While Washington politicians figure out how to end the Iraqi conflict with peace and honor, the soldiers there and in Afghanistan are still fighting for their lives and those of others.

This election turned out more voters than any election in Fluvanna’s history, and I want to express my gratitude to the Elections Board and to the registrar and her staff for how efficiently it was managed.

The 2nd annual Veterans Day Parade was held Nov. 8 in Gordonsville and it was a moving experience for all who attended.

A $40 medical bill might seem small but a West Virginia man says his five-year battle over paying it was a matter of principle.

This letter writer has a great deal of respect for Del. Rob Bell of Albemarle. Del. Bell is a superb representative in Richmond. He works diligently and effectively toward realistic limits on state spending, he initiates and supports legislation of considerable value for our state and region and he presents himself in person frequently to discuss issues and provide quiet, reasoned explanations for his positions. He is a studious, gentlemanly person who pursues the facts and avoids personal attacks and innuendos.

Had the citizens of Charlottesville and the surrounding counties felt that “change is not always right” they would have voted for the presidential candidate endorsed by The Daily Progress.  Obviously, this editorial page has failed to grasp that a majority of Americans wanted to turn the page on the Republican administration and did so enthusiastically.

The editorial in the Nov. 12 edition of The Daily Progress (“‘Old Virginny’ rears its head”) suggests that racism has been dead and buried politically in the Commonwealth since Doug Wilder’s victory in 1989. I must take exception. We unfortunately live in a state still divided politically and economically along racial lines. By any indicator of economic health, African-Americans remain significantly disadvantaged (income, housing, education, health care, etc.).

A slender Santa approaches, and Big Oil producers stand on notice: they’ve been profitable and therefore naughty and now they must pay. Among the economic meltdown’s rare gifts have been plunging oil and gas prices. Americans should enjoy this development while it lasts, and so too prices for electricity and natural gas that wear the strange look of reasonability. President-elect Obama, exchanging a musty red suit for a tailored dark one, means to end all of this. He comes bearing gifts, cap-and-trades and tax-break rollbacks, both of which are fashionable but will prove expensive.

Throughout the excitement of this historic and wondrous election, I have increasingly looked forward to the moderate editorials in the Opinion section of The Daily Progress.

Red ink is trickling on the verge of spilling in gushers from municipal budgets

I feel safe. It is the first time since 9/11 that I have felt this way.

America can’t get into the habit of bailing out large corporations for fear of negative consequences to its citizens.

On the occasion of Barack Obama’s historic ascension to the presidency, fueled in small part (as it turned out) by the turn of Virginia’s political hue from red to blue, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine took occasion to hoist a banner of racism already tossed to the trash heap.

In 1961, my father, Ted Evans, resigned as rector of St. Paul’s Memorial Church rather than allow the Sunday school classrooms to be used to create a white-only private school.

Shame on Charlottesville residents who did not vote on Nov. 4.

America won a great victory on Election Day. I’m not referring to the winning candidate as much as to the winning process.

Like steel manufacturers, that other former symbol of American economic greatness, the automobile industry has been reduced to junkyard status.

A Charlottesville-Albemarle U.S. 29 Bypass is pointless.

You can teach a person to hate, but not to love.

I must confess I was surprised and disappointed to read the Oct. 30 editorial under the headline “We’ve got the wrong bypass.” The editorial got it wrong on all counts.

The federal government can and should do more to encourage development of oil and gas production on lands leased to energy companies, a federal review has found.

Walls make good neighbors, primarily because they can keep neighbors away, and, if there’s one thing we humans are good at, it’s social and psychological stone masonry.

The next two months could be a dangerous time for the nation’s security.

No matter how the UVa tennis players fare in the tournament, Charlottesville is a winner.

Barack Obama brought hope back to millions of Americans.

My experience this past Election Day left me most encouraged.

On the night of Nov. 4, I was a small part of history yet again. I watched as it all unfolded around me and across the world, and I recalled the same feeling of euphoria that I experienced in 1990.

Hooray for the honorable stick!

What a sad commentary of our world today when a so-called rock star can come to JPJ and incite vulgar chanting and obscene gestures with the crowd while showing a picture of the president of the United States.

On Nov. 3, The Daily Prog-ress and other publications reported astounding new findings about a major influence on teen pregnancies (“Teen pregnancies tied to tastes for sexy TV shows.”