Niel Young

To the editor:

Perhaps a little history lesson for David “Skip” Murphy is in order.

To some this sounds kind of corny, but I thank God often for being born in America, in the state of NH, and in Laconia – and of course the good things that have happened in my life. My purpose has always been to preserve the political philosophy and patriotism as it was the day I was born.

I often comment that God gave me the opportunity of having a weekly column (13 years), a successful Saturday morning radio program with the ability of reaching so many people around N.H. and the USA, and yes, the fortitude to pen a letter to the newspapers when the need arises.

In 1997 soon after the radio program began, Dr. Bill Dowling, a friend from Gilford, called and asked if a candidate for school board could get some time during the program.

With that first call from Doug Lambert we became friends. He did not win that election but discovered that we agreed on many issues and I gave this newcomer to the political wars air time as a frequent guest on the program.

Sometime later I began sharing space in my column with Doug with the understanding that it might be necessary to censor some material. Spanking a politician for their votes or positions on issues is fine — no personal attacks.

I thought of Doug as a fourth son — though we did not socialize to any extent.

Doug and some other friends decided in August of 2001 to present Betty and me with our first personal computer. They were tired of me faxing — and they thought enough of us to do this.

For a long time the radio program did not have enough advertising to cover the cost of air time. Betty and I made up the difference.

Doug helped by doing some repairs on my van at his place of business with his labor. Doug also made advertising contributions to the program a few times a year. At the time I felt that this was his way of thanking me for the good things that were happening in his life. It was a two-way street.

Then came the day when I alerted Doug that as part of the program I would be expressing my disappointment in his group — the Gilford Taxpayers Coalition — for not working harder to enlist more than 39 people to show up to vote down a proposal for Gilford to spend $1.5 million at the Lakes Business Park. Why was I angry? Because that cost the taxpayers of Laconia another $1.5 million for that debacle!

To me this was the end of the discussion but others became involved which resulted in our friendship being dissolved.

Months later Doug called the program and I treated him as if nothing happened, and believe me things did happen in the preceding months.

Doug began another period as a frequent guest.

Then there were three letter writers unknown to me, but were people I wanted to speak with. One of them was Skip, another newcomer to politics who for a time became a somewhat regular radio guest.

Fast forward to the great Tax Cap Debate of 2005 when (in my opinion) the press did not give us a fair shake and I disconnected with reporters of both local papers.

Within the group of tax cap supporters/committee members I circulated e-mails of strategy and included Doug.

Doug, a weekly columnist in this paper, gave a reporter, perhaps unintentionally in his column, enough info to write another report regarding the tax cap. Heck, if they didn’t blame Bush for Hurricane Katrina the press was ready to blame the tax cap for it!

I informed the folks on the e-mail that on this issue (tax cap) Doug would no longer be included.

E-mails were “flying” back and forth between Doug and I but were also sent to the other tax cap colleagues; that is, until the final one Doug sent to me. The text of that e-mail was, shall we say, less than civil and not to be passed on.

Skip, in an attempt to be a peacemaker, tells me he is not taking sides. Up until a few days before their radio program began I had no idea that this was in the works — and Skip was still looking for time to be a guest during my program.

I have tried to be “civil” in this, probably too-lengthy letter (I apologize for its length), but as stated, for many years the extremely talented guests, panelists, and callers have been passionate and informative and with that recipe we have a product that has been well received for 10 plus years.

What was it Gilford Selectwoman Connie Grant said about budget committee member Skip when he stopped talking long enough to ask if he was boring her? Was her response, “You’re getting there”? Enough said, for now.

Niel Young

Laconia