Published: June 21, 2009 12:42 am      

LETTERS: June 22, 2009

Reader questions Baron Hill



Dear Congressman Hill:

Thank you for your letter of June 1. I would like to give you my views with regard to the issues you think that Congress must tackle. The first on your list is health care reform. I wish you would read the Constitution you and the president swore to uphold. I have studied that document considerably and can’t for the life of me figure out what part covers the federal government getting involved with health care. Would you please enlighten me?

Of course, the rest of the issues you mention — education, job creation — are not mentioned in the Constitution either. I believe they are covered by the Tenth Amendment.

To wit: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the states respectively or to the people.”

Perhaps, sir, if you weren’t so concerned with things that don’t concern you, you would have time to read the bills that you do sign. As I understand it, you signed off on the so-called stimulus bill and didn’t have time from printing to voting to have read it. Of course, you were told that if you didn’t pass it, unemployment would be 8 percent by now. What happened?

It is 9.4 percent. So how did it help?

— Gordon McCall, Charlestown





Political amnesia runs rampant in city



There’s an old saying that says if you give a dance, you gotta pay the band. Seems that in the last election, a particular candidate decided to run on a referendum that was poorly constructed. There were no handouts to explain what the referendum was, or even how it got on the ballot. It was mired in a lot of political jabberwocky that ended up being shot down.

To quote a famous comedian, “That’s stupid!” Not only was it stupid, but it was a tragedy that this person wouldn’t even recognize me when I wanted to talk with her later on when I ran into her on the street. Could it be that the members of the “good ol’ boys” club have decided that they pander and gravel to get elected, and then, after they get defeated, they develop political amnesia to run away from their obligations after the dust clears?

Political amnesia is dangerous and yet, it’s running rampant here in the city. So to the candidate who lost their office on the grounds of a poorly worded referendum, if you put on the dance, when will you pay the band? After all, the band can’t play for free. Now, that’s stupid!

— Artie Oldson, Jeffersonville



Reader questions why smoking ban not reintroduced



Recently while running errands in New Albany’s east end, I happened on Councilman Jack Messer. When I asked him when the city’s smoking ban might be reintroduced, his response was, “There ain’t gonna be no smokin’ ban.” His butchering of the King’s English aside, how did Mr. Messer already know that there “ain’t gonna be no smokin’ ban”? Was this merely his own opinion or is there more to his response?

Personally, I would submit that the actions of Mayor Doug England and several of the New Albany City Council members does not pass the smell test.

The council voted 5-4 in favor of a comprehensive smoking ban. Those who voted no were members Jack Messer, Diane McCartin Benedetti, Steve Price and Kevin Zurschmiede.

These individuals, as well as Mayor England, have had many years to observe the effects of secondhand smoke. It has been irrefutably shown to damage the health of those exposed, particularly children. Have Mayor England and the aforementioned members of the council been absent from planet Earth while the evidence accumulated or do they have a different agenda?

It’s difficult for me to fathom how anyone could not see voluntarily exposing children to secondhand smoke for what it is — child abuse. Do the above individuals represent the views of their constituents?

Of course not! What, then, could account for their position on this matter:

• Trolling for votes in their districts?

• Indifference to the health of their constituents — especially that of children?

• Fence riding in hopes the issue will fade?

• Inability to comprehend the consequences of their actions?

I submit it is all of the above.

My council person is Bob Caesar, who introduced the smoking ban months ago. Now, he indicates he will not reintroduce it for another vote. I ask, Mr. Caesar, have you altered your position or do you simply lack the courage of your convictions?

If the latter, I suggest additional starch in your shirts may help compensate for lack of a spine.

There are “No Smoking” placards in the City-County Building. When entering or exiting, one’s lungs are assaulted by the smoke of individuals gathered just outside the doors. Was the intention of the signs to make the building a no-smoking facility?

Absolutely. The kindest spin that can be attributed to the actions of Mayor England and those city council members who voted against the ban is that of indifference — indifference to the effect secondhand smoke has on the employees and children exposed to a pollutant that is produced by an addictive substance. At least heroin addicts don’t put the people present to their activities at direct risk.

Council members Benedetti and Messer both recently cast blatant conflict of interest votes — Ms. Benedetti in favor of her brother, and Mr. Messer for new police cars. (Mr. Messer is a New Albany police officer.)

The most educated members of our community, regarding the effects of secondhand smoke exposure, are our physicians. To Mayor England and council members Benedetti, Messer, Price and Zurschmiede: I suggest you all consult your family doctors. They will help you “do the right thing.”

— Ed Livingston, New Albany