Category: <span>Opinions & Commentary</span>

Published September 17, 2011 by

Let Him Die – Really?

Killing Healthcare
Killing Healthcare

It was just last year that we as a nation had a vicious and bitter “debate,” more properly called a descent into insanity, over whether we should have some semblance of pretending to create a national health care policy.  I did my part in debating the position of sanity and compassion in the reader’s comments section of our local rag, now called “Inside NOVA.com.”  What I remember most from this experience was just how vicious and selfishly mean the Republican side of the argument was.

Continue…Let Him Die – Really?

Opinions & Commentary

medical care Politics Republicans

Published December 19, 2010 by

The Never-Ending War on Christmas

So who’s winning the War on Christmas?

Snowmen Nativity
Snowmen Nativity

Once again Christmas time is approaching.  Houses in our neighborhood are all decked out in colorful lights with inflatable ornaments sitting out on snow-covered lawns.  The stores are full of holiday shoppers making retailers smile while dreaming of big holiday bonuses like kids wishing for candy-apple treats.  Our TV screens are aglow with the many incarnations of Santa Claus telling the viewers in TV land just how great of a gift their trinket would be for that special someone.

So who’s winning the War on Christmas?

Continue…The Never-Ending War on Christmas

Opinions & Commentary

Christmas Holiday Spirit

Published December 4, 2010 by

Letters to the Airlines

Angry Airplane
Angry Airplane

In my continuing Don Quixote-style quest against the dysfunctional, authoritarian, over-reaching and civil liberties-free government agency sadly mis-named the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), I have written some letters.  No, I didn’t write to my congressman.  No, I didn’t write to either of my senators.  I also didn’t write to the head of the TSA, nor to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  I also didn’t write to the President (I figured he was a little busy trying not to get rolled by the minority Republican Party).  I wrote to the real power behind the transportation industry in this Country.

I wrote letters to the airlines.

Continue…Letters to the Airlines

Opinions & Commentary

Airlines travel TSA

Published November 26, 2010 by

A Paper Tiger

Scanned Airline Traveler
Scanned Airline Traveler

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the current hot topic of “enhanced pat downs” our Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has recently started.  Even more, I’ve been thinking about how few people in our country actually seem to care that a government agency has taken it upon themselves, without any debate by elected officials or discussion within the public arena, to grope people using the legal justification that “probable cause” consists of attempting to board a commercial aircraft after legally purchasing a ticket.  For the sake of national security and keeping us all safe from bad guys.

Continue…A Paper Tiger

Opinions & Commentary

Airlines National Defense Security Traveling TSA

Published November 3, 2010 by

Dear Mr. President

Flying Mail Icon
Flying Mail

Dear Mr. President,

I wanted to write you a letter, and decided that posting an open letter on this website had just as much of a chance of being read by you as if I handwrote a personal note on perfume-scented vellum and mailed it directly to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in a big red-white-blue striped envelope with a large lollipop taped to it.

So here goes. My open letter to you sir, the President of these United States.

Continue…Dear Mr. President

Opinions & Commentary

Letters Political Commentary President

Published November 1, 2010 by

A Halloween Lovecraft Fright Night

Opinions & Commentary

H.P. Lovecraft Halloween Politics Republicans

Published November 28, 2009 by

About Taxes

Letters To The Editor
Letters To The Editor

I wrote this column in August, with the intention of submitting it as freelance to our local newspaper “InsideNoVA.com.”  I never submitted it, as a result of my previous submission on the immigration resolution not being published.  Perhaps I should have anyway, but I can also use the excuse that Winnie and I were just too busy in the final throes of rebuilding our second property.

So, for your reading pleasure, the first time in publication ever, you can read my thoughts on taxes.

Continue…About Taxes

Opinions & Commentary

Letters To The Editor Politics Potomac News Taxes

Published November 25, 2009 by

Eighty Percent OK With Discrimination

Letters To The Editor
Letters To The Editor

Awhile back, I submitted a column to our local newspaper, now named “InsideNoVa.com,” formerly “The Potomac News.”  My column submission was triggered by a report that about 80 percent of Prince William County were “OK” with the way our police department were handling the anti-Hispanic immigration resolution passed by our Board of County Supervisors back in 2007.

I was deeply offended by this information, and submitted my column.

Continue…Eighty Percent OK With Discrimination

Opinions & Commentary

immigration Letters To The Editor LTE Potomac News racism

Published February 9, 2009 by

Changing the Tone of Discussion

Letters To The Editor
Letters To The Editor

Back on December 28, 2008, I had my latest letter to the editor (LTE) published in our local newspaper the Potomac News.  This letter was a rebuttal and answer to our local columnist James Simpson.  Mr. Simpson subsequently promised a rebuttal to my answer, and this week he did just that.

Not much of a surprise there, but what did pleasantly surprise me was his tone.  He actually wrote a respectful response laying out his opinions without any hint of mocking me.

Continue…Changing the Tone of Discussion

Opinions & Commentary

James Simpson Letters To The Editor LTE Politics Potomac News

Published January 1, 2009 by

Charest Answers James Simpson

Letters To The Editor
Letters To The Editor

After a long pause from writing Letters to the Editor (LTE) I jumped back into the fray last week.  The occasion of my return to poking local conservatives was being directly challenged by a local columnist.  It seems even my on-line comments are enough to annoy our conservative writers.

Continue…Charest Answers James Simpson

Opinions & Commentary

James Simpson Letters To The Editor LTF Politics Potomac News