Again on my nightly news feed there was horrifying news of the tragedy in Ukraine
More civilians and children killed, to say nothing of tens of thousands of civilians displaced and more faultless Ukrainian soldiers killed and wounded
Essentially, all of the Western “leaders” have failed to learn from history that delusional dictators must be confronted and defeated at the outset of evil aggression. It seems the “West” is willing to sacrifice the Ukrainian victims on the altar of weakness.
The abject failure begins with failure to demonstrate adequate moral outrage
It continues with the delusional concept that Putin can be deterred by economic sanctions that do not cause him personal pain. He has proven that the death of perhaps 50,000 of his own troops (so far) is of no concern and the impending impoverishment of the Russian people is a worthwhile tradeoff to him. And this does not ascribe to him directly impending starvation of many people due to the cutoff of grain supplies in the near east and eastern Africa.
Our “leaders” have failed to provide us with moral and national leadership and unfortunately there appears to only be more abject failure resulting in more death and destruction
Pity the Ukrainian people.
Paul Tierney
Norwich
Croydon candidate seeks common ground
Hello, I’m Hope Damon. I’m running for state rep in Sullivan District 8 which has 2 seats to represent Acworth, Claremont, Croydon, Goshen, Langdon, Lempster, Springfield, Sunapee and Washington. I have lived in Croydon for 36 years. My husband George Chait and I raised our now-grown daughters here.
We need people in Concord who find common ground. My career as a dietitian and small business owner developed my listening, negotiation, motivational and business skills and my ability to work with a wide variety of people. I am the granddaughter of a suffragette and daughter of a history teacher. I will use that history and energy to promote voter participation: Every vote makes a difference.
I will fight for increased state funding for quality public education, which reduces local property taxes. Croydon nearly lost our public school this spring when the budget was slashed by 53%. I am a leader in the nonpartisan, collaborative group StandUpForCroydon. Our nonpartisan efforts fully restored the school budget by a 377-2 vote! We registered 75 new voters during our campaign, in a town of less than 800 people. I
I will advocate relentlessly for women’s rights and maintaining our access to safe, affordable health care including reproductive rights. The Supreme Court has left it to state legislatures to protect the rights and freedoms of all people: Your rights are on the ballot this November! I am a board member and grants co-chair of the NH Women’s Foundation, a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit that works to improve the lives of women and girls through research, education, advocacy, philanthropy and grantmaking.
I am a successful small business woman because I am kind, determined, hardworking, energetic and occasionally funny. I will represent you in Concord with a fair, smart, honest voice and the drive to make life better for ordinary folks. Please reach out to me with your thoughts and concerns, Hope@HopeforNH.com. I need your support to be a voice for us in Concord: donate at HopeforNH.Com/donate and sign up to volunteer on my website HopeforNH.com. Follow me on www.facebood.com/HopeforNH8
Hope Damon
Croydon
It’s either inflation
or recession
It looks like the Federal Reserve Board will choose to stop high inflation with large interest rate hikes that will help those already with much wealth in our country. (After all, we don’t want them to lose any of it.) This will undoubtedly be the choice, even though it will probably lead to a recession, which will have a negative impact especially on the middle and lower socio-economic classes. And this choice will be consistent with one of the two goals mandated by the Fed legislation, i.e., prevent high inflation. This legislation is also consistent with ongoing “structured inequality” in our nation. In other words, “the wealthy always come out on top.”
Philip Eller
Norwich
Balint has the values and experience
Vermont is fortunate to have some strong candidates competing in the Democratic primary for U.S. Congress. In these troubled times, it is imperative that we elect a representative with progressive views along with the skills to be influential and effective.
I believe one candidate is clearly the best choice: Becca Bailint. Becca has a brilliant academic background. She has served eight years in the Vermont senate, quickly rising to leadership positions. She will bring to the U.S. House a strong voice for progressive ideals combined with the comprehensive understanding of the legislative process necessary to be effective.
In my estimation, the other candidates are not as strong. Molly Gray is a lawyer with one year’s experience as lieutenant governor and no legislative experience. Louis Meyers has no experience in elected office and is unlikely to be an influential representative.
There are three candidates for the Democratic nomination. All have progressive positions on the important issues, but one stands out with the experience and skills to get things done: Becca Ballint.
David Allen
White River Junction
Dental services
failed for a reason
Regarding your article about dental services, I’d like to share my experience (“Another dentist’s services yanked: Mascoma health center leaves another gap in care,” July 17). I was recommended to the Mascoma Community Health Center dental division, by a provider in Woodstock. Frequently, people cross the border for services that they can’t find in Vermont and vice versa. I was so excited about the affordability, the credit that they had for this new program, the facility, the staffing. The first appointment went really well. Follow up appointments continue to decline. While the front desk staff was great, my experience with the internal staff was not. Initially the dentist was phenomenal. He left for some reason. He also suggested that I go to Costa Rica on a dental vacation because that would be cheaper! I should have listened.
The second dentist and team were not acceptable in my opinion. They went from a model where affordability was the primary source, to elevating the cost once you got in the chair. I had gone in during the pandemic and the two individuals in the dental department failed to do a thing about a dental emergency with pain other than take an x-ray. I got a regular appointment. They had already told me how much it would cost so I was prepared for that. The second I got in the chair the hygienist said, “Oh don’t we need to take another x-ray?” I left. I never had the appointment. You don’t spring another $200 charge on a $700 estimate, and expect that the individual is going to be able to afford to pay that when it is a program for low-income New Englanders!
So the foretelling of the demise is really the fault of the dentist in my opinion. Perhaps they didn’t get the memo that this was a low income customer base. While it is unfortunate that this facility is not capable of offering that service.
Mary Cain
Windsor