News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Letters

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
July 1, 2009

Readers' Forum for 7/2

Help the needy with energy bills



The number-one call for help in Indiana is to pay utility bills, increasing over 80 percent in one year. Indiana’s budget contains no aid for families struggling to afford this necessity, but last winter almost 198,000 families received heating assistance through the federal Low Income Home Energy Program (LIHEAP), most of whom are particularly vulnerable to temperature extremes because of disability or age.

For three years, Indiana has wisely chosen to exempt LIHEAP from state sales tax, increasing LIHEAP buying power by 7 percent. Unless legislators act now, this tax exemption will expire. The only rationale for reinstating LIHEAP sales tax would be to collect more revenue.

Our budget should not be balanced by taxing vulnerable Hoosiers for a necessity.

Rep. Bill Crawford and Sen. Luke Kenley, budget writers for the House and Senate, have commendably funded food banks in their proposed state budgets, and both have acted in previous sessions to pass the LIHEAP sales tax exemption.

It is time to again help struggling Hoosiers heat and cool their homes by allowing them full benefit of our federal utility assistance. Rep. Crawford has included the LIHEAP sales tax exemption in the House budget. The Senate should follow suit.

— Edward Gerardot

Indiana Community

Action Association

June Lyle, AARP

Glenn Tebbe, Indiana

Catholic Conference

Josephine Hughes,

National Association of

Social Workers,

Indiana Chapter



We need rational discourse, not hate



The letter written by Ron Hastings on the subject of cartoonist Tom Toles was of the same hateful, inaccurate thinking as the cartoon writer.

1. There were and continue to be many rumors of al-Qaida attacks on the United States before Bush and during the Bush years, and no one could have predicted the 9/11 attacks in detail enough to stop them. There were no new attacks during the Bush administration as a result of aggressive counter-intelligence action. There were numerous attacks under the Clinton administration.

Bush and Cheney went to war only after an overwhelming “yes” vote in Congress, supported by our current secretary of state, vice president, and Senate majority leader, all Democrats. Obama was not in Congress.

2. The current deep recession we are suffering was directly tied to government decrees to banks, to lend money to people on housing when they couldn’t afford to make the payments.

Bad loans were then bought by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, both government creations.

The responsibility is shared by greedy banks, irresponsible home buyers, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, and the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates too low too long, and the administrations of Carter, Bush Sr., Clinton, and the last Bush administration. The major reason was affirmative lending for poor people on housing they could not pay for, and the idea that everyone should have a house even when they can’t pay.

The American people have been taking on debt they can’t afford, just as the current administration is taking on massive debt for our children and grandchildren.

Comparing Bush and Cheney to Saddam, and waterboarding to Saddam’s sadistic torture along with his sons, is unfair. Obama, when in Cairo, used his middle name Hussein and speaks of his experience in Indonesia as a result of his stepfather being a Muslim. I accept that Obama is a Christian.

Rational discourse in politics is important, and informed opinion is essential for accuracy and learning.

The type of hate displayed by most of Toles’ cartoons, and Ron Hastings’ hateful inaccurate accusations, inflame, but don’t inform.

— Neal J. Ganly

Terre Haute



Hell awaits as reward for theft



Between Sunday, June 21, and Tuesday, June 23, someone stole three flower baskets from my wife’s grave in Calvary Cemetery. The vermin slithered over the fence between Deming Park and Calvary Cemetery.

I’m sure the individuals who completed the act of vandalism are smiling at their success.

When the Man rings the bell at the End, all will see the video replay of this act of vandalism, then I will see justice as the Man sends them to Hell for their reward of vandalism.

— Ron DePasse

Terre Haute

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Letters
Latest News
Multimedia

Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Join the Conversation
Helium
Front page
AP Video
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration Foreclosures Down 34 Percent in 2011 Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows Androgynous Model Walks Runway As Man and Woman Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate' States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
NDN Video
Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames Lady Gaga's Battle With Bulimia Evacuation at Sea SJP Talks About Replacing Demi Moore in 'Lovelace' LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal Osama Bin Laden Zombie Movie: "Osombie" Teaser Released Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace' VS Model Quits Over Religion Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life NASCAR Drive for Diversity Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart Androgynous Model Walks Runway As Man and Woman Khloe Kardashian Responds to O.J. Rumors Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2012 SportsTalk Live: Most hated athletes - 2/8 Louis Vuitton Condoms?! Tiger Woods 13: Legacy mode Michelle Obama vs. Jimmy Fallon Buffalo Barges Into Car
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News