Letter to the Editor:
There have always been moderate republicans in the communities where I have lived. Voters who prioritize fiscal demands over social issues; and want responsible spending and a vibrant economy first. They consider the federal debt dangerously high and want reform, seeking officials who can get reform done.
Yet, moderate Republicans may support gay rights, a woman's right to choose, climate change initiatives, and/or abolition of the death penalty. They are generally strong advocates of the right-to-privacy and skeptical of government abuse; are very patriotic and embrace the ideals of personal responsibility and individualism
Conservative Republicans believe in many of the above, are fiscally focused, but are typically more conservative on social issues. Either way, moderate and conservative Republicans are likely to seek/find common ground with Democrats. They are willing to negotiate and compromise.
Our present representatives to the House are extreme republicans. They want to get rid of public education, eliminate choice even in cases of rape and incest, take freedoms away from adult citizens, institute unfunded mandates while saying they are against them and/or undermine many of our public institutions.
They believe in imposing their ideology on everyone, which to many is a rejection of democracy. They are against big government but then accept significant federal funds for the purpose of creating public charter schools. (They have come to understand charter schools struggle to get started or last through their first couple of years without a big influx of public dollars.) Yet they reject other federal dollars, under an objection to big government. They direct public education dollars to private schools while dramatically underfunding public education.
One of the pillars of the extreme right is the methods they use to achieve their objectives/ideology. One of our representatives yells at, misrepresents and demeans his fellow representatives and constituents. While a common political strategy, he works behind the scene to put other extremists in every position he can influence including local, county and state government. Do the moderate and conservative Republicans really want extremists in positions of power throughout our government?
Where are Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro’s moderate and conservative Republicans? We need you as our candidates and representatives. Otherwise, more and more republicans and independents are going to have to take their vote elsewhere.
Karen Burnett-Kurie
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