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Safety first, do not call second

Published/Last Modified on Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 - 06:18:51 am MST

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Cheer: Bike safety event

We want to applaud the Kiwanis Club of Sierra Vista and Rotary West for hosting a bicycle safety rodeo in Sierra Vista’s Veterans’ Memorial Park today.

The event is an effort to teach children and their parents bicycle safety skills, as well as make sure all know the rules and that kids make sure they have a helmet.

Today’s event can reinforce this information, and we hope local residents will take advantage of the opportunity to teach their children.

Jeer: Governor on who should vote in primary

Gov. Janet Napolitano had a lot of views after the hectic day at the polls in Arizona on Super Tuesday.

Today, we focus on her view on letting independents vote, something that didn’t occur on Tuesday. Only registered Democrats and Republicans were allowed to vote, and even though this was well publicized, some independents showed up at the polls to vote. Only they couldn’t, and this is different from what will occur in the September primaries. Some voters were frustrated enough to make their views known with election officials.

Napolitano said she favors letting independents vote in a presidential primary. She feels this way after the problems on Tuesday.

Well, we don’t agree.

The reason people register with a certain political party is because they believe their ideals or top issues align with those of that party.

Independents are registered as such because they don’t feel linked to a party.

The selection process for president is one that parties go through. They’re choosing the person who will represent their party in the general election in November. They’re choosing who they should put their state’s delegates with. This is a process for those registered with a party, not those outside of a party.

And that could be a rule for the September primaries as well. Maybe it’s time that open primary rule changes. That, in turn, might help eliminate confusion and leave the selection process to the party members.

Cheer: Do Not Call list

This week, Congress was working to make the national “do not call” list permanent.

We, like probably many of you, hope they do.

The Do Not Call Registry, which was started in 2003, has had some 150 million people list their phone numbers on the registry. This list contains numbers that telemarketers are prohibited from calling — many coming during dinnertime or in the evening hours when most people get home from work.

Telemarketers have to pay annual fees of up to $17,050 and must search the registry every month and drop from call lists the phone numbers of consumers who have registered.

Violating the registry can make a telemarketer pay civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. According to The Associated Press, last November the Federal Trade Commission announced nearly $7.7 million in settlements with six companies accused of calling people on the list.

The list is about consumer rights. If they don’t want to be called, they shouldn’t be. And it seems that nearly half of America doesn’t want the unwanted calls.

“This initiative has proven to be one of the most popular laws in history,” Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., said this week.

It’s easy to see why it is.

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Do not call.. wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:51 AM:

" I wanted to post this to let people know. If you get a call from a telemarketer and you are on the list, go to their website and file a complaint. You won't get a response but they track that data and fine the companies. They tried to give you a song and dance but there are still a few companies calling and they need to stop. They are not allowed to do this. Also make sure you tell them you are on the Do Not Call list. "

right, then wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:50 AM:

" I love being on the do-not-call list and it has seriously reduced the number of unwanted calls to our home. However, I still get calls from people who start out saying, "I am not trying to sell you anything..." but don't see their unwanted and unsolicited call as invasive. I would like to see a requirement that all calls must show a return telephone number. Some of the callers are just nasty when you say you are not interested and because we can't see how to recontact them. "

Independent wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:36 AM:

" I disagree with you on not allowing independents to vote in the presidential primary. In case you haven't noticed, the open warfare between the parties has put our government in gridlock. Many other states have open primaries, and I believe they all should. Your opinion would take away the right to vote from over 30% of the registered voters in Arizona. I won't allow myself to be put in a demographic or party box. You shouldn't either. Yes we can. "

Nuisance Calls wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:01 AM:

" In spite of having an unlisted phone number and being on the Do Not Call List, I still receive unwanted calls from callers identified on Caller ID as "Unknown" or "Unavailable." I usually ignore these and don't even pick up the phone. They never leave messages on the answering machine. When one of these nuisance callers is particularly annoying and calls frequently, as happened last night, I do pick up the phone and order them NOT to call again. I don't even listen to their spin because I don't care what they want. So far, it works. "