LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 01/30

From the Jan. 30 edition of the Register-News.

By:
Is the committee

working together?

   I read in a newspaper article that Mansfield Township Mayor Art Puglia called the residents of Mansfield who gave their opinion about twice-a-week trash pickup a bunch of crybabies.
   He said that he was acting professionally, but I think calling taxpayers crybabies was very unprofessional.
   Over the years I have voted for Republicans, Democrats and Independents. In years past, I know that they haven’t always gotten along, but I believe that most of them tried to work together to do what’s best for the township.
   Mr. Puglia, Mr. (Patrick) DeLorenzo and Mr. (Charles) Schubert have showed no desire to try to work with Mr. Stupienski and Mr. Shea.
   At the meeting, all the residents who spoke except one was in favor of once-a-week trash pickup.
   Last year when some residents said they wanted twice-a-week trash pickup, Mr. Stupienski and Mr. Shea listened to the residents and added trash pickup during the summer months.
   They offered to do the same this Year, plus add two more weeks of service in the summer, but it fell on deaf ears by the other committeemen.
   I know that most of the residents liked how it worked out last year. I don’t believe Mr. Puglia, Mr. DeLorenzo and Mr. Schubert are acting fiscally responsible to the residents.
   Gov. McGreevey has stated that the state aid to the municipalities and schools is going to stay the same this year as last year. Everyone knows our school taxes are going to have to go up again.
   The township has to spend $65,000 to buy wetlands for road improvements and are talking about $25,000 for a new phone system.
   And next year, they have to again contribute to the state’s pension plan for their employees which they haven’t had to do since 1997.
   This is the year that everyone has to tighten their belts and not waste it on year-round twice-a-week trash pickup.
   Next, they are trying to find out if the contract for the clerk/administrator is valid. Where I work at the administrator makes $92,000 and the clerk makes $76,000. I believe Ms. Snyder makes around $60,000 for doing both jobs.
   I would say we have a great bargain in having Ms. Snyder. She has always acted very professional and respectful to the residents.
   Mr. DeLorenzo wants to make major changes to the recreation committee. This is his first year on that committee.
   The biggest change that I have a problem with is that he wants to limit who plays for the recreation teams up to the eighth grade, but now the program includes ninth-graders also.
   To be honest with you, I would like to see the recreation program expand to include kids up to the 12th grade.
   Most kids don’t make the high school teams. We need to give our youth something to do so they don’t get in trouble or get into drugs. The kids are our future leaders and let’s show them that we really care about them.
Dave Skorny

Mansfield Township

Paine never held

his pen or tongue

To the editor:
   
Jan. 29 was Thomas Paine’s 266th birthday. In Bordentown, we honor Mr. Paine with a statue entitled, "Father of the American Revolution."
   We recognize that this man did more for the cause of freedom than any of the other men known as the "Founding Fathers." However, Thomas Paine was so much more than that. He was a true citizen of the world forever working for peace, justice, and humanity.
   In 1775 he was the first writer in America to publicly speak out against slavery and was a founder in the first abolitionist society. He wrote for the rights of women and about expanding the voting rights for all citizens. He believed in the abolishment of the death penalty. He wrote against monarchy, tyranny, and religious intolerance.
   In 1777, he was the first to use the term, "United States of America" and in 1800, he called for the creation of an international association of nations (what is today the United Nations).
   Thomas Paine was one of the greatest political philosophers of enlightenment and he was the best-selling author in the 18th century. He was one of the most important figures of not only American history but of world history.
   Why then is it that we know so little about his writings and his philosophy?
   One reason is that Paine was constantly speaking out against injustice and corruption, regardless of where they were found. Whether those traits were found among elected officials, wealthy businessmen, landowners or monarchs, Paine never held back his pen or his tongue.
   Here is an excerpt from a letter he wrote on April 23, 1803 from Bordentown:
   "There are in the United States, and particularly in the Middle States, several religious sects, whose leading moral principle is PEACE. It is, therefore, impossible that such persons, consistently with the dictates of that principle, can vote for an Administration that is clamorous for war. When moral principles, rather than persons, are candidates for power, to vote is to perform a moral duty, and not to vote is to neglect a duty.
   "That persons who are hunting after places, offices and contracts, should be advocates for war, taxes and extravagance, is not to be wondered at; but that so large a portion of the people who had nothing to depend upon but their industry, and no other public prospect but that of paying taxes, and bearing the burden, should be advocates for the same measures, is a thoughtlessness not easily accounted for. But reason is recovering her empire, and the fog of delusion is clearing away."
   Perhaps it is not so amazing that Paine has been obscured from history or denigrated to a mere "pamphleteer." To read more of the writings of Thomas Paine, visit www.thomaspaine.org.
Jim Downey

Bordentown City