Letters to the Editor 10-16-2000
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Campaign Finance - Don't Judge - Focus On Safety - Say Yes To Ballot Question - Gore And Abortion - Vote Roemer - Rich Man's News
Campaign Finance
Editor, Times-Union:The amount of money being spent by the politicians in this campaign is a disgrace. There is no reason to campaign on radio and television longer than 30 days prior to the election and no more than three times per day. This is ample time for a candidate to tell us why he or she should be given the job being applied for. The excess money being expended should better be used to provide food for the hungry.
A result of the longer campaign is it turns many people off and they won't vote. This is sad. People, we need to vote to keep control of our great country. Please vote. A huge turnout at the polls will send the message to the politicians that we are the ones to whom they are to pay attention, and not the special interests with the big money.
Fred R. Yohey
Atwood
Don't Judge
Editor, Times-Union:I am writing in response to Deanna Newton's letter about gay Bout Scout leaders. I have no comment on the whole Boy Scout leader issue for I am not aware of what the situation is, but what I do know is that being a homosexual is not a choice. If you would actually go up to a homosexual and ask them if they chose that, I am guaranteeing that every single one of them will say they did not choose this lifestyle. Being a homosexual is one of the hardest things a human being can go through. I have many gay friends and if you would hear the things they go through day in and day out, they would much rather not be gay. But do you know what? They would much rather be happy with who they are than live a lie. Homosexuality is NOT a choice, and for your Bible quote, maybe you should read on to Matthew 7:1-2: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it, it will be measured to you."
Brad Ellenwood
Akron
Via e-mail
Focus On Safety
Editor, Times-Union:Each day in Warsaw, a driver on U.S. 30 is playing a game of chance with your life. You might not realize it, as you head across the intersection on your green light, someone else may be betting that they can make it through the intersection on a red light, without a disaster happening. But there can be no winners in this game. I'm speaking of the frequent running of red lights on this highway by semis, cars, trucks and other vehicles. It's not news that this is a problem. According to the Indianapolis Star (Dec. 20, 1998), 1997 sheriff reports indicate that U.S. 30 in Kosciusko County was the second most deadly highway in the state of Indiana.
What is news is that someone from Warsaw is doing something about it. Ann Sweet, who lost her 21 year-old daughter to a tragic accident here from a semi running a red light, has founded "Focus on Safety," a traffic safety advocacy group committed to education about red light running and assisting communities in establishing programs curtailing the problem of red light running.
A great lady, Ann works in a professional and determined way toward preventing others from suffering the same kind of loss she has endured. Her traffic safety group has Senator Kent Adams, Senator Tom Wyss and Rep. David Wolkins participating and introducing legislation in November to enable communities in Indiana to establish preventative measures against the running of red lights. She has a wide variety of community leaders and individuals assisting her effort as well.
National "Stop Red Light Running Week 2000" is this week, Oct. 8-14. This week has been punctuated by the tragic loss of Ft. Wayne Officer Matteson. Camera technology at intersections to help prevent the running of red lights by holding the offender accountable has been proven in some communities to reduce the incidence of red light running by 40 percent.
The financial loss to anyone ticketed for violating the law is dwarfed by comparison to what each violator is asking us to pay in this grim game of chance. You only have to see the terrible price that Officer Matteson and Shawnee Ulrey and their families have had to pay.
Nancy Wilson
Focus on Safety team member
Say Yes To Ballot Question
Editor, Times-Union:This November, voters in the state of Indiana will be asked to approve Public Question #1, which would amend the Indiana Constitution so that all non-capital criminal appeals follow the same path through the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court as civil appeals.
Certain criminal appeals may now be taken directly to the Indiana Supreme Court based upon the length of the sentence received. Approval of this public question would require criminal defendants appealing their cases to first seek review with the Indiana Court of Appeals before review by the Supreme Court, with the exception of death penalty cases.
Approval of Public Question #1 would reduce the amount of criminal appeals that the Supreme Court has to deal with on an annual basis. Reduction of this work load would increase the amount of time available for the Supreme Court to review cases in important areas such as custody and visitation rights, property disputes and the like. Both the Indiana State Legislature and the House of Delegates for the Indiana State Bar Association have endorsed this proposed amendment to our constitution. Allowing the Supreme Court to spend more time on civil issues affecting the average citizen will undoubtedly serve the interests of all of us in the long run.
I would urge all voters in November to vote yes on this important questions.
Jay A. Rigdon, President
Kosciusko County Bar Association
Gore And Abortion
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to dispel the myth that Vice President Gore and his cohorts are pro-choice. Regarding taxes, the vice president wants the government to decide how to return the surplus to the taxpayers. Instead of giving all taxpayers their money back, he will choose which ones are worthy. You get a tax break if you send your children to college; you get a tax credit if you place your preschool children in day care, etc. If he were really pro-choice, he would let us choose how to spend our own money.
In the crucial area of upholding the Constitution of the United States, Vice President Gore would appoint justices who would interpret the Constitution "as a document that grows with our country and our history." He would continue the trend of giving a handful of judges the choice to amend the Constitution on the fly. However, our founding fathers provided us with explicit instructions for amending the Constitution; they place that choice in the hands of the citizens.
From Social Security to Medicare to education, Mr. Gore is opposed to giving us a choice in managing our own affairs. So why do he and his followers call themselves pro-choice? Because it is the best euphemism they can find for giving a woman the right to destroy the life of her unborn child. If there were only one area where we were NOT entitled to a choice, that would be it. Taking the life of an innocent human being should not be anyone's choice, but God's alone! Yet that is the very area that our vice president targets in his pro-choice rhetoric.
The pro-abortion choice is a foolish choice. We are following the same path as the Nazis. What makes us think we will not receive the same end that they did? "They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless. They say, 'The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed!' Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile." Psalm 94:6-11
We have a choice on November 7th that has not yet been taken from us. We can reverse the trend that has been slowly eroding the moral fabric of our society. We may not have the best choice, but it is a clear choice. It is more than a choice; it is our responsibility. Help put a stop to the killing of innocent children. Vote for those candidates who support our legitimate choices and still uphold the sanctity of human life.
Tim Witte
Winona Lake
Vote Roemer
Editor, Times-Union:We should vote for Tim Roemer to continue to be our Third District Representative. After reading Chris Chocola's remarks at the Republican Hall of Fame banquet, I believe that Mr. Chocola gave us excellent reasons to vote for his opponent, Tim Roemer, in the race for the U.S. Congress.
First Mr. Chocola criticized Rep. Roemer for having his family live with him in Washington, D.C., stating that Congress is in session only six months of the year. That is not accurate, and much is accomplished when the House is not "in session." But even if his time assessment were true, I believe that a good father needs to be with his four children more than six months of the year! It's important for Rep. Roemer to love his family and instill values at all times!
In this time of instant communication, what relevance is Rep. Roemer's owning property here or not? He does spend time in the district. More importantly, I have over the years contacted Rep. Roemer with my thoughts using various means: U.S. mail, e-mail and telephone. I have always received a swift acknowledgment of my concerns with details of Rep. Roemer's plan of action on the matter. Evidence of Rep. Roemer's productive efforts for our district are many - appropriations for continued Hummer production, increased monies for law enforcement throughout the area and many educational objectives achieved - to name a few.
Mr. Chocola's criticism that Rep. Roemer has voted at times in opposition to the leaders of his party is very hard to understand. I'm glad that Tim Roemer researches each issue before voting. Mr. Chocola further insinuated that he would follow the Republican leadership-always! Why not elect a robot? It would be better if all members of Congress followed Rep. Roemer's example of bipartisan cooperation. One success is the recent passage by the House of the Roemer amendment that requires all unspent office funds of members of Congress to be returned to the Treasury for debt reduction. Rep. Roemer has returned over $1 million during his years in office. Others have directed office funds into different spending measures.
These are only a few of the reasons we should support Tim Roemer. He has represented us well and deserves our vote in 2000!
Judith A. Steckly
Warsaw
via e-mail
Rich Man's News
Editor, Times-Union:Do you ever bother to proofread what is put in your paper? I'm surprised the local teachers let you get away with printing such garbage.
Unions brought this country out of poverty. Go ask the miners how they enjoyed giving their whole paycheck back to the company store, or the textile workers who were thrown out of their homes if they missed a day of work.
Your buddies at the country club might be impressed, but your use of the First Amendment is beyond belief.
Ask the company owners why they match what the local unions are making in pay and benefits. Why do you slam 98 percent of your readers every chance you get? The blue collar workers, no matter what color uniforms they wear, are the people who keep your paper in business.
Then, in your editorial in the same paper, you tell everyone to accept a tax break for the rich 1 percent of people. What's next, let the Wall Street bankers rip off the Social Security of $2 billion a year because there is not a war going on to make money off of?
What kind of job security do you have? Where would you and your family be if they lost your income today? Why is your paper called Times-Union? It should be called "Rich Man's News."
Robert Ruggiero
Winona Lake
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- Campaign Finance - Don't Judge - Focus On Safety - Say Yes To Ballot Question - Gore And Abortion - Vote Roemer - Rich Man's News
Campaign Finance
Editor, Times-Union:The amount of money being spent by the politicians in this campaign is a disgrace. There is no reason to campaign on radio and television longer than 30 days prior to the election and no more than three times per day. This is ample time for a candidate to tell us why he or she should be given the job being applied for. The excess money being expended should better be used to provide food for the hungry.
A result of the longer campaign is it turns many people off and they won't vote. This is sad. People, we need to vote to keep control of our great country. Please vote. A huge turnout at the polls will send the message to the politicians that we are the ones to whom they are to pay attention, and not the special interests with the big money.
Fred R. Yohey
Atwood
Don't Judge
Editor, Times-Union:I am writing in response to Deanna Newton's letter about gay Bout Scout leaders. I have no comment on the whole Boy Scout leader issue for I am not aware of what the situation is, but what I do know is that being a homosexual is not a choice. If you would actually go up to a homosexual and ask them if they chose that, I am guaranteeing that every single one of them will say they did not choose this lifestyle. Being a homosexual is one of the hardest things a human being can go through. I have many gay friends and if you would hear the things they go through day in and day out, they would much rather not be gay. But do you know what? They would much rather be happy with who they are than live a lie. Homosexuality is NOT a choice, and for your Bible quote, maybe you should read on to Matthew 7:1-2: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it, it will be measured to you."
Brad Ellenwood
Akron
Via e-mail
Focus On Safety
Editor, Times-Union:Each day in Warsaw, a driver on U.S. 30 is playing a game of chance with your life. You might not realize it, as you head across the intersection on your green light, someone else may be betting that they can make it through the intersection on a red light, without a disaster happening. But there can be no winners in this game. I'm speaking of the frequent running of red lights on this highway by semis, cars, trucks and other vehicles. It's not news that this is a problem. According to the Indianapolis Star (Dec. 20, 1998), 1997 sheriff reports indicate that U.S. 30 in Kosciusko County was the second most deadly highway in the state of Indiana.
What is news is that someone from Warsaw is doing something about it. Ann Sweet, who lost her 21 year-old daughter to a tragic accident here from a semi running a red light, has founded "Focus on Safety," a traffic safety advocacy group committed to education about red light running and assisting communities in establishing programs curtailing the problem of red light running.
A great lady, Ann works in a professional and determined way toward preventing others from suffering the same kind of loss she has endured. Her traffic safety group has Senator Kent Adams, Senator Tom Wyss and Rep. David Wolkins participating and introducing legislation in November to enable communities in Indiana to establish preventative measures against the running of red lights. She has a wide variety of community leaders and individuals assisting her effort as well.
National "Stop Red Light Running Week 2000" is this week, Oct. 8-14. This week has been punctuated by the tragic loss of Ft. Wayne Officer Matteson. Camera technology at intersections to help prevent the running of red lights by holding the offender accountable has been proven in some communities to reduce the incidence of red light running by 40 percent.
The financial loss to anyone ticketed for violating the law is dwarfed by comparison to what each violator is asking us to pay in this grim game of chance. You only have to see the terrible price that Officer Matteson and Shawnee Ulrey and their families have had to pay.
Nancy Wilson
Focus on Safety team member
Say Yes To Ballot Question
Editor, Times-Union:This November, voters in the state of Indiana will be asked to approve Public Question #1, which would amend the Indiana Constitution so that all non-capital criminal appeals follow the same path through the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court as civil appeals.
Certain criminal appeals may now be taken directly to the Indiana Supreme Court based upon the length of the sentence received. Approval of this public question would require criminal defendants appealing their cases to first seek review with the Indiana Court of Appeals before review by the Supreme Court, with the exception of death penalty cases.
Approval of Public Question #1 would reduce the amount of criminal appeals that the Supreme Court has to deal with on an annual basis. Reduction of this work load would increase the amount of time available for the Supreme Court to review cases in important areas such as custody and visitation rights, property disputes and the like. Both the Indiana State Legislature and the House of Delegates for the Indiana State Bar Association have endorsed this proposed amendment to our constitution. Allowing the Supreme Court to spend more time on civil issues affecting the average citizen will undoubtedly serve the interests of all of us in the long run.
I would urge all voters in November to vote yes on this important questions.
Jay A. Rigdon, President
Kosciusko County Bar Association
Gore And Abortion
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to dispel the myth that Vice President Gore and his cohorts are pro-choice. Regarding taxes, the vice president wants the government to decide how to return the surplus to the taxpayers. Instead of giving all taxpayers their money back, he will choose which ones are worthy. You get a tax break if you send your children to college; you get a tax credit if you place your preschool children in day care, etc. If he were really pro-choice, he would let us choose how to spend our own money.
In the crucial area of upholding the Constitution of the United States, Vice President Gore would appoint justices who would interpret the Constitution "as a document that grows with our country and our history." He would continue the trend of giving a handful of judges the choice to amend the Constitution on the fly. However, our founding fathers provided us with explicit instructions for amending the Constitution; they place that choice in the hands of the citizens.
From Social Security to Medicare to education, Mr. Gore is opposed to giving us a choice in managing our own affairs. So why do he and his followers call themselves pro-choice? Because it is the best euphemism they can find for giving a woman the right to destroy the life of her unborn child. If there were only one area where we were NOT entitled to a choice, that would be it. Taking the life of an innocent human being should not be anyone's choice, but God's alone! Yet that is the very area that our vice president targets in his pro-choice rhetoric.
The pro-abortion choice is a foolish choice. We are following the same path as the Nazis. What makes us think we will not receive the same end that they did? "They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless. They say, 'The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed!' Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile." Psalm 94:6-11
We have a choice on November 7th that has not yet been taken from us. We can reverse the trend that has been slowly eroding the moral fabric of our society. We may not have the best choice, but it is a clear choice. It is more than a choice; it is our responsibility. Help put a stop to the killing of innocent children. Vote for those candidates who support our legitimate choices and still uphold the sanctity of human life.
Tim Witte
Winona Lake
Vote Roemer
Editor, Times-Union:We should vote for Tim Roemer to continue to be our Third District Representative. After reading Chris Chocola's remarks at the Republican Hall of Fame banquet, I believe that Mr. Chocola gave us excellent reasons to vote for his opponent, Tim Roemer, in the race for the U.S. Congress.
First Mr. Chocola criticized Rep. Roemer for having his family live with him in Washington, D.C., stating that Congress is in session only six months of the year. That is not accurate, and much is accomplished when the House is not "in session." But even if his time assessment were true, I believe that a good father needs to be with his four children more than six months of the year! It's important for Rep. Roemer to love his family and instill values at all times!
In this time of instant communication, what relevance is Rep. Roemer's owning property here or not? He does spend time in the district. More importantly, I have over the years contacted Rep. Roemer with my thoughts using various means: U.S. mail, e-mail and telephone. I have always received a swift acknowledgment of my concerns with details of Rep. Roemer's plan of action on the matter. Evidence of Rep. Roemer's productive efforts for our district are many - appropriations for continued Hummer production, increased monies for law enforcement throughout the area and many educational objectives achieved - to name a few.
Mr. Chocola's criticism that Rep. Roemer has voted at times in opposition to the leaders of his party is very hard to understand. I'm glad that Tim Roemer researches each issue before voting. Mr. Chocola further insinuated that he would follow the Republican leadership-always! Why not elect a robot? It would be better if all members of Congress followed Rep. Roemer's example of bipartisan cooperation. One success is the recent passage by the House of the Roemer amendment that requires all unspent office funds of members of Congress to be returned to the Treasury for debt reduction. Rep. Roemer has returned over $1 million during his years in office. Others have directed office funds into different spending measures.
These are only a few of the reasons we should support Tim Roemer. He has represented us well and deserves our vote in 2000!
Judith A. Steckly
Warsaw
via e-mail
Rich Man's News
Editor, Times-Union:Do you ever bother to proofread what is put in your paper? I'm surprised the local teachers let you get away with printing such garbage.
Unions brought this country out of poverty. Go ask the miners how they enjoyed giving their whole paycheck back to the company store, or the textile workers who were thrown out of their homes if they missed a day of work.
Your buddies at the country club might be impressed, but your use of the First Amendment is beyond belief.
Ask the company owners why they match what the local unions are making in pay and benefits. Why do you slam 98 percent of your readers every chance you get? The blue collar workers, no matter what color uniforms they wear, are the people who keep your paper in business.
Then, in your editorial in the same paper, you tell everyone to accept a tax break for the rich 1 percent of people. What's next, let the Wall Street bankers rip off the Social Security of $2 billion a year because there is not a war going on to make money off of?
What kind of job security do you have? Where would you and your family be if they lost your income today? Why is your paper called Times-Union? It should be called "Rich Man's News."
Robert Ruggiero
Winona Lake
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