YOUR COMMENTS

We need none of the above boxes on ballots. If a none of the above box obtains more votes than a sitting Alderman gets in the primary election, the sitting Alderman who received fewer votes than none of the above should not be allowed to participate in the general election. This rule should apply to sitting Mayor, sitting Aldermen At Large, and sitting School Board members as well.

The voters in a Ward should have the ability to fire (recall) their Alderman whenever they want. An Alderman who is fired should not be allowed to participate in a special election to fill the position and should not be allowed to participate in the next Aldermen general election. Manchester's voters should also be able to fire the Mayor, Aldermen At Large, and School Board members whenever they want.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH

Bob Tarr of Manchester, I know about what is reported here about Manchester. I don't see it as relevant to my argument. I used to vote Republican until I looked to see what actually occurred when these people said all these wonderful things about low taxes, small government, low debt, independence, government service and on and on. They are wonderful things to say but when you elect these people they go out and accomplish the opposite. A major reason that the economy of the state is in the toilet is that even money promised by the federal government to offset local losses is being withheld. Where is the fun in unfunded? Our wallets are being sucked dry by Republican wars, greed, no-bid contracts, Halliburton, Kellogg Brown and Root etc. We have Republican tax cutters here in Deerfield and I am yet to see any cuts just talk.
- William, Deerfield

Most people are missing the point on this. This is not an issue of democrat, republican or independant. There were enough signatures for this to be put on a ballot. Let the people make a decision. Anyone would agree that the few should not be making the decisions for the many. Thats why we vote. If you do not like it vote no. If you do vote yes. The key here is we should not have our ability to vote to be in question.
- Wayne, Merrimack

To William of Deerfield. In our city of Manchester, we have a board majority of Democrats. And yes, they spend more and tax more than the Republican counterpart. In your comments you blame Republicans. Well to place ALL Republicans in one group is misleading the public. Not all republicans are like that. Many, like myself are not the "Wolf in sheep's clothing" or in other words, "Democrats in Republican clothing". This country needs to ask the candidates at all levels seeking office where they stand. Ask for honesty and truth in their opinions on topics that matter to you, the voter. That is the only way we can get back to the principals of smaller government, less infringement on personal freedoms and less taxes or fees. Come out and vote on Sept. 9th and November 4th. Vote on your beliefs and those seeking office who do as well.

Robert "Bob" Tarr
Candidate for State Representative
District 12, Ward 5 Manchester, NH
- Robert M Tarr, Manchester

The union Leader pretty much just said that anyone running on a fiscal conservative platform are phonies and can't be trusted.
- Tim, Manchester

Fiscal conservatives have learned the hard way that, from a spending perspective there is little difference between Democrats and Republicans. Some still don’t know this, but these are the same people who believe a thief is not robbing them because as that thief is removing items from their home the thief keeps saying “I am NOT robbing you.” Listen to the talk, but one must watch the actions. Most in both parties will spend all they can. The only major differences between the two with regard to spending are: whether or not you or your children will pay the bill, and to a lesser extent, on what they spend the money.

This situation exists primarily due to voters not selecting candidates that do (not just say) what the voters want. If this was not the case, Ron Paul, Libertarians and other candidates would receive more votes. As a population we keep voting for the people who don’t, and have not in the past, do what we want. Is this due to the voters’ ignorance of the actions of their elected officials? What else could it really be? Blind party loyalty?

Spending caps and other inferior solutions are required due to voters’ lack of responsibility. If they won’t get involved by writing or calling their representatives, they must at least know what their representatives are doing, and vote accordingly come re-election or when electing them to another position. This is the root of the problem. Spending caps are a patch, not a fix.

Stop voting for marketing and start voting for a behavior.
- Peter Sorrentino, Manchester

Strangely enough though, those who provide bigger government, huge federal deficits, more wars are, wait for it, Republicans. All this promising. Look at the actual statistics. The economy grows faster with Dems in the White House, the Federal deficit which grows on average $130 billion a year with Republicans in the White House grows only $30 billion with Democrats. The Dow goes up an average of 16% with Dems, 0% with Republicans. Tax cuts make up only 10% of the amount lost which otherwise might be spent on bridges, dikes, employment training etc. Does this kind of trickle down economics work? Absolutely. When there are huge federal deficits, more and more expense is shifted off onto middleclass in the states with unfunded mandates
- William, Deerfield

The people of any town, city, county, state or nation need a legal process by which they can control elected officials and legislation between elections.

For controlling elected officials and legislation between elections the people of New Hampshire need (A) Citizen Petition Initiatives/CPIs and (B) Legislative Referendums/LRs.

By Citizen Initiative Petitions NH voters can create proposals for new laws/policies, changes in on laws/policies, repeals of old laws/policies, repeals/removals from office of elected and appointed officials/employees, and constitutional amendments, present petitions for voter signatures, and present valid petitions to the NH Sec'y of State, after which the proposals would be presented to the voters in general elections or in special elections as directed by the petition proposal, and if the voters vote for the proposal, then neither the Governor nor the General Assembly/Legislature can veto it and the proposal goes into immediate implementation, subject only to review by the State Supreme Court.

The Legislative Referendums are to be proposals for new laws/polices, etc., created by legislators and presented to NH voters in general or special elections, such laws/policies going into implementation w/out possibility of veto by the Governor or modification by the General Assembly/Legislature.

BY CPIs/LRs NH voters can control NH laws/policies and thereby control NH Governors and Legislators between elections, and get done what has to be done but which has not been done or otherwise would not be done inre difficult choices inre decisions inre abortions, education funding, the State Budget, etc.

Therefore, NH voters need CPIs and LRs.

Other states have them, and have benefitted by them. Why don't we here in NH have them? Why don't we here in NH benefit from them?
- Bob Kroepel, New Durham