What a great country we have created in more than 220 years. Here in the U.S. we all exercise our First Amendment rights (citizens, legal residents and even the occasional tourist), one way or another. This time however, I want to address the sticky part of our expressions: The bumper stickers!

Bill Kisliuk
From the Editor

On May 18, the Napa Valley Register published a guest commentary by former Lutheran pastor George Mudekin opposing same-sex marriage (“Do not demean, redefine marriage”). This commentary was co-signed by 10 local Christian clergy and one Catholic layperson. These individuals cited Christian doctrine as interpreted through their literal reading of the Christian Bible to oppose efforts to extend equality in civil marriage rights to gays and lesbians. It is the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that ensures that none of these Christian clergy will ever be required to perform a same-sex marriage because they are guaranteed the “free exercise” of their particular religion. However, that very same First Amendment promises that there shall be no law “respecting an establishment of religion” and that clause of the First Amendment means that public policy shall not be based on the specific beliefs and practices of a particular religion.

You have to be kidding? The state waits until AFTER it fails in its attempt to force Propositions 1A-1E on voters before enacting an 18 percent pay cut on all elected officials?

California finds itself in more than a bit of a bind: Facing at least a $21 billion budget deficit, the state could run out of money in a matter of weeks.

There is a reason people say to beware what you wish for because you may get it.

California finds itself in more than a bit of a bind: Facing at least a $21 billion budget deficit, the state could run out of money in a matter of weeks.

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor, on the 19th of May, the people of the state of California went to the polls and told the politicians in Sacramento, “We’ve had enough!” Stop the political infighting, stop playing up to the special interest groups and get this state back on firm financial ground.

Over the last several weeks a number of land use issues have surfaced into the local press and it all starts to seem like deja vu all over again listening to the protests.

In what was rather anti-climactic the five state propositions devoted to the state budget mess went down tonight. Most voters simply checked out in what looks like it will be the lowest voter turn out for a state election in decades. That alone tells you that something was seriously wrong, and it will be up to the legislature and the media to try to sort out what the message is here.

Left v. right, liberal v. conservative in a type-until-your fingers bleed death match.

This is your blog to talk about local, state or national non-political topics.