Free Press – July 19, 2007

Jury Duty, Pam Rush Email, Washlet, Sen Vitters

Dear Friends,

Good morning. Last week I spent a day in the jury pool. Every three years or so, the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas summons me to serve as a juror. It’s a great deal. Jurors get a one-day holiday from work, a $9 fee and mileage (for me, 32 miles round trip to Doylestown, at 17 cents per mile). The county paid me $14.44 for my efforts.

About 40 years ago, I think, the Bucks court became the first in the state to initiate jury service of one day or one trial. That certainly beat the old system of spending two weeks in the jury room, waiting to be called for a civil or criminal trial. Counties all over America have followed Bucks’ lead.

Patty Kloenne was the Acting Jury Manager on the day that I served. She was efficient and had a sense of humor. She made us very comfortable. While I didn’t get chosen for a jury, I enjoyed the process and recommend it to you.

Item.

I received a nice note from Pamela Rush who saved the day for me a few weeks ago. I couldn’t find basil in the local grocery stores but fortunately ran into her. She supplied me with basil from her garden. I thanked her in last week’s column and finished the segment with an observation that I’m lucky to live in small town America. It prompted this response.

“I spent most of my days in Newtown, where my parents opened their own business in 1960,” her email began. “I loved the small community of Newtown and during the past 16 years, have learned to love Quakertown just as much. It is a friendly, small community, that I am so fortunate to be part of. I meet nice people here every day.”

Bravo Pamela Rush.

Item.

The other day, I received a critical letter from a reader. If he gives me the OK, I’ll identify him. In the meantime, I thought you’d enjoy his thoughts.

“Dear Charles,” he began, “I have to assume that you are the Charles Meredith who was once a Republican County Commissioner in Bucks County. Are you now a Democrat? I only say that because your columns would indicate that you have switched parties, which is certainly your right. Compulsory service, which is the topic of your current column is idiotic and un American in my view. This is a republic and fortunately it is a democratic republic. There should be no compulsory service for the military or any other purpose. We are free to be. Take off your bow tie…take a deep breath and chill out.”

This is the reply that I sent to him:

“I’m still a Republican…but a very unhappy Republican. I classify myself as a Nelson Rockefeller republican, a fiscal conservative with a social heart. You’re probably too young to remember N.R.

“I favor national, compulsory service where each high school graduate has the option to serve two years in either the military or in a non military capacity…Peace Corp, parks, hospitals, and the like…no exceptions. I like the idea of every politician’s relative serving the country. Foreign [military] adventures like the Bush war in Iraq would end pretty damn quickly…and probably wouldn’t have begun.

“Besides, having every young American giving something back to her/his country will make them better citizens…more likely to volunteer for community service, vote, etc. (at least in my opinion)

“What do you think,” I asked him?

“PS,” I wrote, “The reason why I wear bow ties exclusively is this. I went to a high school where students had to wear coat and tie to school each day…but students couldn’t wear a bow tie until they reached the 12^th grade. I was so proud that I finally got to the 12^th grade, that I’ve worn bow ties ever since. My friends kid me saying that I never got over being in the 12^th grade.”

Item.

The Bucks County Democratic Commissioner candidates are miffed with their Republican opposition. The three county commissioners approved the purchase of $64,000 worth of signs that will be posted throughout the county on properties that have been protected from development.

Democrat candidates Diane Marseglia and Steve Santarsiero object and are doing their best to find something to anger the electorate. But they’re forgetting that there are three county commissioners, not two, and one of them is a fellow Democrat, Sandy Miller. She joined Republican Jim Cawley and Chares Martin in approving the notion.

By the way, it’s a good idea. There will be 125 signs throughout Bucks County reminding citizens about the open space program, which has been a remarkable success. Ms. Marseglia and Santarsiero will have to work harder to convince voters that the Republican commissioners should be expelled and that won’t be easy. Democrats, good luck.

Item.

In New York City, the Times Square Church is challenging the installation of a two-story billboard featuring a naked bottom, painted with smiley faces. The church is in the same building where the giant billboard is to be located.

The billboard will advertise the Washlet, a toilet and bidet sold by Toto, which cleans and dries bottoms with aerated water and warm air. The church is not pleased and is suing to prevent the billboard’s appearance.

I Googled Washlet.com and was fascinated with the product. It obviously works…I think I’ll order one for the house.

Final item.

Surely you read the ironic Associated Press article (July 10) about David Vitter, the Republican Senator from Louisiana. He was identified as a patron of the Washington D.C. Madam after his phone number appeared among those associated with her escort service.

Vitter, 46, claims that he’s been forgiven by his wife and by God. (I assume that God must have sent him an Email.) Unfortunately, this politician won’t have trouble winning reelection in 2010. Remember, he’s from Louisiana.

What I enjoyed the most is that Vitter’s a holier than thou moralist. He’s been telling the world about the importance of family values for years. I wonder whether he’ll be a convert to legalizing prostitution?

There’s a ton of curious news out there…It must be the heat.

Sincerely,

Charles Meredith