Letters to editor, 11/15

GOP must take America in a better direction

As a teenage Republican, I was very happy with the 2014 midterm elections results. The Republican Party secured at least 52 Senate seats, expanded the majority in the House of Representatives to the largest margin since 1930, picked up an additional three governors' mansions, and captured the New York state Senate.

Now, the elections are behind us and it is time to govern. Republicans were elected across the nation, not only with a mandate to stop the liberal tax-and-spend Obama agenda, they were elected to lead. As Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, and presumptive Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have said, jobs and the economy must be the main focus. The authorization of the Keystone XL Pipeline should be passed, as it has bipartisan support, will drive down energy costs and create thousands of new good-paying jobs. The new Republican Congress should also move to repeal the medical device and estate taxes, pass a balanced budget amendment and reduce the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. This last measure will make the United States more competitive internationally and stop the outsourcing of American jobs to nations such as China.

The Republican Party owes it to the American people to take us in a new direction, to revive the American dream, not just run out the clock for the next two years. Republicans have the opportunity to hold President Barack Obama accountable and force his hand on meaningful and productive legislation that will benefit all Americans.

John Curzio II

Stormville

DOT must fix dangerous bridge interchange

The interchange at Route 44-55 and Route 9 at the Mid-Hudson Bridge is one of the most accident prone interchanges in Dutchess County. With the return of standard time and darkness, during rush hour it becomes even more problematic. Making things worse is the absence of street lighting at this interchange. The street lights have been out for more than a year. The New York state Department of Transportation needs to correct this problem.

Mark Jackson

Highland

Soccer players show great sportsmanship

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend my son's modified soccer game — Poughkeepsie vs. Rhinebeck at Krieger field in Poughkeepsie. It was a good game that ended up tied 2-2 with some very good soccer played on both sides.

The thing that impressed me most however was the sportsmanship and sense of team displayed. There were some collisions, as there often are in games at this level. On more than one occasion, I saw players on both sides offer their hands to help their opponents up. There were some minor injuries and as the injured player got up, the Poughkeepsie players were the first ones to clap showing that they were happy that the player was OK. As Poughkeepsie players were subbed out, the whole bench clapped for their players as they left the field.

It was good to see, and it seemed to me that the coaches were teaching their boys that there is more to sport than winning and scoring goals. The attitude with which you approach the game is also important. Lately it seems that there is a lot of bad news about sports at all levels, both on and off the field. I think this is a good example of the good things that come out of sports. The coaches should be proud of their boys, the boys should be proud of their coaches and we should be proud of both teams

Nice job Poughkeepsie! Nice job Rhinebeck!

Mark Long

Rhinebeck

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