America is ready to focus on issues

I was truly amazed and deeply saddened after reading the letter from the Arlington Heights high schoolteacher who went to her students to ridicule our president-elect because people were discussing from where the Obama's puppy will be chosen, and the Daily Herald for printing the article.

Although I don't always agree with letters to the Fence Post, I feel the Daily Herald does a great service to people by allowing them to express their views even if they differ from mine.

I'm glad that her students "had enough common sense to see over 'Obama dog mania' and look at the real issues".

What saddens me most is that this teacher does not appear to be discussing the issues.

When she says Obama has yet to do anything about this economic crisis, she forgets Obama is not the president yet and can't do anything about the economy.

Hopefully this teacher is discussing what Bush has been doing instead of working on the economic crisis (his job) such as his vast array of "midnight regulations" aimed at lifting existing constraints on private industry, including power plants, mines and farms. Among these things are: allowing increased emissions from oil refineries, chemical factories, manufacturing plants and possibly power plants; new limit on airborne emissions of lead; allow gas and uranium mining near our national parks; ease controls on pollutants that contribute to global warming; relax drinking water standards; and lift key restrictions on mountaintop coal mining.

These are the issues that should be discussed not Obama memorabilia.

Fortunately 75 percent of Americans think Obama has the right amount of involvement and 67 percent are happy with the way he is handling the transition, his policies and appointments; whereas 79 percent of Americans say they will not miss Bush. Me either.

Joan Brody

Schaumburg