Political pumping

It is expected but still strange how politicians always write how much good they have done for their districts during an election year. U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards’ newsletters tout how much good he has done for our economy, health care, national defense, tax relief and more.

The truth is he has voted with Nancy Pelosi and the liberals in Congress 99 percent of the time. If he has done so much good for his district, why is our economy in such a mess? Why are our taxes so high? Why does the new health care bill contain dictatorial socialist demands with threats of fines if we don’t do what Chet’s government says?

We need new leadership in Congress, folks. Not in two more years but this coming November election.

Norm Gowens

Waco

Electing incumbents

Regarding a recent story in the paper about incumbents who might be worried about people voting against them just because they are incumbents: It is not a question of incumbency, it is a question of competency.

We have some good incumbents on the ballot this fall in John Segrest, Bill Helton, Jim Dunnam and Chet Edwards. These men have served their districts and the public as well or better than anyone can ask. They do their jobs with honor and courage. To vote against them because they are incumbents is short sighted. We are smarter than that.

If a person is doing a bad job, then vote them out. But just because we disagree with an office-holder on one issue does not make him or her a bad office-holder unless that disagreement is a fundamental statement of ability.

This brings us to our bad current office holders. Jim Lewis has been the county judge for a long time but he still does not govern based on what is good for the community and the taxpayer. He pushed for a new jail at the expense of the taxpayer. We will be saddled with this hugely bad idea for the next 25 years.

Another bad incumbent is state Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson. He continually is in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service. Granted, it wasn’t his taxes, it was improper withholding of taxes from his employees’ paychecks that got him into trouble. Nevertheless, that is bad management, and we cannot expect him to manage Texas well if he cannot even manage his business well.

David Gray

Waco

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Come November, if you’re an incumbent, you may be in trouble. We the people have had enough “change.”

Let’s get back to dollars and sense.

Frank Smith

Clifton

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An Aug. 28 letter by Willie and Beulah Howard raised a question about Gov. Rick Perry living in a $10,000-per-month home in Austin paid by taxpayers. The last sentence of the letter read: “Who gave him permission to move into this place and what can we do to stop this?”

The answer to that question seems obvious: In November, we the voters can vote Mr. Perry out of office.

Vote for Bill White for governor of Texas.

Glinda Jones

Waco