Letters to the Editor 06-04-2004
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Voting - Remember Veterans - Seatbelts - Honor Vets - Those Who Served - Memorial
Voting
Editor, Times-Union:The recent May 4th primary election highlighted one of the flaws in American elections. The lack of a NO or none of the above is acceptable option on ballots. The lack of this option amounts to voter disenfranchisement for voters who simply want to exercise the natural everyday common-sense activity of making a yes or no choice. And despite the low voter turnout of 21 percent, quite a few people who did show up at the polls undervoted or skipped over several offices where they could have selected a candidate.
This can be demonstrated with the vote totals from the Republican primary, which is where most people voted. The total Republican votes for all countywide races excluding the country council at-large offices is 8,952. The first column for each office shows how many voters selected a candidate and the second column shows how many people undervoted.
U.S. President 8,275 677
U.S. Senator 5,438 3,514
U.S. Rep. 3rd District 8,441 511
Governor 8,673 279
Clerk of the Circuit Court 8,292 660
County Treasurer 8,581 371
County Coroner 8,261 691
County Surveyor 7,676 1,276
County Commissioner, North 7,314 1,638
County Commissioner, Middl 7,224 1,728
How can these people who undervoted in the primary and will undervote in the November election actually have their choice count for something in the future? They can start pressuring the Indiana General Assembly and the U.S. Congress to add a constitutional amendment to Indiana and American constitutions allowing a "none of the above is acceptable" option on ballots. This option would work in the following way: if a "none of the above" option receives a plurality (the most votes) in a political race, let's just say for example a local city council seat, that office would remain vacant and unfunded until the election.
That sounds like a pretty radical concept but not as radical as the status quo, where voters have to "choose" from only one candidate or one of the lesser of two or three or four evils on a ballot. Or if they don't vote at all because their undervotes won't count for something, they are lumped together with those who really don't care about anything into the same category as lazy good-for-nothing bums who are not doing their civic duty and don't support the American way of life. This situation would be even worse if we had the totalitarian (communist or fascist principle) practice of compulsory voting in this country.
Having a "none of the above" option structured this way would prevent candidates who are not qualified to exercise control over our lives, property, money, relationships and freedoms from getting elected. This concept is merely an extension of the basic American and democratic principle of having those who govern us to have the consent of the governed.
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
Remember Veterans
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to express my appreciation for the write-ups that were featured in Times-Union paper on our local WW II veterans. I enjoyed reading about each of their experiences.
I have personally visited the Yad Vashem in Israel (memorial to the 6 million Jews). They have a motto there that says, "Forgetfulness leads to exile, but remembrance to redemption." I believe if we do not remember the cost of our freedom, we may someday give it away, having forgotten the price paid to get it and to keep it. Theresa, job well done!
Frank Rhoades
Pierceton
via e-mail
Seatbelts
Editor, Times-Union:Many times in the past I have agreed with your editorials; however, your editorial published on April 24, 2004, relating to mandatory seat belt laws was very flawed in several areas. I also do not want any more government control in my personal life but in this case I believe you missed the large picture due to your emotions of receiving a ticket for not buckling up.
There are several points that need to be addressed. First, when you stated "as long as you're not harming anyone else, have at it." When people say that their not wearing a seat belt is not affecting anyone else is absolutely not true. Americans pay $14.3 billion each year in injury-related costs. (Some statistics state that it is closer to $26 billion on average that the injured pay on actual costs.) The remaining 70 percent or $10.1 billion is paid by society through higher auto and health insurance and through assistant programs funding by federal and state revenues. The inpatient hospital costs to treat an unbelted crash victim are at least 50 percent or higher than those for belted victims according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis. And society pays for 85 percent of those costs, not the individual driver. We all pay for the unbelted driver.
Second, seatbelts help you stay in control of your car. Belts help reduce the risks that you are knocked unconscious or are thrown from your seat. Seatbelts help keep the other people in your car where they belong.
Lastly, but certainly not least, I am really disappointed that your editorial did not distinguish between government intervening and mandatory safety for our children and newly licensed teenaged drivers. Car accidents are the leading cause of death among our children 0-18 years of age. According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, two-thirds of them killed in motor vehicle crashes were not wearing their seat belts. According to the NHTSA, proper use of seatbelts reduces the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent. A study in 1996 showed that out of the 2,100 children that died and 327,000 that are injured yearly, 60 percent were unrestrained. Crash studies show in 70 percent of these instances, children were not buckled if the adult driver was not restrained.
Adversely, 94 percent of children were restrained if the adult was also wearing a safety belt. If we make our personal safety a necessity, we will do the same for our children. Consequently, not only do we protect our children when they are young by buckling them up, we also set an example that becomes habit forming for later in life.
A great opportunity was missed to tell our young people of the importance of wearing our seatbelts, especially at prom time.
As for the policeman who issued your ticket, thank you for enforcing all of the laws that you swore to uphold.
Joe T. Shepherd
Driver Training Instructor
via e-mail
Honor Vets
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to add my thank-you to the vets who have served our country. Also, there are three World War II vets I would like to honor. The first one is my father, Frank Black. The second one is my uncle, Harold Black. And the third one is the man who lived next door all of my life, Edgar Kinney. These three men came home from the war, but are now deceased. My father was married to my mother for 60 years before he passed away just five years ago on May 25, 1999. Thank you. On two occasions since my father died, someone has stolen a floral arrangement from his grave. I don't understand how anyone could do something so low and despicable as to steal from a grave. That is an extremely cowardly act to do, but more so when it is done to the grave of a vet.
Linda Black
Warsaw
via e-mail
Those Who Served
Editor, Times-Union:In the May 27 paper listing a large number of our Kosciusko County World War II veterans was very nice. It was showing we do remember, and was so amazing also how many of those names a person knew.
I was gone at the time and didn't see where the names were submitted and a deadline date for such, so I missed out completely for the printing. I really felt sorry and badly about it. However, I decided to inform you anyway.
I had three brothers and a sister all in the Navy during World War II. They were: Paul W. Shirey, Allen G. Shirey, Dean C. Shirey (all deceased now) and Gladys M. (Shirey) Reese, now 90 years young and at University Park Nursing Center in Fort Wayne. When the boys enlisted to go, Gladys said, "Well, if my brothers have to go, I'm going to go too," so she also enlisted in the WAVES and worked in the Hospital Corps. They were the children of Edwin A. and Flo O. Shirey of Palestine.
Customary back then was the stars displayed in the windows of the families who had someone in the service. They were made of material approximately 8x10 in size with a bright red border, then white inside that, with a royal blue star in the center. Our big front room window displayed four of these stars hanging across the top and a large royal blue anchor displayed on a white background on the lower right corner of the window, in which of course stood for the Navy.
They were all proud to be serving their country, and the rest of our family was extremely proud that they were serving. I thought this to be a pretty good record for anyone individual family.
Delores M. (Shirey) Harman
Palestine
Memorial
Editor, Times-Union:Regarding "A Grateful Nation Remembers" page 5C - May 27. It was wonderful to have the Kosciusko County World War II Recognition Day honoring our World War II veterans. I do understand that it was Ken Locke from the Salvation Army who was in charge of getting the list of names of veterans living and deceased. After talking to Gary Gerard (managing editor) I understand that the list of veterans listed could not possibly be all the veterans who lived or died in Kosciusko County that are so lovingly remembered by their families and friends. We also thank God for them.
A big thank-you to those businesses who sponsored the World War II events May 29. It was very much appreciated.
Esther May
Claypool
(Widow of Harold E. May, Oct. 13, 1924, to Sept. 24, 1990, who served in the Navy from April 20, 1943, to Jan. 10, 1946.)
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- Voting - Remember Veterans - Seatbelts - Honor Vets - Those Who Served - Memorial
Voting
Editor, Times-Union:The recent May 4th primary election highlighted one of the flaws in American elections. The lack of a NO or none of the above is acceptable option on ballots. The lack of this option amounts to voter disenfranchisement for voters who simply want to exercise the natural everyday common-sense activity of making a yes or no choice. And despite the low voter turnout of 21 percent, quite a few people who did show up at the polls undervoted or skipped over several offices where they could have selected a candidate.
This can be demonstrated with the vote totals from the Republican primary, which is where most people voted. The total Republican votes for all countywide races excluding the country council at-large offices is 8,952. The first column for each office shows how many voters selected a candidate and the second column shows how many people undervoted.
U.S. President 8,275 677
U.S. Senator 5,438 3,514
U.S. Rep. 3rd District 8,441 511
Governor 8,673 279
Clerk of the Circuit Court 8,292 660
County Treasurer 8,581 371
County Coroner 8,261 691
County Surveyor 7,676 1,276
County Commissioner, North 7,314 1,638
County Commissioner, Middl 7,224 1,728
How can these people who undervoted in the primary and will undervote in the November election actually have their choice count for something in the future? They can start pressuring the Indiana General Assembly and the U.S. Congress to add a constitutional amendment to Indiana and American constitutions allowing a "none of the above is acceptable" option on ballots. This option would work in the following way: if a "none of the above" option receives a plurality (the most votes) in a political race, let's just say for example a local city council seat, that office would remain vacant and unfunded until the election.
That sounds like a pretty radical concept but not as radical as the status quo, where voters have to "choose" from only one candidate or one of the lesser of two or three or four evils on a ballot. Or if they don't vote at all because their undervotes won't count for something, they are lumped together with those who really don't care about anything into the same category as lazy good-for-nothing bums who are not doing their civic duty and don't support the American way of life. This situation would be even worse if we had the totalitarian (communist or fascist principle) practice of compulsory voting in this country.
Having a "none of the above" option structured this way would prevent candidates who are not qualified to exercise control over our lives, property, money, relationships and freedoms from getting elected. This concept is merely an extension of the basic American and democratic principle of having those who govern us to have the consent of the governed.
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
Remember Veterans
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to express my appreciation for the write-ups that were featured in Times-Union paper on our local WW II veterans. I enjoyed reading about each of their experiences.
I have personally visited the Yad Vashem in Israel (memorial to the 6 million Jews). They have a motto there that says, "Forgetfulness leads to exile, but remembrance to redemption." I believe if we do not remember the cost of our freedom, we may someday give it away, having forgotten the price paid to get it and to keep it. Theresa, job well done!
Frank Rhoades
Pierceton
via e-mail
Seatbelts
Editor, Times-Union:Many times in the past I have agreed with your editorials; however, your editorial published on April 24, 2004, relating to mandatory seat belt laws was very flawed in several areas. I also do not want any more government control in my personal life but in this case I believe you missed the large picture due to your emotions of receiving a ticket for not buckling up.
There are several points that need to be addressed. First, when you stated "as long as you're not harming anyone else, have at it." When people say that their not wearing a seat belt is not affecting anyone else is absolutely not true. Americans pay $14.3 billion each year in injury-related costs. (Some statistics state that it is closer to $26 billion on average that the injured pay on actual costs.) The remaining 70 percent or $10.1 billion is paid by society through higher auto and health insurance and through assistant programs funding by federal and state revenues. The inpatient hospital costs to treat an unbelted crash victim are at least 50 percent or higher than those for belted victims according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis. And society pays for 85 percent of those costs, not the individual driver. We all pay for the unbelted driver.
Second, seatbelts help you stay in control of your car. Belts help reduce the risks that you are knocked unconscious or are thrown from your seat. Seatbelts help keep the other people in your car where they belong.
Lastly, but certainly not least, I am really disappointed that your editorial did not distinguish between government intervening and mandatory safety for our children and newly licensed teenaged drivers. Car accidents are the leading cause of death among our children 0-18 years of age. According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, two-thirds of them killed in motor vehicle crashes were not wearing their seat belts. According to the NHTSA, proper use of seatbelts reduces the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent. A study in 1996 showed that out of the 2,100 children that died and 327,000 that are injured yearly, 60 percent were unrestrained. Crash studies show in 70 percent of these instances, children were not buckled if the adult driver was not restrained.
Adversely, 94 percent of children were restrained if the adult was also wearing a safety belt. If we make our personal safety a necessity, we will do the same for our children. Consequently, not only do we protect our children when they are young by buckling them up, we also set an example that becomes habit forming for later in life.
A great opportunity was missed to tell our young people of the importance of wearing our seatbelts, especially at prom time.
As for the policeman who issued your ticket, thank you for enforcing all of the laws that you swore to uphold.
Joe T. Shepherd
Driver Training Instructor
via e-mail
Honor Vets
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to add my thank-you to the vets who have served our country. Also, there are three World War II vets I would like to honor. The first one is my father, Frank Black. The second one is my uncle, Harold Black. And the third one is the man who lived next door all of my life, Edgar Kinney. These three men came home from the war, but are now deceased. My father was married to my mother for 60 years before he passed away just five years ago on May 25, 1999. Thank you. On two occasions since my father died, someone has stolen a floral arrangement from his grave. I don't understand how anyone could do something so low and despicable as to steal from a grave. That is an extremely cowardly act to do, but more so when it is done to the grave of a vet.
Linda Black
Warsaw
via e-mail
Those Who Served
Editor, Times-Union:In the May 27 paper listing a large number of our Kosciusko County World War II veterans was very nice. It was showing we do remember, and was so amazing also how many of those names a person knew.
I was gone at the time and didn't see where the names were submitted and a deadline date for such, so I missed out completely for the printing. I really felt sorry and badly about it. However, I decided to inform you anyway.
I had three brothers and a sister all in the Navy during World War II. They were: Paul W. Shirey, Allen G. Shirey, Dean C. Shirey (all deceased now) and Gladys M. (Shirey) Reese, now 90 years young and at University Park Nursing Center in Fort Wayne. When the boys enlisted to go, Gladys said, "Well, if my brothers have to go, I'm going to go too," so she also enlisted in the WAVES and worked in the Hospital Corps. They were the children of Edwin A. and Flo O. Shirey of Palestine.
Customary back then was the stars displayed in the windows of the families who had someone in the service. They were made of material approximately 8x10 in size with a bright red border, then white inside that, with a royal blue star in the center. Our big front room window displayed four of these stars hanging across the top and a large royal blue anchor displayed on a white background on the lower right corner of the window, in which of course stood for the Navy.
They were all proud to be serving their country, and the rest of our family was extremely proud that they were serving. I thought this to be a pretty good record for anyone individual family.
Delores M. (Shirey) Harman
Palestine
Memorial
Editor, Times-Union:Regarding "A Grateful Nation Remembers" page 5C - May 27. It was wonderful to have the Kosciusko County World War II Recognition Day honoring our World War II veterans. I do understand that it was Ken Locke from the Salvation Army who was in charge of getting the list of names of veterans living and deceased. After talking to Gary Gerard (managing editor) I understand that the list of veterans listed could not possibly be all the veterans who lived or died in Kosciusko County that are so lovingly remembered by their families and friends. We also thank God for them.
A big thank-you to those businesses who sponsored the World War II events May 29. It was very much appreciated.
Esther May
Claypool
(Widow of Harold E. May, Oct. 13, 1924, to Sept. 24, 1990, who served in the Navy from April 20, 1943, to Jan. 10, 1946.)
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