Melvin A. Benarde of Princeton
After 45 years of driving around New Jersey, I was ticketed for a moving violation as I slowly turned left off Route 206 into the Montgomery Shopping Center. Believing there was ample reason to appeal this expensive fine, I opted for what I assumed would be a municipal court appearance where I would have an opportunity to offer my understanding of events. My re-education began as justice and revelation unfolded simultaneously.
From other ticket holders, I quickly learned that court costs would be added to my $85 fine. To one of the police officers there, I naively ventured, “Would court costs apply if my case is dismissed?” His response was swift and direct: “Forget dismissal, there is no such thing here. If you want to plead not guilty, get a lawyer and go to trial.”
Wow! My lofty idea of standing before a judge and presenting my side as I knew it evaporated as the morning dew. Simple: “Pay-up, you’re guilty.” My options were also simple: Stick around and pay $85 plus $40 in court costs, or pay $85 and beat a hasty retreat. Either way I’d acknowledge guilt. Their cash cow was not to be toyed with.
Justice, for most of us, implies even-handedness, fairness, and equality, which had yet to make an appearance. Here, it also requires lawyers to accompany us to court, which means hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket, win or lose. But without a lawyer, it’s automatic guilt.
Was justice served by paying the fine? I’d like to believe there’s wide agreement that something’s wrong with this scenario. Why am I left with the annoying notion that power trumps justice?
Melvin A. Benarde
Princeton
Let’s not travel
the road of Greece
To the editor:
Maybe it would be helpful to think of oneself in an automobile that is headed near the edge of a cliff, and the driver is not steering the car. If there was another person in the front seat, capable of steering the car back onto the road, most of us, if we were in the back seat wouldn’t remotely consider the political affiliation of the person in the passenger seat, who could steer the car back onto the road.
That’s about where we are as a nation. We have seen the future, and it is Greece. Greek federal government insolvent, no market for government bonds, and public employees demonstrating in the streets. Greece is only slightly ahead of us. The world is recognizing that the financial condition in the US has moved us in exactly the same direction that the government in Greece choose.
The 12th Congressional District in Mercer County has been represented for a decade, by a bright man, who is quite likable. However, he has supported the very measures that have pointed our nation over the same cliff that brought down Greece.
Please forget about party preferences in the past, and help put the hands of Scott Sipprelle on the wheel in the upcoming congressional election.
William Stephenson
Princeton
Stop the spending,
vote for Sipprelle
To the editor:
In the minute it takes you to read this, the U.S. government will go another $3.4 million in debt. It is happening every minute of every hour of every day — $1.8 trillion of new debt this year alone. If you believe this is a sound policy, then re-elect the congressman that voted for this debt in the first place.
On the other hand, if you think that increasing the size of the federal government by 11 percent in the last year was the wrong thing to do, if you think that the “Health Care Bill” is an unprecedented intrusion into the way you live your life or if you think the trillion dollar “Stimulus Bill” was an ineffective and counterproductive use of your money, fire the politicians that voted for it. If you think increasing the federal debt to levels that would make Greece blush is insane, change the makeup of Congress.
Our current congressman voted for all of the above. We have a choice to make: career politician or businessman? Career politician or citizen representative? Protector of the bureaucrats or protector of the Constitution? I think the choice is clear. Scott Sipprelle offers an alternative to the tax, borrow and spend policies currently in force in Washington. Rush Holt offers more of the same. This coming election is your chance to stop the spending and the incredible intrusions into your life that have passed Congress in the last 18 months. Visit Mr. sipprelle’s website, www.supportscott2010.com, to read his solutions to what are mainly government caused problems. You owe it to your kids and grandkids.
Jack A Frohbieter
Cranbury
