Letter: Religion criticism was off the mark

Columnist Lane Filler's opinion about religion is off the mark ["Isn't it about time for God 2.0?" Opinion, Sept. 24]. He thinks religion is outdated, and the teachings of the Bible are no longer relevant.

Filler is confused. God does not change. God is precise in what he expects, and he gave us the Ten Commandments. God is not the one who has to change. It's our society that needs to find its way back to what's important.

People have turned away from God. Immorality and decadence are widespread, and that is the real problem. The current global situations are indicative of a world gone mad. God is waiting for humanity to come to its senses.

Hedy Kling, Elmont

Lane Filler suggests it is time to rethink religion based on what "we" know is a better way. The column argues that we know better than what religions teach. If you accept this argument, God is relegated to an inferior position, and we who know better have the right to pick and choose what we feel is the correct standard.

If you accept Filler's argument, God becomes irrelevant, and mankind becomes its own god based upon our individual, feel-good definition. I cannot accept such a flawed analysis.

Douglas Brosky, Hicksville

Cavalier spending in Smithtown

As a resident of Smithtown for almost 40 years, I'm outraged that the town considered an increase in stipend from $5,000 to $35,000 a year for a councilman who also acts as deputy supervisor.

Not only was the amount of increase an outrage, but for the councilman to have cast the deciding vote on his own raise was ethically objectionable. Although the board later voted to rescind the raise, Supervisor Patrick Vecchio said he may include it in his 2015 budget ["Vote cancels Smithtown pol's raise," News, Sept. 24].

I give credit to the two council members who originally voted against the raise. Shame on those who voted for the increase. It must be great to spend taxpayers' money so cavalierly.

Howard Ende, Hauppauge

Combine elections in Hempstead

The Hempstead school board will hold a special election on Oct. 28 ["Sad bid to regain power over Hempstead schools," Editorial, Oct. 1]. One week later, Nov. 4, is the conventional Election Day.

Two elections a week apart seem an incredible waste of money that could be put to better use benefiting the students.

Rudy Rosenberg II, Carle Place

A modest proposal for Nassau cash

Now that Nassau County's brilliant school-safety revenue stream is flowing, I have another profitable suggestion ["Nassau adds speed cameras," News, Oct. 6]. This would be consistent with photo-ticketing drivers in the street when the children are safely inside the school learning.

Fine residents, say $80 each, for leaving their garbage cans in the street between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. These rolling vessels of filth are clearly a danger to walkers, runners and cyclists.

The fact that most families have both parents working in order to live in Nassau should bring unprecedented revenue to the county and help ease the strain on our politicians to balance the budget.

Kenneth Lebeck, Plainview

Nassau's veterans agency soap opera

Let me see if I understand this issue ["County worker: I was harassed," News, Sept. 26]. This man, a veteran who risked his life fighting for our country, gets a job working for Nassau County.

According to a complaint filed against him with the state Division of Human Rights, he then allegedly has an affair while married with children, and apparently gets his mistress a job working for Nassau County. She works for more than a year, and they have a messy breakup.

She then accuses the man and the boss of making her working life miserable. She has filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment -- a procedure that is required before one can file a lawsuit.

Will taxpayers have to pay for this? This sounds like a made-for-TV movie. Unbelievable. You can't make this stuff up.

Randy Perlmutter, Oceanside

Police should stop reckless driving

As a person who drives professionally every day throughout Long Island, I'm astonished by the number of reckless drivers.

Drivers routinely ignore posted speed limits, and drive much faster than 10 mph over the limit. An observant person will see so much bad behavior, including rampant texting while driving, in less than five minutes on the road.

One thing I do not see is a strong police presence. On a recent trip from Babylon to Patchogue and back, I saw no patrols. Why? Shouldn't the police patrol and be proactive rather than arriving on the scene after an accident?

William W. Bruner, West Babylon