This page was last updated on October 8, 2014.
‘Penny poll’ issues backed by McClelland; Geraldine DeSena; Beaver County Times; October 8, 2014.
The only DeSena letter of which I’m aware is “Don’t let racism win on Election Day.”
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“In the past 3-4 years, I have volunteered at Ambridge Nationality Days and Big Knob Fair for Beaver County Peace Links. One of the activities that we ask the public to do is what is called a ‘Penny Poll.’”
[RWC] Beaver County Peace Links (BCPL) is a leftist group mostly or completely run by the management of Beaver County Reds (BCR). BCPL is more about pushing leftism than peace. When in a critique I referred to BCPL as a “wholly-owned subsidiary” of BCR, Carl Davidson (a BCR manager) commented, “Not quite. The two groups overlap, but they are not the same. The bank accounts are also separate and independent.” Accepting Mr. Davidson’s assertion, “interlocking directorate” may be a better way to describe the relationships of the BCR-related groups.
“In this activity individuals can ‘vote’ by the use of pennies for the topics most important to them that they would like the federal government to fund. The issues that typically get the most votes are education, health care and veterans benefits.”
[RWC] Knowing BCPL and BCR, “health care” means a nationalized healthcare system. Why should the taxpayers of any government level fund “health care?” This is a personal responsibility. Do I believe people who need help because of unforeseen circumstances should get it? Of course, but via private charities funded by voluntary contributions. We don’t know how BCPL presented this issue to “voters.”
Why should federal taxpayers fund education? The Constitution doesn’t grant the federal government any responsibility for education.
Of the three items, the only one federal taxpayers should fund is “veterans benefits.”
“In the next election we have an opportunity to vote for a member of Congress in the 12th District who actually values these same concerns and proposes to work to make sure these get attention and action. Her name is Erin McClelland. It will be refreshing and vital to have someone in Congress that is responsive to you and me.”
[RWC] Note Ms. DeSena equates “valu[ing] these same concerns” with believing the federal government should pay for them.
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