Letters to the Editor
surprised
Published Letters: 146 Editor's Choice: 20
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Maybe not WVA, but some other states are in play
[Read the article: Can Barack Obama win West Virginia?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Obama may not win West Virginia or Kentucky or Tennessee this November, as has been suggested previously, but he has a good shot at taking Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska and even Alaska. Obama is very strong in the midwest, Rockies and West Coast, in a way that might seem foreign to the West Virginians quoted in this article.
What I see here is the start of a new Democratic coalition. Those who still pine for the days when blacks stayed in the back of the bus and those who are resentful of Obama for being "arrogant" (translation: uppity) represent the past; the huge crowds of supporters in the western states, including the many Republicans who have enthusiastically changed their party registration, represent the future.
P.S. - anyone who thinks Obama won't win handily in Oregon has probably not spent much time in Oregon.
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Employers, unions love women in the trades
[Read the article: Rosie the Six-Figure-Earning Mechanic]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In western Canada especially but also elsewhere, there's a growing shortage of skilled tradespeople and an aggressive effort to recruit women (and minorities and the college-educated and other underrepresented groups) into the skilled trades. There are actually organizations called "Women in Trades" and "Women in Construction" that help women get training and jobs. (I suggest that interested people Google those organizations in their own states or provinces.) Construction unions are thrilled to have women in their ranks because each additional woman helps their efforts to recruit from a relatively untapped demographic group. Instructors and employers are thrilled to have women on the job sites, they will tell you, many women are especially good at the fine-motor skills needed for such jobs as welding and electricial wiring.
Some of the advantages to working in the skilled trades are, besides the fact that employers and co-workers really, really want you: free on-the-job training, union benefits and good wages right off the bat. And many people like the idea that when the workday's over, it's over, and you have a feeling of accomplishment because you can see the physical fruits of your labor.
Some of the disadvantages that might apply to women: there's not much part-time work available, overtime may be necessary and often, travel is involved. These factors can make the work-family balance difficult for women who are primary caregivers for their children.
Otherwise, the trades are in no way unfeminine, contrary to stereotypes perpetrated by a few ignorant people, such as the writer of a previous letter. Women I know who work in construction say sexism has been absolutely no problem for them.
Also, on the college/trades question, it's not necessarily an either/or. The trades have become increasingly technical, and a bachelor's degree or above can be quite advantageous to a trades career. There are even degree programs for construction management and construction engineering. And when all else fails, think of Tom and Ray, the MIT graduate Car Talk guys!
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A new low in analysis
[Read the article: A new low in Clinton bashing]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Geeze!
Sen. Clinton said something inappropriate. People were offended or, in the case of a few (rural, white, "hard-working," btw) not-too-political people I talked to, quite freaked out and creeped out. The RFK assassination flashback is a bad, bad, horrible memory for many people, but she's the one who dredged it up (and not for the first time). So she's the one who needs to take responsibility for dredging it up, no matter how innocently, not the people who had negative reactions. When you're in a position of leadership, that's what you do -- take responsibility -- and you understand that what you say carries weight. Putting this on the shoulders of the offended and/or freaked/creeped out and criticizing them for "Clinton bashing"? Talk about chutzpah!
Yes, both candidates have had slips of the tongue -- as to be expected in such a long race -- but I've noticed that Obama, when he says something that offends or upsets someone ("sweetie," "bitter") takes responsbility and doesn't try to blame the person who is offended or upset.
That is something that helped turn me from an early Hillary supporter into a now-firm Obama supporter.
That and self discipline. Obama has it. He shows repeatedly that he has it. The Clintons, for all their strengths, do not.
I'm no Hillary hater. I respect her and think she's been a capable senator. Being a senator isn't chopped liver, after all. And I remain, despite all, fond of her husband and respectful of his role as elder statesmen. It's just that the Clinton presidential era is over. Times change, and their time has passed.
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Obama-Sebelius/McCain-Palin
[Read the article: Still waiting for Madam President ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Amity - you almost had me there! I DID almost believe the internet doom-and-gloomers instead of my own lyin' eyes. Be careful with that sarcasm! ;) But my hat's off to you.
What if the race winds up as Obama-Sebelius vs. McCain-Palin, as could well be the case? What will the doomsayers say then?
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How about studying the plague of cactusism?
[Read the article: Ferraro wants study on sexism, racism in campaign]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Many years ago, my personal choice for president, Bruce Babbitt, did not win the Democratic nomination.
And earlier than that, one of my personal heroes, Mo Udall, didn't win the Democratic nomination, either.
How unfair! Clearly, somebody is biased against Arizonans!
This is surely a subject worthy of study because we now have another Arizonan trying to break through that cactus wall. Will the cactusists show their terrible bias yet again???
(disclaimer - this is a joke, before anyone gets too wound up.)
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Who says it's an either/or?
[Read the article: The mother-daughter wars]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]An interesting article. My sympathies are with Rebecca, I have to admit.
But I do have to take issue with the idea, mostly presented in some of these letters, that motherhood completely kills any chance of contributing to the world or creative greatness.
You CAN successfully balance motherhood or fatherhood with a career, if not perfectly, fairly adequately, and guess what? The vast majority of people do.
I especially object to the idea that motherhood is inconsistent with being a writer. Erma Bombeck was a pretty successful writer, if I recall (and an inspiration to many of today's newspaper columnists).