WHO IS THIS GUY? (Letter to the Independent Coast Observer)

Wow.  Who is this Jim Littlejohn guy?  Judging by the torrent of sarcasm and scorn generated by his recent contributions to The Fence Post, he must be some kind of racist, right-wing lunatic in hiding, or – at the very least – a sloppy, retired bureaucrat taken to writing crazy letters as a hobby.   

That’s hardly the Jim I know.  I’ve found that some of the most accomplished citizens of the coast are loathe to advertise achievements of their past and reluctant to take a public stand on current events.  So let me tell you about the person accused of “scamming us” with whatever “nutso arguments” pop into his “misguided brain.”  

Jim’s work in the federal civil rights arena cut across political administrations and spanned the liberal/conservative spectrum, from Johnson to Nixon to Carter to Reagan to Bush to Clinton.  Over his 28-year career he championed causes that included school desegregation, gender equity issues, and equal educational opportunities for Blacks, Hispanics, other national origin minorities, students with limited English proficiency and disabilities.  Among his many awards are a coveted Presidential Award (Bush I) and an Al Gore Vice Presidential Award (Clinton II).  Many innovative investigative procedures, remedies, policies and programs he developed are still currently in use.

That’s the “energized kooky conservative” whose words resonate with this voter.  

At last – someone with the guts to present facts seldom acknowledged by the “progressives” in this cloistered community who profess to represent the will of the majority.  

A September 21 Reuters/Ipsos poll reported that sixty-one percent of US voters believe our country is on the wrong track, and that these figures have held steady since February.   Now THAT sounds like a majority to me.

Concerned Coastal Voters?  Count me in, Jim.

Linda Clyne

MEG AND CARLY (Letter to the Independent Coast Observer)

California is blessed this year with two outstanding women running for statewide office on the Republican ticket: Meg Whitman for Governor and Carly Fiorina for U.S. Senator.  

Whitman, a welcome contrast to the “re-tread” lifetime politician put forth by Democrats, has the business acumen, successful real-world experience, and political courage to deal substantively with our ailing economy and steep 12.3% unemployment rate. Whitman has extensive private sector experience and she is credited with EBay’s astounding success. 

Whitman seeks the same success for the Golden State and its people. Her overarching priority is to reinvigorate California’s economy and create long-term fiscal stability. To achieve this, she will concentrate on three important goals: help employers create two million new jobs by 2015; rid our state government of waste, duplication and inefficiency; and fix our failing schools and restore our children’s opportunities to climb the economic ladder. Find her “on-the-record” positions on other issues at megwhitman.com.

Carly Fiorina, the highly successful former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, is also a breath of fresh air compared to her Democrat opponent. A true fiscal conservative, Fiorina’s stated focus is to restore sustainable economic growth by lowering taxes, fighting for every job, and incentivizing innovation.

Economic growth, she says, “…starts with unleashing talents and energies of California’s workers, small-business owners, innovators and entrepreneurs.”  And she is clear about how government can best serve these entrepreneurial energies:  “. . .  by staying out of the way and reducing uncertainty that is inevitably caused by intrusive and over reaching government regulatory policies.” Check for more specifics on Carly’s positions at carlyforcalifornia.com.

We need leaders like these two successful women who have the business experience and proven ability to revitalize our economy. Meg and Carly are exemplary candidates who will make a difference for Californians.  Vote in November.

Jim Littlejohn

TRANSFORM AMERICA? (Letter to the Independent Coast Observer)

We live in the greatest country that civilization has ever known, and we are the freest, most prosperous, generous, and innovative people who’ve ever lived on this planet. That’s due in no small part to the genius of our founders and to our continuous striving to use our freedom as a catalyst for improving life for everyone. During the twentieth century American health care eliminated most of the deadly diseases that had scourged mankind since the beginning of time. Today, that system routinely provides low-cost vaccinations and treatments for most ailments. These treatments were unimaginable 100 years ago. In recent decades we have developed medical techniques that have essentially turned old age into middle age.

Our soldiers and military and civilian leaders have stepped up time and again to defeat militant ideologies that threatened to blanket entire nations with despotism. We have used our legal and political systems to roll back discriminatory laws and practices and to open new doors of opportunity for every American citizen. Millions of Americans have moved out of poverty and ignorance through hard work, personal sacrifice, and individual responsibility. Our nation is not perfect, but we examine our faults openly and take careful, deliberate actions to correct them, without destroying the essence of our greatness. We need leaders who understand this special country and the daily gifts that it gives to its citizens and to the rest of the world.

We were clearly told what to expect, but some of us weren’t listening. “We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” (Barrack Obama, Oct. 31, 2008) The hubris of that statement and the attitude/belief system that caused it to be uttered sent a chill up my spine. It still does.

People are listening now, and acting. Vote in November.

Jim Littlejohn