West Newsmagazine 2/10/16

4 I OPINION I
February 10, 2016
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Thanks for the memories
To the Editor:
On Friday, Jan. 29, my dad and I had
the good fortune to win tickets to hear Dr.
Charles Krauthammer speak at the Educational
Policy Conference. What a thrill it
was to listen to this amazing man! My dad
and I have been fans of Dr. Krauthammer
for many years.
Dr. Krauthammer spoke mainly on
our current political climate and touched
briefly on foreign affairs. We were riveted
to every word! Dr. Krauthammer delivered
his remarks with insight, knowledge, and
humor. He is an inspirational and humble
person.
Dad and I never miss him on “Special
Report” [Fox News], and love his books
even though Newsweek reported that “his
latest book is flying off the shelves and no
one knows why.”
No matter which side of the political
aisle you fall on, we all can learn something
from Dr. Krauthammer.
It was a thrill to hear him speak in
person, and not something I will soon
forget. Thank you, West Newsmagazine,
for this amazing opportunity!
Jenny Nelson
Eliminating the VA
doctor shortage
To the Editor:
The Veterans Administration has
resumed advertising for doctors and nurses.
They claim they have an acute shortage of
doctors, hence the long wait before veterans
get to be treated. They offer anyone
who qualifies, all the government benefits
that are available to federal employees.
I have a suggestion for the Veterans
Administration.
When the military academies need to fill
their classrooms, the local Unites States
senators scan the local high schools for
select seniors that may be willing to attend
one of the academies. The graduate and
his or her parents are interviewed by the
senator. If they pass muster then the graduate
is offered an appointment to one of the
academies.
He or she receives an excellent education,
creates a great resume, graduates as
an officer and, in return, agrees to devote
five years in the military.
Why not offer the same deal to college
graduates that wish to go to medical
school? The offer may have to be tweaked
a bit, but the results could alleviate the
doctor shortages at the VA hospitals.
Some may even make a career of the
military.
Aim Calzone
Make your voice be heard
To the Editor:
Twenty-six candidates from at least three
parties are vying for the job of president of
the United States. Few Missouri voters are
aware of the process change in the Republican
Party. This year the presidential primary
determines Missouri delegates to the
national convention.
Four years ago the state’s presidential
primary was simply a beauty contest – a
straw vote, meaningless in terms of choosing
a candidate for the general election.
Rick Santorum received 55 percent of the
votes while Mitt Romney got 25 percent.
But through the caucus method of picking
representatives for the national convention,
Missouri sent mostly Romney delegates to
Miami and he became the party’s standardbearer.
This year the rules are different. The
March 15 presidential primary drives the
selection of delegates. If one of the GOP
candidates receives 51 percent or more of
the votes, that person gets all Missouri delegates
going to Cleveland in July.
If no one gets more than 50 percent, the
candidate who receives the most votes in
each of the state’s eight congressional districts
captures delegates who are formally
named at the congressional district conventions
on April 30.
At the state convention in Branson,
May 20-21, participants will choose 52
delegates to attend the national meeting.
Assuming no one got 51 percent or more
of the votes on March 15, they will be
pledged [at least on the first ballot] to support
the candidates who won the various
districts. Delegates from Branson will be
picked proportionally. For example if one
candidate wins four districts, another wins
three, and a third wins one, the first gets 26
delegates [half of 52], the second 19 and
the third seven.
A candidate needs 1,236 votes in Cleveland
to nab the nomination.
Here’s the rub: Only 8 percent of the
state’s registered voters turned out for all
parties in the presidential primary in 2012.
If that percentage stays about the same this
March that means a mere fraction of voters
will choose the Republican whom Missouri
supports at the national convention.
Yes, caucuses will be held throughout
the state on April 9 but they will not influence
delegate selection. That decision will
have already been made.
So remember:
• Be sure to vote March 15. It’s not a
straw vote. It’s for real and it will count.
• Unless you are registered by Feb. 17
you will have no say in picking this year’s
GOP candidate.
• Vote in all elections this year. On April
5 the municipal election will determine
mayors, city aldermen and school board
members as well as bond issues. In the
Aug. 2 primary, political parties will
choose their candidates for the general
election on Nov. 8.
Voting is essential to the well-being of
a constitutional republic, but before you
go to the polls inform yourself fully about
candidates and issues.
Norman Baxter
In support of Thomas Sowell
To the Editor:
I would like to voice my support for
Thomas Sowell’s editorials. He is a breath
of fresh air and common sense that has
been lost in today’s news world. It has been
measured 100 different ways that the main
stream media is overwhelmingly liberal
and in lock-step with the liberal Democrat
party. When was the last time you saw an
article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about
Hillary’s email scandal? It doesn’t exist,
because they ignore and, therefore, cover
for the corrupt liberal politicians they side
with.
I thought liberals were supposed to be all
inclusive and compassionate? Here again
they are trying to shut down any opinion
that is different than theirs. I would suggest
they read articles from both sides and
form their own opinions.
I, for one, applaud West Newsmagazine
for having Thomas Sowell as the feature
editorial.
Steve Sullivan
Want to express your opinion?
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