This election fills me with such deep-seated, mind-numbing dread as to wonder if our fellow Americans are capable of self-governing. Are the people’s fears and passions so effortlessly manipulated as to kill their common sense?
I hate writing like this, because I am one who does not think the sky is falling. I have never been scared, only hopeful of all that our democracy has brought and has yet to bring. But I am worried now!
I am worried that self-governance is being put in harm’s way by campaigns that have taken the crudest of tactics, put them on steroids, and are in the process of carpet-bombing their way into the presidency.
This election we need more smart voters than ignorant ones. The only way to do that is get voters to look at the facts, the truth, to look at VoteSmart.org. Voters willing to be moved by fear and bombast are a threat to us all. That is why I ask every voter to please consider using Vote Smart. It is an organization begun by Presidents Carter and Ford that has attracted thousands of young students and staff to do background checks on every presidential, congressional, gubernatorial and state legislative candidate on the ballot this Nov. 8.
If you want to know how they have voted, what they have said, who gives them money, their education and background, issue positions, even the ratings they have received from special interests, you will find it as easy as typing in the name of the candidate you’re interested in or selecting the subject you are curious about.
Do not go to the ballot box angry or scared. Use VoteSmart.org or just call 888-votesmart and talk to one of the student researchers who will give you facts on any candidate of interest and on any issue of concern.
E.D.M. Landman Post Mills
In his recent Forum letter on climate change, (“Climate Change Is Not No. 1 Issue,” Aug. 15), John E. Yocum states, “physical chemists tell us that the ability of CO2 to cause incremental warming decreases as concentrations increase, since it obeys a logarithmic relationship.”
As a physical chemist with roughly 50 years experience and research in the way light and molecules interact, I must point out that this statement is not true. The interactions between light and various atmospheric gases is complicated, but very well understood. The climate consequences (the greenhouse effect, as it is often called) involve the interrelated effects of atmospheric composition, temperature and density with altitude and the corresponding water vapor (“humidity”) concentration changes. Gaseous water is also an important greenhouse gas, as are several other molecules, such as methane and air conditioning refrigerants.
Nevertheless, these complicated interactions are well understood and predictable. Adding more of any these greenhouse gases to the atmosphere will surely increase the surface temperature of the Earth. We must agree to reduce the amount of all of these gases that are released into the air. Some, such as methane and carbon dioxide, are remarkably stable and long-lived. Others, such as air conditioner refrigerants, can be designed to have properties that will reduce their atmospheric lifetimes. But we cannot safely ignore any of them.
These statements are independent of whether one is a climate change adherent or denier. They are facts. The consequences of these facts are the result of many interacting phenomena, and our ability to predict these consequences is improving constantly.
It is the job of an informed citizenry to weigh these consequences against the economic and societal impact they have and to act accordingly. But make no mistake: action is called for.
John S. Winn Hanover
The writer is a professor of chemistry at Dartmouth College.
Congratulations are in order to Noah Crane and his family for bringing the Nighthawks to the Upper Valley and allowing talented ballplayers to showcase their skills at a very enjoyable ballpark and at extremely reasonable ticket prices. Also deserving a note of thanks are the ballplayers and coaching staff, the host families and the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to put on an packed schedule of ball games in July and August.
A person deserving of a special thank you is Josh Weinreb, the Valley News sports reporter who comprehensively wrote about the Nighthawks from the preseason through their last game. Weinreb did a great job of not only presenting reports on each game but providing insights into the players and the tremendous job Noah Crane did in bringing baseball to the Upper Valley.
Albert J. Cirone Jr.Lebanon
I would like to add more to the history of the Fullington Farm. Two more children grew up on the farm as well. I, Joan Fullington Dexter, am the oldest. My brother Ronald also grew up there. He passed away suddenly in 2007.
Ronald and I knew that the house would be torn down at some time. Ron and I, along with our cousin Alan, contributed a lot of history on two occasions to Dartmouth students who were writing about the farm as part of their studies.
I cannot say enough about growing up and working on our farm, when we were old enough. This helped us learn how to work, about the good life, and how to be successful people in our chosen professions.
I am not sad about the house being torn down. It served four generations of Fullingtons, with many memories.
Good job, old house.
Joan Fullington Dexter Littleton, N.H.
Day after day a litany of anti-Trump commentary appears on these pages. It appears that the best argument for voting for Hillary Clinton is that she’s not Trump. That’s the same Hillary Clinton whose track record with the truth is shameful, having lied about, among other things, being subjected to sniper fire, being named after Sir Edmund Hillary, and the video that allegedly spawned the Benghazi terrorist attack.
Whole books have been written that chronicle her lack of truthfulness. These are not baseless allegations. They are real, documented and serious.
As first lady she recommended Lani Guinier, Web Hubbell, Zoe Baird, Kimba Wood and Janet Reno, among others. Bill Clinton withdrew Guinier’s nomination to a Justice Department job after her controversial writings gained national attention. Baird and Wood were withdrawn from consideration after it was learned that they were employing illegal aliens. Hubbell ended up in jail. Of Janet Reno, Bill Clinton would later say that she was the worst mistake he ever made. Clearly, Hillary’s batting average with recommending her friends is pitiful. Can we have any confidence that she will surround herself with competent staff?
Remember that Hillary Clinton’s old friend Sandy Berger removed classified documents from the National Archives. Remember Travelgate? Filegate? As secretary of state she risked compromising national security with her private email server.
At this point what difference does it make? All the difference in the world. I don’t particularly like Donald Trump, but his real-world track record includes hundreds of successful enterprises and four bankruptcies, a high success rate. Successful businessmen become and remain successful in part by surrounding themselves with smart, capable people. Thus we can expect Trump to do as much as our nation’s chief executive.
In my view there’s a case to be made for holding your nose and voting for Trump. There is no substantive case to be made for Clinton.
Dick Tracy Sharon
In 1948, the first year I voted, television was still in its infancy. News was delivered basically by either newspaper or radio. Magazines were usually printed monthly and had minimal effects on elections. Papers such as TheNew York Times, Chicago Tribune and The Washington Post gave the latest news on the presidential candidates. Reporters were respected and appreciated by the public regardless of their political affiliation.
In the past 68 years I have never heard a candidate call reporters “the lowest forms of life.” It seems if you speak or write the truth about “The Donald,” you become persona non grata. Strange though, Fox News with Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity are Trump’s favorites. I wonder why? Come November, let’s do Trump a favor — fire him.
Sol Cohen Enfield