Published: October 11, 2008 01:38 am            

LETTERS: Oct. 11, 2008

Reader disputes Butler’s letter



Ms. Butler’s Sept. 30, 2008, letter to the editor condemns Congressman Baron Hill’s call for Mike Sodrel to apologize for leaving the 9th District high and dry when he abruptly left his office without turning over important records. Instead, she urges Hill to apologize to his constituents for endorsing Senator Obama in the primary. She compares apples to oranges and loses credibility by changing the subject to reflect her own anger and bitterness over the outcome of the Presidential primary. (Reminder: Clinton did win Indiana.)

We elected Baron Hill to represent our district for the betterment of all its citizens and the country as a whole. That means that we have trusted him to do what he believes will be in all our best interests, not to just mimic everything we say.

Baron Hill has never been “bought” and has never been a “yes” man. He has admitted that he struggled with his decision to endorse Senator Obama, knowing that he would be attacked (and there have been some odious racist comments against him — something all Hoosiers should repudiate). This took a lot of courage for Congressman Hill, and he deserves the respect of his constituents.

I was fortunate to be present when former Congressman Lee Hamilton spoke very eloquently and passionately about the need for transformational change to our politics and policies at the highest level, and that Barack Obama was the clear choice for bringing about this systemic change. Hamilton was just one of many highly respected people in the public and private sectors with that considered opinion.

As much as I admire Senator Clinton, I feel strongly that Senator Obama is the better choice for this period in our history. Certainly, on Election Day, personal disappointments will be set aside, and all true Democrats will realize that we cannot stand a continuation of the downward spiral of the past eight years. We must unite behind our Party’s candidate for the sake of our children and grandchildren. Because this election is about the future, not the past.

— Ruthanne Wolfe, New Albany



Reader shares his letter to congressmen

I recently submitted the following letter to my three congressmen (Sen. Evan Bayh, Sen. Richard Lugar, and Rep. Baron Hill). I am not an economist, but I pay my taxes, have my own financial worries, and am paying as much attention as anyone to the financial crisis we're currently dealing with. I hope this letter makes valid points that all of us, whether agreeing or not, can appreciate:

“Dear (insert Legislator here),

“I appreciate you and your staff taking time to read through this, but know you're busy, so I'll be brief.

“Please oppose the proposed $700 billion bailout of mortgage-backed securities that is currently being debated in the Joint Economic Committee.

“My reasoning for this is simply summed in 3 parts;

First, the American economy fluctuates, and a recession, though unpleasant, is part of that cycle. Artificially fixing it will simply ensure the next downturn comes sooner, and will likely be more severe. Our country was built on largely laissez-faire economy, with minimal regulation. Leave it be; it will work itself out.

“My second reason has to do with posterity; social security has taken a real backseat with all the panic of today's economic and energy news, but it is important to me. I am 24 years of age, and, with things the way they currently are being handled on the social security front, my generation will be paying the debt of the baby-boomers for our entire lives, likely to never collect even a third of what we've invested when our retirement arrives. While I wish this was an issue that Congress would address, I ask you, please, don't shoulder my generation with an additional $700 Billion dollar debt to pay beyond the current national debt and social security situation.

“Third, great risk involves great reward, and great failure. Let those who have taken their chances have their cake and eat it. They do not represent the masses that will be adversely affected shouldering the debt of these investors.

“I vote, and I remember. Please, let those who have risked and failed enjoy the fruits of their labors; the rest of us should not be fixing their problems for them.

“Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope my opinion will be considered as you deliberate this issue at this critical time for all Americans.”

— Nathan Bills, Concerned American, Salem



On student textbooks

Congratulations to the state board of education on figuring out what lots of students might already know: Social studies textbooks are boring.

The fact is, though, that the textbooks have always been boring, and at least according to one expert, they’re actually less boring than they used to be.

Board members came close to rejecting all of them. And they might have if Suellen Reed, the state superintendent of public instruction, hadn’t talked them out of it, arguing that by approving the books, the board would be giving schools a chance to buy them at a discount.

History teachers acknowledged that the books on their own were pretty dry. The key, they say, is to make up for that with lively classroom discussions and interactive assignments. No textbook, after all, can compete with a teacher who captures the imaginations of students, and teachers who are excited about their topic can do a lot to bring the subject to life.

Still, it’s important that textbooks present history in a way that will make students want to keep reading. Our hope is that members of the state board of education might have gotten the attention of textbook publishers. History is filled with drama and excitement, and it should not be taught in a monotone.

— Pharos-Tribune, Logansport

        

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