Letters to the Editor 02-23-2004
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Jobs, Jobs, Jobs - Book About Cancer - Economic Development - Tiger Fans Applauded - No Safe Tan
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Editor, Times-Union:I feel the need to respond to the "News Views" column written by Gary Gerard in the Feb. 21 and 22 edition of the Times-Union. As someone who works for a not-for-profit agency that assists people in finding employment, I see how "big" the news of unemployment really is - every day - not just in an election year. I am sure Mr. Gerard is correct in all of the statistics that he cites, and if the reality actually matched these figures, his flippancy about the unemployment rate and the number of people who are out of work would not be as irritating.
What Mr. Gerard (and those commentators like him who prefer to ignore the grand total of facts as well as how those facts translate to real people's lives) fails to mention is that unemployment percentages do not tell the whole story. The number of people being counted does not include every man and woman who has gone off the unemployment line due to not finding a job in their given number of months, nor those people who have taken minimum wage part-time jobs, nor those people who have taken jobs paying half of what they had previously earned at their plant that shut down as a result of this "great" economy. We "Democrats" like to point out that the United States is still down about 2.5 million jobs since Bush took over and that he is likely to become the first president since Herbert Hoover to have less jobs at the end of his administration then when he took over. And what about the 320,000-plus jobs created by the tax cut of $350 billion? Many of these are low paying, entry level positions. Meanwhile, we've shipped 2.6 million high paying manufacturing jobs oversees since January 2001. The figures quoted in "News Views" fail to mention how many employers are cutting out sick and vacation time, 401(k)s that have suffered huge losses, retirement and pension plans being found worthless and how health insurance that was previously provided by employers is either skyrocketing for companies and their employees or being phased out all together. This economic "recovery" may not be a "jobless" recovery, but it is certainly a "jobs-worth-less" recovery.
Mr. Gerard and his fellow Republicans want us to be encouraged by these most recent economic numbers. We shouldn't be. To quote John Atcheson in a Jan. 4 Journal-Gazette editorial, "We can't be a nation of Wal-mart shoppers if we are all employed at Wal-mart." And those people who haven't been as fortunate as Mr. Gerard to have "always had a job" can't buy food with gross domestic product or pay their heating bill with leading economic indicators.
Lisa Rector
Warsaw
via e-mail
Book About Cancer
Editor, Times-Union:I am a local writer seeking to interview those who have had cancer, currently are undergoing treatment for cancer or most importantly, those who have lost a loved one to cancer and would like to share their stories. My book, "Lasting Legacy," is about the effects that cancer or a similar illness has had on lives in the way of emotional and spiritual growth, along with a means of allowing others to express what legacy they have been given through the loss of someone close to them.
It is my hope that those who have fallen on the field in the battle against cancer can live on not only in the hearts of their loved ones, but also through my work. One of the pioneers in the field of grief, Elizabeth Kubler Ross, stated, "The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known loss and found their way out of the depths. ... Beautiful people do not just happen." It has been my blessing to have had a life touched by many of these beautiful people, a tribute that I would like to pass on to others. I believe that pain, grief and even death can be remarkable teachers on how to live fully without fear. If you have known one of these "beautiful people," or have learned lessons on life through your personal battle with cancer that you feel other lives could be enhanced by, please contact me at the following e-mail address: [email protected]
Additionally, upon publication, 10 percent of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the Leukemia Foundation for their excellent work with research and direct patient aid. Those who assist in the completion of "Lasting Legacy" will be contributing not only in the manuscript but also in the fight against cancer as well.
Thank you for allowing me this forum.
Leanne Coffman
Warsaw
via e-mail
Economic Development
Editor, Times-Union:According to a Feb. 18 Times-Union article, the Warsaw city council has approved an economic development area to benefit a Big R store that has purchased the old Wal-Mart building. This is to "set the stage" for a formal tax abatement application.
This is a well-intentioned but misguided effort. There are enterprises that bring money and wealth into a community and there are enterprises that take the money and wealth out of a community and transfer it someplace else. Examples of companies that bring wealth in are Biomet and Zimmer. They produce products using local labor that are sold nationwide or worldwide resulting in money coming into the community from elsewhere. Examples of companies that take wealth out of the community are retail chains such as Wal-Mart. They sell goods produced elsewhere, the company headquarters and distribution centers are elsewhere, and it is owned primarily by out-of-area people. Dollars spent at this type of store pay for jobs located elsewhere, often in other countries, to produce the goods; management and administration jobs located elsewhere; and profits to out-of-area owners. The dollars spent on the jobs that are created locally pale in comparison with the dollars flowing out. Many of the jobs are part-time or pay less than a decent living wage, thus taking further advantage of the community.
Big R falls in the latter category. It is an example of an enterprise designed to take wealth out of the community.
Investment in economic development, including tax abatements, should be used to encourage those enterprises that bring wealth into the community. It should be used to help get the next Biomet or Zimmer off the ground or to encourage a similar company to relocate here. The Wal-Marts and Big R's of the world are going to set up shop here anyway, if there is enough wealth in the community to be extracted. To provide a tax abatement for Big R is only adding to the wealth being transported from our community to the pockets of people elsewhere.
Every dollar of tax abatement transfers the tax burden to the remaining taxpayers. Each dollar granted makes the other businesses a little less competitive and makes each of us individual property tax payers a little poorer.
Howard Woodward Jr.
Warsaw
via e-mail
Tiger Fans Applauded
Editor, Times-Union:It's great to see such a large turnout of students at the Tiger basketball games this year. We compliment them for their enthusiasm and behavior. Also, our thanks to the cheerleaders for a terrific job this year.
Jim and Peggy Keeton
Warsaw
via e-mail
No Safe Tan
Editor, Times-Union:My intention with this letter is two part. I want to share my belief in God's miraculous healing powers! Three years ago in May, I was diagnosed with a very advanced case of metastasized melanoma. I was not given a lot of hope for a cure. With God's grace and wonderful doctors, I was given a clean bill of health on Tuesday!
My second intention was a warning. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SAFE TAN! No matter what strength of sunscreen you choose, if your skin changes color, you have damaged your skin. The only ways to avoid this damage (besides becoming a daytime indoor dweller) is to use a high SPF factor sunscreen, cover up and avoid the sun during its hottest hours (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.). This was hard for an avid sun worshipper to hear in 2001, but now I know tan skin doesn't give you a "healthy" glow but a DEADLY glow. This doesn't mean that beach vacations and enjoying the outdoors is taboo, just be smart about it.
Lastly, please, all who are going on spring break vacations, be smart. ... You are still beautiful without the tan! I used to say if I got skin cancer at least I'd leave a good looking body! Trust me not only is that not true, what I have put my family through is not something anyone should have to suffer!
Laura Parker
Winona Lake
via e-mail
[[In-content Ad]]
- Jobs, Jobs, Jobs - Book About Cancer - Economic Development - Tiger Fans Applauded - No Safe Tan
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Editor, Times-Union:I feel the need to respond to the "News Views" column written by Gary Gerard in the Feb. 21 and 22 edition of the Times-Union. As someone who works for a not-for-profit agency that assists people in finding employment, I see how "big" the news of unemployment really is - every day - not just in an election year. I am sure Mr. Gerard is correct in all of the statistics that he cites, and if the reality actually matched these figures, his flippancy about the unemployment rate and the number of people who are out of work would not be as irritating.
What Mr. Gerard (and those commentators like him who prefer to ignore the grand total of facts as well as how those facts translate to real people's lives) fails to mention is that unemployment percentages do not tell the whole story. The number of people being counted does not include every man and woman who has gone off the unemployment line due to not finding a job in their given number of months, nor those people who have taken minimum wage part-time jobs, nor those people who have taken jobs paying half of what they had previously earned at their plant that shut down as a result of this "great" economy. We "Democrats" like to point out that the United States is still down about 2.5 million jobs since Bush took over and that he is likely to become the first president since Herbert Hoover to have less jobs at the end of his administration then when he took over. And what about the 320,000-plus jobs created by the tax cut of $350 billion? Many of these are low paying, entry level positions. Meanwhile, we've shipped 2.6 million high paying manufacturing jobs oversees since January 2001. The figures quoted in "News Views" fail to mention how many employers are cutting out sick and vacation time, 401(k)s that have suffered huge losses, retirement and pension plans being found worthless and how health insurance that was previously provided by employers is either skyrocketing for companies and their employees or being phased out all together. This economic "recovery" may not be a "jobless" recovery, but it is certainly a "jobs-worth-less" recovery.
Mr. Gerard and his fellow Republicans want us to be encouraged by these most recent economic numbers. We shouldn't be. To quote John Atcheson in a Jan. 4 Journal-Gazette editorial, "We can't be a nation of Wal-mart shoppers if we are all employed at Wal-mart." And those people who haven't been as fortunate as Mr. Gerard to have "always had a job" can't buy food with gross domestic product or pay their heating bill with leading economic indicators.
Lisa Rector
Warsaw
via e-mail
Book About Cancer
Editor, Times-Union:I am a local writer seeking to interview those who have had cancer, currently are undergoing treatment for cancer or most importantly, those who have lost a loved one to cancer and would like to share their stories. My book, "Lasting Legacy," is about the effects that cancer or a similar illness has had on lives in the way of emotional and spiritual growth, along with a means of allowing others to express what legacy they have been given through the loss of someone close to them.
It is my hope that those who have fallen on the field in the battle against cancer can live on not only in the hearts of their loved ones, but also through my work. One of the pioneers in the field of grief, Elizabeth Kubler Ross, stated, "The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known loss and found their way out of the depths. ... Beautiful people do not just happen." It has been my blessing to have had a life touched by many of these beautiful people, a tribute that I would like to pass on to others. I believe that pain, grief and even death can be remarkable teachers on how to live fully without fear. If you have known one of these "beautiful people," or have learned lessons on life through your personal battle with cancer that you feel other lives could be enhanced by, please contact me at the following e-mail address: [email protected]
Additionally, upon publication, 10 percent of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the Leukemia Foundation for their excellent work with research and direct patient aid. Those who assist in the completion of "Lasting Legacy" will be contributing not only in the manuscript but also in the fight against cancer as well.
Thank you for allowing me this forum.
Leanne Coffman
Warsaw
via e-mail
Economic Development
Editor, Times-Union:According to a Feb. 18 Times-Union article, the Warsaw city council has approved an economic development area to benefit a Big R store that has purchased the old Wal-Mart building. This is to "set the stage" for a formal tax abatement application.
This is a well-intentioned but misguided effort. There are enterprises that bring money and wealth into a community and there are enterprises that take the money and wealth out of a community and transfer it someplace else. Examples of companies that bring wealth in are Biomet and Zimmer. They produce products using local labor that are sold nationwide or worldwide resulting in money coming into the community from elsewhere. Examples of companies that take wealth out of the community are retail chains such as Wal-Mart. They sell goods produced elsewhere, the company headquarters and distribution centers are elsewhere, and it is owned primarily by out-of-area people. Dollars spent at this type of store pay for jobs located elsewhere, often in other countries, to produce the goods; management and administration jobs located elsewhere; and profits to out-of-area owners. The dollars spent on the jobs that are created locally pale in comparison with the dollars flowing out. Many of the jobs are part-time or pay less than a decent living wage, thus taking further advantage of the community.
Big R falls in the latter category. It is an example of an enterprise designed to take wealth out of the community.
Investment in economic development, including tax abatements, should be used to encourage those enterprises that bring wealth into the community. It should be used to help get the next Biomet or Zimmer off the ground or to encourage a similar company to relocate here. The Wal-Marts and Big R's of the world are going to set up shop here anyway, if there is enough wealth in the community to be extracted. To provide a tax abatement for Big R is only adding to the wealth being transported from our community to the pockets of people elsewhere.
Every dollar of tax abatement transfers the tax burden to the remaining taxpayers. Each dollar granted makes the other businesses a little less competitive and makes each of us individual property tax payers a little poorer.
Howard Woodward Jr.
Warsaw
via e-mail
Tiger Fans Applauded
Editor, Times-Union:It's great to see such a large turnout of students at the Tiger basketball games this year. We compliment them for their enthusiasm and behavior. Also, our thanks to the cheerleaders for a terrific job this year.
Jim and Peggy Keeton
Warsaw
via e-mail
No Safe Tan
Editor, Times-Union:My intention with this letter is two part. I want to share my belief in God's miraculous healing powers! Three years ago in May, I was diagnosed with a very advanced case of metastasized melanoma. I was not given a lot of hope for a cure. With God's grace and wonderful doctors, I was given a clean bill of health on Tuesday!
My second intention was a warning. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SAFE TAN! No matter what strength of sunscreen you choose, if your skin changes color, you have damaged your skin. The only ways to avoid this damage (besides becoming a daytime indoor dweller) is to use a high SPF factor sunscreen, cover up and avoid the sun during its hottest hours (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.). This was hard for an avid sun worshipper to hear in 2001, but now I know tan skin doesn't give you a "healthy" glow but a DEADLY glow. This doesn't mean that beach vacations and enjoying the outdoors is taboo, just be smart about it.
Lastly, please, all who are going on spring break vacations, be smart. ... You are still beautiful without the tan! I used to say if I got skin cancer at least I'd leave a good looking body! Trust me not only is that not true, what I have put my family through is not something anyone should have to suffer!
Laura Parker
Winona Lake
via e-mail
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