Letters to the Editor 04-18-2001
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Redistricting - Honesty - Amtrak - Taste Of Agriculture
Redistricting
Editor, Times-Union:Every 10 years, following the federal census, the Indiana General Assembly is required to realign legislative districts to account for shifts in population across the state. Proposals were recently unveiled which give Hoosiers their first glimpse of the legislative maps which will dominate the Indiana political scene for the next decade. Like any other piece of legislation, these maps must be approved by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and signed into law by the governor of our state.
Unfortunately, the majority party in the House has chosen to ignore the needs of citizens during the creation of legislative maps, in favor of focusing on the needs of political parties. This process is known as gerrymandering, or drawing maps for political gain. For example, in the last general election, 47 percent of voters elected 53 percent of the members of the House of Representatives. This had a profound effect on the political balance of our state, because gerrymandering allowed a different party to hold the majority of representatives in the House.
According to the new legislative maps, the section of Marshall County which I now represent will be removed from District 22. Gerrymandering, in this case, will shift one-quarter of the citizens of District 22 to District 23, which includes portions of Miami and Fulton counties. To replace these citizens, District 22 will stretch to include the Wabash County townships of Liberty, Waltz and Lagro 3. Also, District 22 will pick up the townships of Monroe, Tippecanoe, Turkey Creek and Washington in Kosciusko County.
Throughout the state, there are many small towns, counties and school districts which are represented by sometimes three or four legislators. This causes severe logistical problems for many branches of local government. If a school district needs to voice a concern over funding, should they be forced to negotiate with four representatives who all have different priorities and goals for their district? Districts should be drawn to provide as fair, efficient and responsive representation as possible. By drastically changing District 22, one-quarter of the citizens of the current district will not be served most responsively by the legislator who is most familiar with their needs.
Other concerns must also be addressed when redistricting. The population of each district must be relatively similar. If the state's population were split evenly, each district would have 60,805 citizens. Historically, maps have been allowed with a population deviation of up to 10 percent from the average. However, with increasing technology for population movement, there should realistically be no more than a 2 percent deviation.
Many citizens may have worries about the new legislative district, through which you will be represented in state government. If so, I urge you to contact either my office or the office of the Speaker of the House, who controls the political party which will ultimately decide the shape of District 22, to voice your concern. He can be reached by calling 800-382-9842 and asking for the Speaker's office. I can be reached by calling 800-382-9841 or by writing to: Indiana Statehouse Room 401-3, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204. You can also reach me by E-mail: [email protected].
William J. "Bill" Ruppel
State Representative
Honesty
Editor, Times-Union:Several months ago, my wife started to have lower back problems. She did not know if her back problem was caused from a previous job or the job that she was currently working at. She could have lied and told her employer that it happened at work, but she would not do that. In August she purchased short term/long term insurance after being told that there would not be any pre-existing conditions due to the fact that it was a one-time sign up.
In September she had surgery to her back and she had been out of work ever since. In March her short-term insurance ran out and was told that she could not get long-term benefits because she had a pre-existing condition. She has now lost her job because of the time she has had off work. When she tried to get unemployment benefits, she was honest with the interviewer and told him that she could not actively look for work, so she was denied benefits.
In a recent court case in this county, a jury found a man not guilty, after his wife lied and said that her husband was home in bed at the time the crime was committed. Even though the victim and witnesses were honest and testified to the identity of the man on trial. So is honesty still the best policy? The answer is still yes, but don't expect any rewards or benefits in this life.
Rich Miotto
Warsaw
via e-mail
Amtrak
Editor, Times-Union:May 1, 2001, is a significant date in transportation history. On that date 30 years ago, the U.S. government created Amtrak to help revive rail passenger service.
Now after 30 years of under-funding and neglect, Amtrak continues to steam on. Amtrak has provided millions each year with an alternative to crowded highways and congested airports. Amtrak provides service to many small towns across the United States that have no other form of transportation available. Many other larger cities depend on Amtrak to provide commuter services and help ease the gridlock that is gripping our highways and airports.
But now Amtrak is facing a critical milestone in its existence. It is very possible that we could lose this valuable service in a few years unless we act now. In the year 2002, Amtrak is required by Congress to be economically self-sufficient or face liquidation. There is no passenger railroad in the world that does not operate without support from their governments. Europe has a first class system because their governments had the foresight to invest in their rail network.
There is no other mode of transportation in this country that operates without federal financial subsidies. Highways and airports have had billions poured into them, while our passenger rail network continues to receive a scarce portion of the transportation dollar.
Florida has much to lose. Some of the busiest Amtrak routes roll into this state, with plans for expansion. Amtrak even plans to restore passenger service to the East Coast of Florida, including Daytona Beach. A source of funding for the state mandated bullet train could also be in jeopardy as Amtrak is a possible partner. Our nation also has much to lose. We may lose the one transportation alternative that may help many escape our crowded highways and airports.
Let's face it. We are all in a traffic jam that will do nothing but continue to get worse. This massive congestion exists on our highways and in the air. It is in the news almost every day on how air service has deteriorated, and how highway travel is facing unprecedented gridlock and gas prices into the stratosphere. You think it is bad today, try to imagine things 20-50 years from now.
The United States deserves a rail passenger system worthy of this great nation. I want to encourage all to urge their representatives to support continued and increased funding for Amtrak. Right now a High Speed Rail bill is in Washington. Passage of this bill will help Amtrak open up high-speed rail corridors across the United States, including Florida.
The time to get involved is now. Local officials need to be made aware. Our representatives in Washington, D.C., need to know that rail passenger service is important to our nation, and a great nation should have a great rail passenger system.
On a local note, I've noticed over the years the traffic on U.S. 30 has increased. And try to travel on the toll road in northwest Indiana. There is a need for a return of passenger trains in Warsaw, Fort Wayne, etc. Again, please write, call or e-mail your representatives and let them know you support rail transportation.
Ian Priser
via e-mail
Taste Of Agriculture
Editor, Times-Union:Where were you last Tuesday and Wednesday? With the exception of you and one school in the county, hundreds of county residents were at the fairgrounds attending the "A Taste of Agriculture in Kosciusko County: A Family Affair." We attended the well-publicized Tuesday evening event along with our young granddaughters. What an effort our county agriculture people put forth for us, and where were you? Well, let me see. According to the Wednesday paper you were in Silver Lake, Syracuse and Etna Green covering routine town board meetings. According to the Thursday paper, you were back in Syracuse again and clear down in North Manchester covering a similar meeting. You also put in an article about environmental issues stating that it affects everyone. Am I missing something here? Doesn't agriculture affect everyone? Going by your paper, with no coverage of the event, it must not be too important. Without it, just go to the grocery store and try to buy your food!
This was a great learning opportunity for everyone, especially children. Where else will they actually get to see an egg hatch and see this ugly little creature work its way into the world and struggle to stand up? Then, almost within minutes, they dry off and become the cutest little chick or duckling one would want to see. Or where could they get a first-hand look at where their milk comes from? The first thing our 6-year-old granddaughter did when we arrived home was draw a picture of the hatching eggs to show to her parents.
What I really looked forward to, and expected to see in your paper, was good coverage and pictures of the event. Somehow, I believe pictures of an event such as this one would certainly help sell more of your papers than would routine town board meeting notes. Come on Times-Union, get with the program; get behind agriculture and give it good coverage at events such as the one the rest of us just experienced!
Merl Montel
Pierceton
[[In-content Ad]]
- Redistricting - Honesty - Amtrak - Taste Of Agriculture
Redistricting
Editor, Times-Union:Every 10 years, following the federal census, the Indiana General Assembly is required to realign legislative districts to account for shifts in population across the state. Proposals were recently unveiled which give Hoosiers their first glimpse of the legislative maps which will dominate the Indiana political scene for the next decade. Like any other piece of legislation, these maps must be approved by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and signed into law by the governor of our state.
Unfortunately, the majority party in the House has chosen to ignore the needs of citizens during the creation of legislative maps, in favor of focusing on the needs of political parties. This process is known as gerrymandering, or drawing maps for political gain. For example, in the last general election, 47 percent of voters elected 53 percent of the members of the House of Representatives. This had a profound effect on the political balance of our state, because gerrymandering allowed a different party to hold the majority of representatives in the House.
According to the new legislative maps, the section of Marshall County which I now represent will be removed from District 22. Gerrymandering, in this case, will shift one-quarter of the citizens of District 22 to District 23, which includes portions of Miami and Fulton counties. To replace these citizens, District 22 will stretch to include the Wabash County townships of Liberty, Waltz and Lagro 3. Also, District 22 will pick up the townships of Monroe, Tippecanoe, Turkey Creek and Washington in Kosciusko County.
Throughout the state, there are many small towns, counties and school districts which are represented by sometimes three or four legislators. This causes severe logistical problems for many branches of local government. If a school district needs to voice a concern over funding, should they be forced to negotiate with four representatives who all have different priorities and goals for their district? Districts should be drawn to provide as fair, efficient and responsive representation as possible. By drastically changing District 22, one-quarter of the citizens of the current district will not be served most responsively by the legislator who is most familiar with their needs.
Other concerns must also be addressed when redistricting. The population of each district must be relatively similar. If the state's population were split evenly, each district would have 60,805 citizens. Historically, maps have been allowed with a population deviation of up to 10 percent from the average. However, with increasing technology for population movement, there should realistically be no more than a 2 percent deviation.
Many citizens may have worries about the new legislative district, through which you will be represented in state government. If so, I urge you to contact either my office or the office of the Speaker of the House, who controls the political party which will ultimately decide the shape of District 22, to voice your concern. He can be reached by calling 800-382-9842 and asking for the Speaker's office. I can be reached by calling 800-382-9841 or by writing to: Indiana Statehouse Room 401-3, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204. You can also reach me by E-mail: [email protected].
William J. "Bill" Ruppel
State Representative
Honesty
Editor, Times-Union:Several months ago, my wife started to have lower back problems. She did not know if her back problem was caused from a previous job or the job that she was currently working at. She could have lied and told her employer that it happened at work, but she would not do that. In August she purchased short term/long term insurance after being told that there would not be any pre-existing conditions due to the fact that it was a one-time sign up.
In September she had surgery to her back and she had been out of work ever since. In March her short-term insurance ran out and was told that she could not get long-term benefits because she had a pre-existing condition. She has now lost her job because of the time she has had off work. When she tried to get unemployment benefits, she was honest with the interviewer and told him that she could not actively look for work, so she was denied benefits.
In a recent court case in this county, a jury found a man not guilty, after his wife lied and said that her husband was home in bed at the time the crime was committed. Even though the victim and witnesses were honest and testified to the identity of the man on trial. So is honesty still the best policy? The answer is still yes, but don't expect any rewards or benefits in this life.
Rich Miotto
Warsaw
via e-mail
Amtrak
Editor, Times-Union:May 1, 2001, is a significant date in transportation history. On that date 30 years ago, the U.S. government created Amtrak to help revive rail passenger service.
Now after 30 years of under-funding and neglect, Amtrak continues to steam on. Amtrak has provided millions each year with an alternative to crowded highways and congested airports. Amtrak provides service to many small towns across the United States that have no other form of transportation available. Many other larger cities depend on Amtrak to provide commuter services and help ease the gridlock that is gripping our highways and airports.
But now Amtrak is facing a critical milestone in its existence. It is very possible that we could lose this valuable service in a few years unless we act now. In the year 2002, Amtrak is required by Congress to be economically self-sufficient or face liquidation. There is no passenger railroad in the world that does not operate without support from their governments. Europe has a first class system because their governments had the foresight to invest in their rail network.
There is no other mode of transportation in this country that operates without federal financial subsidies. Highways and airports have had billions poured into them, while our passenger rail network continues to receive a scarce portion of the transportation dollar.
Florida has much to lose. Some of the busiest Amtrak routes roll into this state, with plans for expansion. Amtrak even plans to restore passenger service to the East Coast of Florida, including Daytona Beach. A source of funding for the state mandated bullet train could also be in jeopardy as Amtrak is a possible partner. Our nation also has much to lose. We may lose the one transportation alternative that may help many escape our crowded highways and airports.
Let's face it. We are all in a traffic jam that will do nothing but continue to get worse. This massive congestion exists on our highways and in the air. It is in the news almost every day on how air service has deteriorated, and how highway travel is facing unprecedented gridlock and gas prices into the stratosphere. You think it is bad today, try to imagine things 20-50 years from now.
The United States deserves a rail passenger system worthy of this great nation. I want to encourage all to urge their representatives to support continued and increased funding for Amtrak. Right now a High Speed Rail bill is in Washington. Passage of this bill will help Amtrak open up high-speed rail corridors across the United States, including Florida.
The time to get involved is now. Local officials need to be made aware. Our representatives in Washington, D.C., need to know that rail passenger service is important to our nation, and a great nation should have a great rail passenger system.
On a local note, I've noticed over the years the traffic on U.S. 30 has increased. And try to travel on the toll road in northwest Indiana. There is a need for a return of passenger trains in Warsaw, Fort Wayne, etc. Again, please write, call or e-mail your representatives and let them know you support rail transportation.
Ian Priser
via e-mail
Taste Of Agriculture
Editor, Times-Union:Where were you last Tuesday and Wednesday? With the exception of you and one school in the county, hundreds of county residents were at the fairgrounds attending the "A Taste of Agriculture in Kosciusko County: A Family Affair." We attended the well-publicized Tuesday evening event along with our young granddaughters. What an effort our county agriculture people put forth for us, and where were you? Well, let me see. According to the Wednesday paper you were in Silver Lake, Syracuse and Etna Green covering routine town board meetings. According to the Thursday paper, you were back in Syracuse again and clear down in North Manchester covering a similar meeting. You also put in an article about environmental issues stating that it affects everyone. Am I missing something here? Doesn't agriculture affect everyone? Going by your paper, with no coverage of the event, it must not be too important. Without it, just go to the grocery store and try to buy your food!
This was a great learning opportunity for everyone, especially children. Where else will they actually get to see an egg hatch and see this ugly little creature work its way into the world and struggle to stand up? Then, almost within minutes, they dry off and become the cutest little chick or duckling one would want to see. Or where could they get a first-hand look at where their milk comes from? The first thing our 6-year-old granddaughter did when we arrived home was draw a picture of the hatching eggs to show to her parents.
What I really looked forward to, and expected to see in your paper, was good coverage and pictures of the event. Somehow, I believe pictures of an event such as this one would certainly help sell more of your papers than would routine town board meeting notes. Come on Times-Union, get with the program; get behind agriculture and give it good coverage at events such as the one the rest of us just experienced!
Merl Montel
Pierceton
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092