Letters to the Editor 06-08-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Thanks To Businesses - Jail Expansion - WCHS Awards - Salvation Army Says Thanks - SUVs
Thanks To Businesses
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to give a tip of the hat to the following businesses for going beyond the call of duty to help a consumer.
First off, I would like to thank Warsaw Public Library. They have always been very helpful by helping me on and off the wheelchair lift, finding materials and making sure I get on my bus when it is time to leave.
Another big thank you to the kind staff at Marsh Supermarket. They always greet me with a smile and always go out of their way to make sure I am taken care of in a prompt and delightful manor.
A real holy thank you goes to the wonderful people at Video World. Bill and his staff were the first business I encountered when I moved to Warsaw. And after going there for quite a while now, I can honestly say they make me feel like part of the family.
Another thank you goes to Blockbuster Video and to Jason, the manager who, due to my oversight, helped me get into a regular taxi to help me return home safely.
And last but not least, none of this would be possible without my very good friends at KABS, who make my traveling easy and enjoyable.
Doug Fletcher, Warsaw
Jail Expansion
Editor, Times-Union:A new federal commission that will study whether entertainment companies market violence to children is a case of "intimidation by bureaucrats" and almost certainly won't accomplish anything useful, says the Libertarian Party.
America already has a mechanism to protect children against violent entertainment: it's called parents. It's unlikely a handful of bureaucrats will be as effective as tens of millions of concerned parents.
President Bill Clinton recently announced that the federal government will spend $1 million to study the marketing strategies of movie, music and video game companies.
The study will be conducted by the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department. The commission will have the power to issue subpoenas and will study whether entertainment companies "improperly" market violent materials to children.
Concern about the effects of violent entertainment on children is legitimate, spending tax dollars so bureaucrats can "study" the issue isn't.
This is government using intimidation by bureaucrats to put the squeeze on the First Amendment. These studies, and threat of federal regulation, are what elitist politicians do when ordinary people don't behave like politicians think they should.
Americans already have complete control over the content of video games, movies and music: If they don't like it, they don't buy it. And if they think it's not appropriate for their children, they don't buy it for their children.
Whatever recommendations the commission makes probably won't be effective, and may even make the problem worse.
For example, after the federal government mandated a prime-time TV ratings system in 1997, sexual content on the major networks jumped by 42 percent and offensive language shot up by 30 percent.
Experts suggested ratings themselves were to blame for the increase in sex, violence and cursing. Brent Bozell, chairman of the Parents Television Council, said that networks "would insert edgier content into their shows and justify insertions by pointing out that attached ratings warned the audience it was coming."
Usually when the government gets involved, the problem seems to get worse. If you think entertainment is violent now, just wait until federal bureaucrats get their hands on it.
And Libertarians have one final question about the study: Why is Bill Clinton, the nation's most aggressive purveyor of real death, violence and destruction, launching a study of fictionalized violence?
Are Libertarians the only ones to notice the irony here? Bill Clinton, with his bombing campaign in Yugoslavia, caused children to be blown to bits in hospitals, blasted old people in retirement homes, massacred motorists on a busy bridge, rained missiles on refugee families, killed innocent Chinese civilians in their embassy, and cut off electricity to hospitals and schools.
And talk about marketing violence: Clinton has "sold" this war in speeches, via film clips of missile strikes and smart bomb attacks, saturation coverage on CNN, and through the massive, tax-funded PR machine of the federal government.
For Bill Clinton, a man with the blood of hundreds of innocent victims on his hands, to complain about fake violence in movies, music and video games isn't just hypocritical, its criminal.
Daniel Stevens, Libertarian Party Kosciusko County, Warsaw
via e-mail
WCHS Awards
Editor, Times-Union:Tuesday evening (5-2), 150 Warsaw Community High School students from the Class of 1999 were honored through various awards and many, many community-based scholarships. More are added each year.
We have a wonderful community that cares about young people and excellence. This evening is a special time that we as a community come together and recognize students who have worked very hard to achieve in academics, extracurricular activities, volunteer efforts, and many, many other areas.
Last year I reported that an estimated $250,000 in scholarships and interest-free loans are provided to Kosciusko County residents each year. This year the conservative estimate is $300,000+. This is a mind-boggling figure and I take my hat off to this community. Thank you, Warsaw, I am proud to be a member of this outstanding community.
Rick Swaim, WCHS, Awards Night Coordinator
Salvation Army Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:The Salvation Army would like to thank the Postal Workers Union for their recent food drive that brought in 5,000 pounds of food for our pantry. For five years now the Postal Workers have supported the pantry in cooperation with the United Way and the response has been tremendous.
Secondly, we would also send our thanks to the Kosciusko District of the Boy Scouts who collected items during their annual "Scouting For Food" drive. Their efforts benefitted four pantries in the county including the Army. Thanks for doing a "good turn" for those in need.
Finally, thanks also goes to the Women's Auxiliary of The Salvation Army who bring items to the pantry every month when they meet. The diapers, toothpaste and other special items are greatly appreciated by those who come and choose items in our pantry as they need assistance.
Thank you, Kosciusko County, for your continued assistance and support in our ministry to those less fortunate.
Ken Locke, Salvation Army
SUVs
Editor, Times-Union:An editorial in the June 1st Times-Union addressed several concerns about sport utility vehicles. Specific attention was paid to the issues of the new generation of larger sport utility vehicles and tailpipe emissions.
I cannot speak with reference to other manufacturers' products, but I can speak about the vehicles produced by the manufacturer whose products I represent. All sport utility vehicles produced by Ford Motor Co. for the 1999 model year already meet applicable federal standards as Low Emission Vehicles (LEVs). The new behemoth, the 2000 Excursion, will also meet or exceed this standard. This means that Ford sport utility vehicles produce 43 percent less smog-forming exhaust than allowed by current applicable law.
Further efforts to make the Excursion environmentally and consumer friendly are reflected by the fact that it will be 85 percent recyclable by weight. The Excursion will also include a front "BlockerBeam" and a non-removable trailer hitch as an underride protection system in the event of a collision with most cars.
Ford is trying to be a responsible neighbor while meeting the desires of its customers to drive a vehicle that fits their lifestyles.
Michael Suhany, Sales Representative, Rice Ford Lincoln Mercury
[[In-content Ad]]
- Thanks To Businesses - Jail Expansion - WCHS Awards - Salvation Army Says Thanks - SUVs
Thanks To Businesses
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to give a tip of the hat to the following businesses for going beyond the call of duty to help a consumer.
First off, I would like to thank Warsaw Public Library. They have always been very helpful by helping me on and off the wheelchair lift, finding materials and making sure I get on my bus when it is time to leave.
Another big thank you to the kind staff at Marsh Supermarket. They always greet me with a smile and always go out of their way to make sure I am taken care of in a prompt and delightful manor.
A real holy thank you goes to the wonderful people at Video World. Bill and his staff were the first business I encountered when I moved to Warsaw. And after going there for quite a while now, I can honestly say they make me feel like part of the family.
Another thank you goes to Blockbuster Video and to Jason, the manager who, due to my oversight, helped me get into a regular taxi to help me return home safely.
And last but not least, none of this would be possible without my very good friends at KABS, who make my traveling easy and enjoyable.
Doug Fletcher, Warsaw
Jail Expansion
Editor, Times-Union:A new federal commission that will study whether entertainment companies market violence to children is a case of "intimidation by bureaucrats" and almost certainly won't accomplish anything useful, says the Libertarian Party.
America already has a mechanism to protect children against violent entertainment: it's called parents. It's unlikely a handful of bureaucrats will be as effective as tens of millions of concerned parents.
President Bill Clinton recently announced that the federal government will spend $1 million to study the marketing strategies of movie, music and video game companies.
The study will be conducted by the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department. The commission will have the power to issue subpoenas and will study whether entertainment companies "improperly" market violent materials to children.
Concern about the effects of violent entertainment on children is legitimate, spending tax dollars so bureaucrats can "study" the issue isn't.
This is government using intimidation by bureaucrats to put the squeeze on the First Amendment. These studies, and threat of federal regulation, are what elitist politicians do when ordinary people don't behave like politicians think they should.
Americans already have complete control over the content of video games, movies and music: If they don't like it, they don't buy it. And if they think it's not appropriate for their children, they don't buy it for their children.
Whatever recommendations the commission makes probably won't be effective, and may even make the problem worse.
For example, after the federal government mandated a prime-time TV ratings system in 1997, sexual content on the major networks jumped by 42 percent and offensive language shot up by 30 percent.
Experts suggested ratings themselves were to blame for the increase in sex, violence and cursing. Brent Bozell, chairman of the Parents Television Council, said that networks "would insert edgier content into their shows and justify insertions by pointing out that attached ratings warned the audience it was coming."
Usually when the government gets involved, the problem seems to get worse. If you think entertainment is violent now, just wait until federal bureaucrats get their hands on it.
And Libertarians have one final question about the study: Why is Bill Clinton, the nation's most aggressive purveyor of real death, violence and destruction, launching a study of fictionalized violence?
Are Libertarians the only ones to notice the irony here? Bill Clinton, with his bombing campaign in Yugoslavia, caused children to be blown to bits in hospitals, blasted old people in retirement homes, massacred motorists on a busy bridge, rained missiles on refugee families, killed innocent Chinese civilians in their embassy, and cut off electricity to hospitals and schools.
And talk about marketing violence: Clinton has "sold" this war in speeches, via film clips of missile strikes and smart bomb attacks, saturation coverage on CNN, and through the massive, tax-funded PR machine of the federal government.
For Bill Clinton, a man with the blood of hundreds of innocent victims on his hands, to complain about fake violence in movies, music and video games isn't just hypocritical, its criminal.
Daniel Stevens, Libertarian Party Kosciusko County, Warsaw
via e-mail
WCHS Awards
Editor, Times-Union:Tuesday evening (5-2), 150 Warsaw Community High School students from the Class of 1999 were honored through various awards and many, many community-based scholarships. More are added each year.
We have a wonderful community that cares about young people and excellence. This evening is a special time that we as a community come together and recognize students who have worked very hard to achieve in academics, extracurricular activities, volunteer efforts, and many, many other areas.
Last year I reported that an estimated $250,000 in scholarships and interest-free loans are provided to Kosciusko County residents each year. This year the conservative estimate is $300,000+. This is a mind-boggling figure and I take my hat off to this community. Thank you, Warsaw, I am proud to be a member of this outstanding community.
Rick Swaim, WCHS, Awards Night Coordinator
Salvation Army Says Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:The Salvation Army would like to thank the Postal Workers Union for their recent food drive that brought in 5,000 pounds of food for our pantry. For five years now the Postal Workers have supported the pantry in cooperation with the United Way and the response has been tremendous.
Secondly, we would also send our thanks to the Kosciusko District of the Boy Scouts who collected items during their annual "Scouting For Food" drive. Their efforts benefitted four pantries in the county including the Army. Thanks for doing a "good turn" for those in need.
Finally, thanks also goes to the Women's Auxiliary of The Salvation Army who bring items to the pantry every month when they meet. The diapers, toothpaste and other special items are greatly appreciated by those who come and choose items in our pantry as they need assistance.
Thank you, Kosciusko County, for your continued assistance and support in our ministry to those less fortunate.
Ken Locke, Salvation Army
SUVs
Editor, Times-Union:An editorial in the June 1st Times-Union addressed several concerns about sport utility vehicles. Specific attention was paid to the issues of the new generation of larger sport utility vehicles and tailpipe emissions.
I cannot speak with reference to other manufacturers' products, but I can speak about the vehicles produced by the manufacturer whose products I represent. All sport utility vehicles produced by Ford Motor Co. for the 1999 model year already meet applicable federal standards as Low Emission Vehicles (LEVs). The new behemoth, the 2000 Excursion, will also meet or exceed this standard. This means that Ford sport utility vehicles produce 43 percent less smog-forming exhaust than allowed by current applicable law.
Further efforts to make the Excursion environmentally and consumer friendly are reflected by the fact that it will be 85 percent recyclable by weight. The Excursion will also include a front "BlockerBeam" and a non-removable trailer hitch as an underride protection system in the event of a collision with most cars.
Ford is trying to be a responsible neighbor while meeting the desires of its customers to drive a vehicle that fits their lifestyles.
Michael Suhany, Sales Representative, Rice Ford Lincoln Mercury
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092