City accused of making abortion an election issue

I have discovered the holy grail of all political hot potatoes, a genuine case of abortion zoning, even proterrorist abortion zoning, in Buncombe County.

I always knew and warned that zoning must sooner or later interfere with abortion rights and thereby become a local policy and election issue, but only recently did I confirm that this has already happened, not only in Aurora, Ill., but right here in Asheville.†

I confirmed that about six years ago, shortly before I got involved in local politics, the Femcare abortion clinic requested permission from the City of Asheville to build a fence topped with razor wire for much-needed security.

The supposedly pro-choice City of Asheville denied Femcare their razor wire and to this day their fence on Orange Street lacks razor wire.

Femcare has since decided to avoid the zoning hot potato as they feel they have one already, but the continuing denial of razor wire to Femcare proves conclusively that choice is not the top priority of Asheville City Council, and that this has physical consequences making abortion a major, local election issue.†

In addition, choice clearly is not the top priority of Kucinich, Edwards or Obama either.

ALAN DITMORE
Leicester

†

Despite noise, pollution,
time to accept motorcycles

Recently, some of the letters traded back and forth (in the Asheville Citizen-Times) have been about motorcycles, usually noisy Harleys.

Some of the writers object to the noise, some claim the noise is a safety feature.

People need to understand that in todayís world of free-markets, anything that makes a profit is too wonderful for words.

Dealers make a respectable living selling† motorcycles ó also the add-on chrome trinkets; shops sell proper biker wear, helmets and related stuff, shops offer custom paint jobs; all the while we taxpayers fund the Asheville tourism office to entice anyone with money to spend ó to come, please, oh please, come to Asheville.

As Ashevilleís rush toward homogeneity proceeds, we will have to make way for tattoo places, homes on hillsides, traffic congestion and all the other joys of modernism.

Motorcycles are as normal as ants at a picnic and we might as well get used to them.

Itís true that in addition to polluting our air with noise, they are notorious for air pollution, but thatís what todayís economy costs and I for one am willing to live and let live ó or maybe go where there arenít any ants.

ALLEN THOMAS
Asheville

†

March of Dimes accused
of ëtapping caní for execs

Have you ever heard of the old phrase ìtapping the can?î

Imagine walking down the street, and someone asks you for some change for a needy cause. You give the person your money with the hope that it will do some good.

What you are unaware of is that this seemingly well-meaning person will tap the can, making you think that it is going in the can, but itís really going into their pocket.

This is symbolic of what many ìnon-profitî organizations do with your hard earned money.

There are numerous examples, but for now I will use the March of Dimes. The annual combined salaries of the top three officials of the March of Dimes is over $1 million! That is a small sum compared to the money that supports the pharmaceutical industry.

In 2002, they spent $27 million on animal experiments, such as turning primates into alcoholics, then forcing them to give birth so ìresearchersî can dissect their offspring.

This money could instead go directly to places like drug and alcohol recovery and prevention clinics, which could in large part prevent the birth defects. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, to use the clichÈ.

So, before you give away your money, ask the organization for their financial statement, and if they donít give it to you, hang up the phone.

Also, check www.pcrm.org for more information on charities which will use your money to directly benefit humans.

MARK CRIMAUDO
Candler

†

After anguish, reader finds hope in Ron Paulís platform

Like many Americans, I was feeling rather apathetic towards the presidential candidates and the same old tiresome message they tell us, year after year.

Not until a friend mentioned Ron Paul have I ever felt a feeling of excitement and true hope for our country.

Ron Paul is speaking the truth like no other candidate out there. He is a Republican Congressman from Texas, serving his 10th term. Do not worry, he is not your typical Republican, or for that matter, your typical politician.

In a nutshell, Ron Paul wants you to have more freedom, more of your own money, more liberty, and less government interference with your life.

He supports a much smaller federal government, more power to the states, adhering to the U.S. constitution, abolishing the Federal Reserve† ó which is not federal, but a private international banking empire, and it is 100 percent unconstitutional ó supporting our troops by bringing them home, and not just Iraq, but worldwide.

We do not need troops anywhere in the world, unless it is a real threat and Congress has constitutionally declared war.

As Ron Paul stated in the Columbia, S.C., debates, 9-11 happened because of our bad foreign policy measures in the Middle East. The terrorists did not come here because they hate our freedoms, they came here because we have been over there for years messing with their political and economic affairs, and if you mess long enough with someone, they are going to retaliate against you.

A few other points that separate Ron Paul from the pack are:
1) Stop unconstitutional spending leading us to bankruptcy;
2) Protect our privacy and stop the national ID card;
3) Protect our constitutional rights and end the Patriot Act;
4) Oppose trade deals and groups that threaten American Independence (GATT, NAFTA, WTO, etc.).

Ron Paul is a breath of fresh air. He is the best hope for the United States of America.
Please do your research and discover for yourself why Ron Paul is a seeker of truth, freedom and liberty.

If you see the light and want to be able to vote for Ron Paul, you have to vote in the Republican primary.

Greg Gillette
Asheville