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 The Chronicle welcomes you online! Please feel free to respond to these editorials or letters to the editor by sending your letters to the editor.

We condense letters; most, as published, won't exceed 300 words. A letter must include the writer's name and city, which will be published, and an address and telephone number for verification, which will not be published. Writers may be limited to one letter every 30 days. Open letters, letters to third parties and poetry are not considered. Letters from people living outside the Chronicle's circulation area usually are not considered.

Mulls campaign finance, hate-crime laws

Web posted July 28, 1999

Editor, The Chronicle

It is difficult for me to understand why some people are opposed to hate-crime legislation and campaign finance reform. To say that we have enough laws against people who break the law comes across as a poor excuse for maintaining the status quo on laws against hate crimes. Could it be that in the heart-of-hearts of these people, they sympathize with people who burn crosses on someone's lawn, or paint a swastika on a synagogue, or bomb an abortion clinic or physically attack a homosexual. If this is the true reason they are opposed to hate-crime legislation then it helps me to understand where they are coming from. What is really sad about this is some of them think God is on their side.

It has been said that an honest politician is one who, once he is bought, he stays bought. Most of us can agree that soft money is a breeding ground for corruption. It is understandable why some corporate CEOs and politicians are opposed to campaign finance reform. But why would the average citizen be opposed to reform if they know the current system is wrong.

If you are not opposed to soft money, you are saying that you want large corporations to dictate policy in this country. You are saying that you have no objection to democracy being sold to the highest bidder. If you are opposed to campaign finance reform, you are saying that you approve of corruption in government.

Hoyt Goodson, Waynesboro