Letter to editor: Rep. Rogers did masterful job at town hall meeting in Auburn

Rep. Rogers did masterful job at town hall meeting in Auburn
I attended the town hall meeting held by Mike Rogers on Sept. 2 and have been dismayed by the accounts of that meeting by the reporter who attended and from subsequent letters to the editor.
The meeting was spirited and passionate. Individuals from all perspectives were there to listen, to ask questions, and some were there to make their feelings known to the congressman.

I was struck by something Rep. Rogers said at the very beginning of the discussion. Where other congressional representatives seem to be annoyed at the large crowds showing up to their town halls during the month of August, Rogers welcomed this capacity crowd by saying: “It is never a bad thing when the people are engaged.”

Imagine that. Instead of accusing the crowd at the town hall of being un-American or an Astroturf mob, he actually wanted his constituents to be engaged.

Then he did something else that was absolutely amazing. He listened to everyone who had something to say. There were folks who agreed with his position on health care reform, people who disagreed and some folks who, quite frankly, it was hard to tell where they were coming from. The discussion got passionate at times and there were points where some in the crowd tried to shout down others with differing points of view.

But he let everyone who spoke have their say. The meeting went much longer than scheduled because he wanted to hear as many people as possible.

It is never a bad thing when the people are engaged.

Thank you Congressman Rogers.

Susan Fillippeli
Auburn

Madoff deserves to live life of imprisoned criminal behind bars

Where can I read “Today, A Day in the Life of Bernie Madoff”? I would like to know his daily routine. I want to know what his cell looks like?

Who is his cellmate? Who are his prison buddies? Did he have to join a gang?

I want to see him in the dining area, the lineup, and the yard, (shower pictures are not appreciated).

Do the guards thump their batons on his cell bars during the nightly bed check?

Or, as I suspect, does Madoff pay off some of the prison officials for perks? Does he have the luxury suite cell; complete with curtains, plasma TV and a Serta Perfect Sleeper?

Does he dine on lobster with the warden?

Does he have his privacy?

I mean, come on!

Who the heck does think he is, a politician?

Speaking of which, as a sidebar, I would also like to see the cells where Don Seigelman, Karl Rove, Marion Berry, William Jefferson, etc. were held.

As a card carrying member of the “Skeptic’s Society” I want to know these things.

I would like some assurance that a life of greed, arrogance and crime receive just rewards. Are the rich and influential held to the same standards as Murray the Mugger and Paul the Pillager?

A criminal, is a criminal, is a criminal.

I’m sorry if you believe some of the above are innocent, but juries of their peers believe differently. Besides, that’s not my point.

Bob Barlows
Auburn