Letters

Letters to the editor, Nov. 20

TBO.com
Published: November 19, 2011

Defining natural born citizen

On Nov. 11, Dallas Dunlap used quotes from U.S. Supreme Court cases and the U.S. Code to try to define "natural born citizen," but nothing in his quotes specifically defines "natural born citizen," only "citizen."

Did he leave something out? What is important is the definition as understood by the framers of the Constitution, since eligibility requirements for the office of president, concerning birth, have not yet been amended.

The 14th Amendment changed citizenship qualifications, but does not define, or even mention, "natural born," only "citizen." "Naturalization" is the process that allows aliens, or non-citizens, to become citizens.

Any U.S. Supreme Court opinion or a law that does not conform to the Constitution should be considered null and void and of no force. Changes to the Constitution that alter original meanings are to be made through the amendment process described in Article V. Dunlap appears to have above average research skills.

Maybe he can find the definition of "natural born citizen" in the documents leading up to the 14th Amendment. Or maybe he can find a documented consensus among the framers of the Constitution, concerning the definition of "natural born citizen," that includes the offspring of aliens.

Pat Miketinac

Brooksville

Respect President Obama

I am tried of the President Obama bashing in your newspaper by people that do not do their homework, like Mr. Pallot.

He writes a lot of junk to your newspaper and your newspaper goes right along with his bashing.

I thought the news and what you write about is edited, at least when I write something for your paper it has been edited, most of the time.

When is your newspaper going to respect the office of president of this United States?

I was always taught in school to respect my elders and to refer to them as Mr. and Mrs. when speaking or addressing them, and to also respect the president by using his name, President Obama. I am not seeing the people who work for you doing that all the time when using his name.

It does not matter, whatever the party it is, that is holding that office. He is the president and he or she, who ever it may be, should be addressed as such each time his or her name is printed.

Please show a little respect for the office of the presidency and not who is occupying it, and address that person by the word president first before their name.

Gary Marion Merrell

Mercer

Just the facts

The 47th week of 2011 is destined to be one of the most tragic periods in Hernando County history.

On Nov. 15, the county commissioners admitted once and for all that in their minds they should be given white Eldorado convertibles, unfortunately the commissioners should be renamed Roscoe. They openly, for the record stated that the only people that count are builders.

Here are the facts:

On Nov. 1, the commissioners instructed land services to present an ordinance reducing the residential fees to 1999 levels and eliminating fees for existing commercial over 5 years old to $0.

On Nov. 13, the public notice of the agenda for the Nov. 15 regular meeting of the county commissioners is published with Item H stating, "Ordinance Implementing Impact Fee Rate Reduction Effective Through Dec. 1, 2012."

On Nov. 15, the ordinance is presented as requested, Commissioner Dukes objects and wants fees reduced to $0. Commissioner Druzbick states, "The builders ask us for …"

A line of builders state how eliminating fees will revive an industry. One builder even stated, "there are two contracts ready to sign based on today's outcome."

Were the contracts based on reducing fees to 1999 levels, or did he know they would go to $0?

Were the contracts real and signed?

Why didn't commissioners say, "We are going to 1999 levels and you as a builder can absorb the rest."

Is the vote legal since there was no ordinance presented as advertised?

Just to make sure that the non-builders of Hernando County fully understand the rules of Hazzard County, the economic workshop on Nov. 17 was at the Association of Realtors office.

This county commission proves once and for all, "You get what you pay for."

Richard Ross

Brooksville