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Recent election sent a message to the leftists

The off-year election of 2009 proved to be the greatest ever in the history of this federal republic.

The Obama administration insists that Virginia and New Jersey voters were merely concerned about unemployment. This is nothing but the usual leftist spin.

The administration spent trillions on worthless pork stimulus hoping to create new jobs, yet unemployment hovers at 10 percent.

This election was clearly a mandate message sent to the beltway establishment that Americans didn't vote change for more big-government spending. Voters are opposed to government-run health care and a takeover of the auto, banking and health care industries.

Voters sent a strong message and won't tolerate their future generations being strapped with monumental debt. They are also worried about taxation and a falling dollar.

New Jersey, a strong, very blue state with more than 60 percent Democratic voter registrations voted a large plurality for candidate Chris Christie. Northern Virginia, a Democratic stronghold, saw Loudoun, Fauquier and Fairfax counties voting for Bob McDonnell.

A previous Creigh Deeds/McDonnell attorney general race ended in a dead heat, unlike this one. This election was an outcry against change to far-leftist governing in the land.

Retail Alliance has proven itself useful

Imagine holiday shoppers entering stores only to find few items on the shelves and no one to wait on them. As strange as that may seem, it's a reality many small retailers face today. That's because banks continue to be tight-fisted with loans, and without them, most of these merchants cannot purchase inventory and hire seasonal employees.

Thanks to Sen. Mark Warner and the Retail Alliance, there is hope on the horizon. At the Alliance's request, Warner met with dozens of small businesses across Virginia. The result was a letter penned by Warner and 32 of his colleagues to President Obama asking that $40 billion of unused TARP funds be redirected to incentivize banks to make these crucial loans.

Small business is the backbone of the U.S. economy, and it will be small businesses that lead our nation back to prosperity. I am a proud member of the Retail Alliance, and in a very short time, it is quite apparent that this organization has provided needed tools for small businesses.

Radio Shack Dealer Retail Alliance Board Member

Disappointed by Boucher's health vote

As I watched C-SPAN after the health care vote, I noticed 39 Democrats voted Republican or against the bill. Appalling was the fact that Rick Boucher voted against the bill, which will affect how I vote in the next election.

Voters should demand more information

Herein I juxtapose quotations from two recent Dan Radmacher columns.

Deploring politicians' habit of disguising themselves and blurring their positions on issues, Radmacher wrote, "Voters deserve so much better than they are getting" ("Project Vote Smart tries to educate Virginia voters," Nov. 1).

Agree? Ah, but wait. On Nov. 8, commenting on the previous week's gubernatorial election -- in which one candidate offered an unworkable plan for transportation and the other barely defined his -- Radmacher wrote that this means traffic gridlock will continue to worsen for another four years ("Virginia voted for gridlock on Tuesday"). When that transpires, "just remember that this is what Virginians said they wanted on Tuesday."

The good-government types, bless their hearts, want voters to be better informed. The mass of voters, meantime, are not exactly clamoring for it. It has often been said that in a democracy, the people get the government they deserve. Politicians will be more frank with us only when we demand it. Until then, we will continue complaining about what we consistently bring upon ourselves.

Public places aren't

a trash disposal

It's a shame that some people feel like it is their right to dispose of litter wherever and whenever they please. Parks especially, but also other public places, are there to be enjoyed by all. When there is litter everywhere, the enjoyment is greatly diminished.

Why would people empty their car ashtray on the side of the road or in a park's parking lot? And why would they just drop drink containers, food wrappers, etc., out of car windows and next to picnic tables? Would they do the same in their own or a friend's yard?

Come on, people. Take your trash to the nearest bin to dispose of it. Public places are not yours alone, but belong to all of us. Please treat them accordingly.

Global warming isn't

caused by polluters

Re: "Inexcusable inaction on climate change," Nov. 9 editoral:

I just finished the book "Tall Trees, Tough Men," by Robert Pike. On page 2, he states: "Twenty-five thousand years ago, New England was covered by a glacier, a layer of ice 10,000 feet thick, that took its own good time -- for after all, time means nothing to a glacier -- in sliding southeastward into the Atlantic Ocean,"

Yes, this proves there is global warming. It has been going on for thousands of years. It was not caused by unchecked polluting industries and their supporters mentioned in your editorial.

We polluters were not available 25,000 years ago. Would you please explain the motivation for this editoral?

McDonnell brings

hope for change

Re: "Virginia voted for gridlock on Tuesday," Nov. 8 column:

I agree with Dan Radmacher on one thing. Virginia needs money for roads. I get it. He wants a higher gas tax in umpteen columns. A gas tax seems harmless until gas prices surge to $3 and $4.

The Roanoke Times has stated innumerable times that the last two favorite governors saved our credit rating and made Virginia the best-run state. For 10 months, The Times has told us to be patient and give hope and change a chance. A day after the election, The Times said it would give Gov.elect Bob McDonnell a chance. It's been a few days, and the trashing has begun.

I suggest our mean, old elected legislature raise taxes on paper, ink, newspapers and salaries of Times executives. As Radmacher astutely noted, we are in a national recession that includes Virginia. Virginians overwhelmingly elected a conservative governor who may even lower taxes and raise money like John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and, yes, George Bush did.

To Radmacher: Be patient. We have hope for change.