franklin at the end of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, in which he stated when asked what kind of government had been formed he replied "A Republic, if you can keep it." The problem with your quote is in the question that was asked of Franklin; the question was not whether we had a republic or a monarchy but rather whether or not we had a republic or a democracy.

No doubt it was an innocent oversight by your editorial staff but many times the question is misquoted on purpose so that the resistance to democracy by the founders is hidden from the American people.

It wasn't just Benjamin Franklin who warned against the dangers of democracy (which is unbridled majority rule with no restraints on government power; whatever the mob wants it gets).

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: April 20, 2016

Published in The Record, April 20, 2016

Dear Editor:

Regarding "Kerry's visit to Hiroshima" (The Record Your Views, April 16, Bob Nesoff):

As a Libertarian defender of individual rights on all issues, I'm not a big defender of President Obama (any more than I was of George W. Bush). Democrats and Republicans both follow the establishment line on foreign policy, which is never-ending global intervention.

However, the recent visit of Secretary of State John Kerry to Hiroshima has come under fire by some, including a recent letter to the editor.

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: February 12, 2016

Published in Suburban Trends, Feb. 10, 2016

Dear Editor:

In a recent letter (Suburban Trends Jan. 31), it was suggested that the idea of self-ownership or individual sovereignty over one’s person is somehow a "flawed" belief. The writer was arguing from a theological standpoint based on her faith.

My question to her would be, how do you intend to implement your beliefs without using the power of the state to impose your faith and values on people who don’t necessarily agree with your beliefs?

I have long argued that religious "social conservatives" have a hostility to the ideals of individual liberty that is just as authoritarian as the anti-liberty beliefs of the "liberal progressive secular humanist" types who want to micromanage your life for you. Despite the seeming hostility between these two groups, they have much in common.

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: December 17, 2015

Published in Suburban Trends, Dec. 16, 2015

In your December 9, "Our View" editorial ("Our Take On Guns"), you state that you desire a discussion and debate on what the Second Amendment means.

I'm going to surprise you and your readers by saying the Second Amendment does not give you the right to own a firearm; in fact the entire Bill of Rights gives no rights whatsoever! If there was no Constitution and Bill of Rights, you would still have all the rights you possess by virtue of the fact that you exist as an individual human being.

Our individual liberties come from our humanity, as so eloquently stated by Judge Andrew Napolitano. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights only guarantee and protect those rights from government infringement; the don't grant them.

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: December 07, 2015

Published in the Bergen Record, December 5, 2015

Regarding "Religion used to hide bigotry" (Your Views, Nov. 28) and "Why a friend is suing me: the Arlene's Flowers story" (Other Views, Nov. 25):

I would say the letter writer is hiding his own bigotry towards the concepts of individual freedom of choice and the right of freedom of association.

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: July 07, 2015

Dear Editor:

At the outset of this letter, let me make clear that as a Libertarian individualist and activist that I am not really enamored of any flag. They are all symbols of nationalism and statism, both of which are collectivist philosophies and ideologies that believe the individual should be subordinate to the so-called "greater good."

Having said this, let me also make clear that the current frenzy over the Confederate battle flag (erroneously referred to by many as the "Stars and Bars," which was the flag of the Confederate government) shows that the "politically correct" liberal crowd is just as intolerant and hateful as the people they claim to be against!

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: May 01, 2015

Originally published in Suburban Trends

Once again government goes too far

Dear Editor:

Much has been in the news recently about the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana and also in Arkansas. Sadly, all sides in this debate focus on the wrong issues.

We already have a Religious Freedom Act – it’s called the First Amendment to the Constitution! The real issue is property rights and the right of individual business owners to choose their customers – bringing religion into this debate only clouds the issue.

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: March 03, 2015

DEAR EDITOR:

I would like to respond to two letters that appeared in the Suburban Trends on Feb. 14.

First the letter by Bill Weightman of Hardyston, advocating more taxpayer funding of the arts here in New Jersey. Government (at any level, even local) should not be taking money from one group (taxpayers) and redistributing it to special interest groups such as those who claim to be promoting the "arts."

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: February 15, 2015

On February 1, a letter appeared in ~~your~~ [The Suburban Trends] claiming that "conservative and libertarian voters" were advocates of voter ID laws. I can't speak for conservatives, but I'd like to know the writer's source of information that led him to think that we Libertarians support more voter ID laws.

As a point of fact, Libertarians have been in the forefront of making it easier to vote by our opposition to ballot access laws that make it difficult for all third parties and independents to get on the ballot as an alternative to the Republican and Democrat duopoly in American politics.

Details: Written by: Steven Uccio; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: September 02, 2014

Steven Uccio

Steven Uccio of East Windsor is a Libertarian candidate for Mercer County Freeholder. This letter to the editor appeared in The Times of Trenton.

While our property taxes and debt climb, the Mercer County freeholders are focused on other things. What could be more important than making living here more affordable? Plastic shopping bags and new taxes.

Our freeholders want to levy a 5-cent per bag tax on each plastic shopping bag used here in Mercer County. First, I consider it a waste of time, when there are more important things to be done. Second, let the actual stores worry about their shopping bags. The freeholders should mind their own business; the stores can charge a fee if they deem it necessary. Most grocery stores already sell reusable shopping bags and some offer a discount to those who use them. I've never seen any reason that the county government had to step in.

Details: Written by: Jim Tosone; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: August 20, 2014

Among the many advantages the Republicans and Democrats have conferred upon themselves is their privileged position on the voting ballot. The establishment political parties are guaranteed the first two columns on every ballot. The other political parties, such as the Libertarian Party, are then put in lottery drawing for columns three and above.

According to state election law, the Republicans and Democrats lose their special columns on the left of the ballot if neither can "poll" at least 10 percent of the votes cast in the previous Assembly election. In 2014 only 8 percent of eligible New Jersey voters participated in one of the two taxpayer-funded primaries. Some 10 percent of 3.7 million votes is 370,000. The law is clear. Neither party even came close.

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: August 18, 2014

A recent letter to the Suburban Trends expressed outrage that some business groups take their holdings offshore to avoid U.S. taxes.

The writer shows a complete ignorance of economics and a hostility to private business.

Business and industry flee America because of the anti-free market environment they have to deal with thanks to the politicians and unelected bureaucrats. No business leader in their right mind would want to set up shop where they will be penalized for being productive.

Details: Written by: Mark Richards; Category: Letters to Editor; Created: June 04, 2014

Dear Editor:

As I write this, another Memorial Day has come and gone and the politicians and their media allies have mouthed the usual high-sounding platitudes about the "service" and "sacrifice" of our armed forces. Nice, lofty sounding stuff but sadly it is a blatant lie! There is an old saying that "Truth is the first casualty in war."

For nearly a century now, the globalists and other assorted international interventionists have lied, tricked, and maneuvered us into two world wars plus a seemingly never-ending string of unconstitutional, undeclared "no-win" police-action "interventions" around the world.

Our so-called leaders don’t’ give a damn about our armed forces; they view them as expendable, cheap "cannon-fodder" to be used to prop up foreign regimes around the world that we happen to be allied with at any given moment. Our veterans have been lied to; they have fought, bled, and died for nothing and no one seems to want to "rock the boat" and point this out to the American people.

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