Forum, Aug. 3: NH government back on a right-wing leash – Valley News

NH government is back on a right-wing leash

As reported in the Valley News, and as summarized in Forum letters by state Rep. Laurel Stavis (Surreal, vicious measures in NH budget, July 28) and Beth Dingman (A total lack of concern for fellow citizens, July 30), recent retrograde actions by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and the Republican-dominated Legislature reversing progressive legislation passed by prior Democratic administrations appear to mark the vampire-like return of departed former Gov. Mel Thomson and publisher William Loeb, who kept New Hampshire state government on a tight, right-wing leash for several decades.

As Stavis noted, certain rights and groups are particularly favored by the current administration and legislators, especially Second Amendment zealots, who have been given the right to wave arms in many venues, while the right to free speech and unimpeded inquiry is undermined and women are compelled to undergo needless medical tests. And in addition to promoting a specious vaccine freedom that will land more New Hampshire residents in ICUs, Gov. Sununu rashly ended the vital mask mandate rather prematurely it would seem, now that the full threat of the delta variant is evident.

The cited letter writers omitted mentioning several other recent Scrooge-like actions by the Republicans, such as severely curbing state spending on sewer renewal projects and other useful infrastructure, loading more costs on local taxpayers. Consequently, to offset this, and in the same spirit, I advocate that the investors who are going to receive the rare boon of being compensated by the state treasury (i.e., taxpayers) be obliged to accept state bonds, with the savings used to improve sewers, rather than pour money down them.

JERRY ROTH

Enfield

A new school year is just around the corner, despite the shadow of coronavirus variants rising in our nation. There is another shadow hanging over the dedicated teachers of New Hampshire: The law regarding the propagation of divisive topics.

Really? At a time when public education is challenged economically and by a national pandemic, our teachers are forced to look over their shoulders when conducting their duties to educate our children because our politicians feel compelled to restrict what issues can be taught? Perhaps parents whose tax dollars are being used to support a watered-down education for their children might consider suing the state for its failure to provide a full and complete education for the dollars they are spending.

If we feel it is important for our youth to gain sound, comprehensive knowledge of our history, learn skills of understanding and managing their lives within the society they live and be equipped to compete in the business of the future, then our teachers need to be free to do the best possible job in their chosen profession. Having politicians dictate the depth and length of social issues that can and cannot be taught in our publicly funded educational institutions just will not, in my opinion, pass the litmus test for sound educational practices.

I want our educators in New Hampshire and all states to encourage and promote students to learn and grow beyond their abilities so that they are more suited to deal with the life they will face as adults. When the state says that teachers cannot do their jobs as educators, then we dont get our tax moneys worth, and our children will be participating in a fully dumbed-down educational system.

I hope students leave their education with a full toolbox of knowledge and skills for good and health-filled lives, both physically and mentally. New Hampshires divisive topics law robs our children of that gift in their learning experience.

Act to get your moneys worth for your children.

ROBERT KEENE

Hanover

It may be that the word systemic is losing its power through overuse, but I know no better term when trying to address the whole of this planet. Lets first consider the trivial case of the July 24 dust devil that interrupted a soccer match in Bolivia. Scale that up to the transcontinental smoke blown from the Western wildfires, darkening lungs back East. Were also beset by the coronavirus and its variants. Id let that burn itself out, being a single vector affecting very few species, primarily a deniers disease. Whatve we got to lose?

Regardless, could the commonality be that its just something in the air? Or could it be others who are to blame? If youre a Trumpist, the other could be Rep. Liz Cheney; if a historic separatist, the Church of Englands your foil; for rocks, theres hard places. Our ecologic situations bad enough, but politically it seems each party is more interested in obstructing the progress of the others than the needs of constituents.

A system is a network of nodes. In this model, the nodes are us and them, interwoven by our actions, fortunes, talents, shortcomings, ecosystem and governments, etc. When a change occurs, the signal reverberates across the system, downstream nodes reacting in accordance with their resonance, sometimes setting up feedback loops for the good or detriment of the system.

In the beginning, alls quiet. A cosmic strings plucked, delivering musica universalis. Chemical reactions aggregated into flora and fauna, in step with the law of the jungle. Paradise was then lost by a clever band of self-important naked apes, and the urgent need to act as good stewards now rapidly approaches the point of no return, negative feedback loops ever accelerating the speed and intensity of our ruin. This monkey business must stop!

In a parallel universe, the Union lost the War Between the States. Further, both sides agendas are realized: The Norths fully vaccinated populus has a 100% green economy, Miltons Paradise is recovered. And Atlas? Un-shrugged. One wonders the Alt-Confederacys fate.

KEVIN McEVOY LEVERET

White River Junction

I was surprised that Forum contributors Pam and Steve Skillman were triggered by recent Miss Manners columns, due to the advice being so outdated (Miss Manners advice seems out of touch, July 30). To trigger someone means to remind of past trauma, causing an intense emotional or physical reaction. And shes such a polite person! I remembered reading the column about accepting dinner invitations from single older men, read it again, and realized that these Gentle Readers hadnt understood what Miss Manners was saying at all. Oh dear.

Seeking to clarify this communication failure for myself, I found this quote from Emily Post: But etiquette also expresses something more, something we call the principles of etiquette. Those are consideration, respect, and honesty. These principles are the three qualities that stand behind all the manners we have.

Good to remember! With these principles, our manners are likely to stand the test of time, in all sorts of relationships and situations. Just ask yourself if you are acting with consideration, respect and honesty. Some things never go out of style.

GRETCHEN GRANER

South Strafford

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Forum, Aug. 3: NH government back on a right-wing leash - Valley News