Thanks, Columbia
The Prairie Du Pont levee system was originally designed to protect Dupo and its rail yards. This was an industrial grade levee, offering protection from a 500-year flood event.
Prior to construction, Columbia requested that the levee be extended south to give its bottom land that same protection. In the spirit of neighborly cooperation, Prairie Du Pont agreed. This resulted in a shared system with the Fish Lake Levee District.
Columbia now repays that favor by voting not to share in the funding to upgrade that same system. The simple logic? "Let those in the flood plain fund it."
I only wish we had those kind of thinkers when Columbia asked for help. Prairie Du Pont could have easily voted to not share the system. This would have resulted in the construction of a flank levee at Interstate 255 that would have separated the two districts. This would have assured that the Fish Lake Levee would have overtopped in 1993, along with the other agricultural grade levees.
Back then, we in the low ground took the high ground. It seems the decision was a mistake.
I do thank Mayor Kevin Hutchinson and those few board members for their wisdom and support. I also thank the residents of Columbia for the $12,000 donation to the three-county task force. I am sure the Prairie Du Pont and Fish Lake districts will work closely with all of the other government agencies to overcome Columbia's self-serving vote.
Jule Levin
Trustee, Prairie Du Pont Levee
GOP responds
I read with interest your editorial regarding the GOP in Madison County. First of all, many Republicans are involved in communities in Madison County. They are on school boards, involved in city government, on township boards, on many charitable boards and organizations, as well as being involved in other ways in their church and community.
The Republican Party has been involved in a number of challenges in the last few years that pointed out the need for checks and balances in Madison County. The Republicans challenged the election of the County Board chairman by the 29 County Board members rather than by popular vote. We won.
In the 2000 redistricting year, the Republicans had three County Board seats. The board, ruled by Demo-crats, tried to put two of the three districts together so as to eliminate one Republican seat. The GOP challenged this in court. We won.
By 2005 we had 10 County Board members.
Countywide races cost a lot to run, both in time and money, so it would be imprudent to run a campaign with no hope in Hades of winning.
There are a lot of good Republicans in Madison County. We will continue to choose battles we can win. We will continue to get out the Republican message. Rights will be righted, but it does take time when the opposition is so tightly entrenched and the messages go unheeded.
Don Metzler
Chairman, Madison County Republican Central Committee Collinsville
Question the coverage
In response to Kim Stephens' letter, "Is your house covered," this needs to be told. I have sump pump/sewer back-up additional insurance coverage. I bought coverage for sump pump failure from ground water seepage. My agent assured me this would protect me.
My premium was due about a month ago and I thought I had better read the fine print in the policy (which takes a lawyer to understand). My understanding after reading it was that no water entry from outside was covered.
I called my agent. He has 40 years of experience and he said, "Don't worry, you are covered." My response was, "I remember Hurricane Katrina and all of the people who were told they were covered in the event of a storm surge and you know the rest." I told him I wanted in writing from him that my policy covered water seepage. It's funny how his confidence level dropped. He said he would check on it and get back with me.
Several days later I called the office and my agent wasn't there. I explained my concerns to another agent and he said, "Don't bother with the exclusions, your additional coverage takes care of that." I again asked for written confirmation with my agent's signature. Ten minutes later my agent called back and said my policy does not cover water seepage.
Oh, by the way, I asked for a refund for the years I thought I was covered. You and I know the answer to that one.
Albert Haake
Germantown
In search of shepherds
Belleville Bishop Edward Braxton and St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke need to go. From the Christian Scriptures we see what happens when appointed Roman governors were sent off to enforce the rules of Rome. Nothing has changed. The corrupt leaders care little about their people and serve themselves and Rome.
Braxton is a prime example of this as well as Burke. Both act as appointed governors and not the good shepherd who looks out for his people. They are hired hands who do not care about their sheep as long as they keep their position of privilege. What the church needs are good shepherds to lead the people, not corrupt, appointed governors.
Luke Rheaume
O'Fallon
Thugs not welcome
For the most part, East St. Louis is rundown and depressed. Hardly a day goes by in which you don't read that something awful has happened there. Robbery, shootings, drugs, it's pretty much out of control. As in most cities, I'm sure the majority of the residents are good, law-abiding citizens.
If a person, or group of people choose to move to Belleville, they shouldn't bring their problems with them. We live by rules and if they can't abide by them, they shouldn't move here.
The good people of Belleville deserve better than to have a bunch of thugs come in from East St. Louis and disrupt their lives. I hope I'm not the only person with this opinion.
Lou R. Davidson
Belleville
Looking for fresh opinions
Many people write letters to the Belleville News- Democrat, and some of them are quite informative or at least thought-provoking. How-ever, I've noticed a group of writers who seem intent on saying the same thing over and over again, just in a slightly different way. Their agenda is to try to sway people over to their own way of thinking, and they play fast and loose with the facts when they appear to collide with their own opinions.
When I read people's letters with a political bent I'm amazed at the ease that these writers create out of thin air their own truths. I don't mind people writing things and trying to put their own spin on it, but the lies, deception, selective memories and ignorance are shocking. If we had fact check in the letters section, I'm afraid many days all we would have is a blank page.
I am to the point that I look to see who the writer is before I even will read a letter. I've seen enough of Jim Walters and Michael Ray Dillier's drivel to last 100 lifetimes. There are other writers I will make a point to read, even if I don't always agree with them.
May I suggest that if some insist on sending in dozens of letters to this page in a year's time, that at least they try not to treat the truth as kryptonite.
Don't send in the same slime you pulled off some lame website, create some new slime of your own.
Dan Jacobi
Pontoon Beach
Veterans pushed aside
As a disabled military retiree, I am concerned. For some time now Congress has not paid enough attention to the people's business, and I, for one, am tired of it.
We have sitting members of the House and Senate who are drawing full pay and allowances, while traveling across the country campaigning to keep their power in the November election. Who is paying attention to the needs of the people who elected them?
Funds set aside for the earned entitlement programs for our military retirees are being gutted and shifted from disabled veterans to the war on terror. It can only get worse when 77 million baby boomers reach age 65 in the next 20 years and all the bureaucratic programs Congress has created run out of funds. The priorities for funding then will be:
• Congressional health care and retirement programs
• Government bureaucrats' retirement and health care entitlements
• The pork barrel earmark programs
• The bureaucracies, agencies and programs
• National defense.
So by the time it comes to veterans, military retirees and our widows, there will be not much left.
Congress tried to get pay restoration right in 2001, but got bogged down with bureaucrats more concerned about starting new programs than disabled military retirees receiving their retirement, especially retirees from "ancient" wars like the Persian Gulf, Vietnam, Korea and World War II.
Please support HR 333.
Charles Vida
O'Fallon
A lack of leadership
In 2005, Gov. Rod Blagojevich called upon lawmakers to make the selling of certain video games to minors illegal. Despite the failure of similar laws in other states to stand up to constitutional scrutiny, the law was passed and signed.
In 2006, the state was sued by a national video game maker association and lost the court battle, being ordered by the judge to pay lawyer fees of more than $500,000. The governor then reappropriated money that had been budgeted for public health and five other state departments to pay these unnecessary costs.
Today, the public auditor for Illinois is unable to verify where all the money came from as there are no records.
We cannot afford another two years of this kind of "leadership."
Cary Mathews
Belleville
Not so different at all
For many years, I have said I would rather be hit with a big stick before I would admit sharing any philosophy with Jane Fonda. Then, one day while flipping through the TV channels, I landed on a station where Hanoi Jane was giving her spiel. Since I have written several letters berating her, I thought out of fairness I was obligated to listen to her.
Darn if a number of things my mortal enemy said made sense. Her thoughts about women's rights, war, etc., paralleled some of mine. Had she or I changed? Maybe I just did what we all should do -- listen to the other person's point of view.
I'm not casting my lot with her, just pointing out there is merit in listening, though not being swayed by rhetoric.
Some acts are so grievous, they are difficult to forget or forgive as per Fonda's disloyal conduct during the Vietnam War.
Some of you may think I'm a turncoat, so go ahead, hit me with a big stick.
James H. Pressnall
East St. Louis
What energy policy?
Let's say you're thirsty and you're looking for a drink of water. You know there's enough water in underground springs to last you and your family a lifetime, and all you have to do is drill for it.
But sadly, lawmakers, since they know what's best for you, forbid you from drilling any wells. They do, however, give you two options: You can either pay through the nose for imported, bottled water, or you can simply choose to drink less.
That's pretty much the situation we face with today's oil supply. There are efficient alternatives to oil around the corner, but that corner is a long way off. However, if you don't mind paying $3, $4, or, dare I say, $5 for a gallon of gas, there's nothing to worry about.
The next president, regardless of whom that will be, will more than likely not make any significant changes to our energy program that would bring any relief.
The answer lies with Congress. If the right people are elected (those who have the courage to stand up for the people), we could see real, positive changes in the way our government deals with the energy issues.
So, when the time comes to vote for your congressman, please follow the advice from "Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade:" Choose, but choose wisely.
Gerard Luebbers
Carlyle
Can't ignore the facts
Once again Frankie Seaberry's latest screed in the News-Democrat hovers somewhere between "Never-Neverland" and an outright pipe dream.
She says that as a teenager she was compelled to write President Dwight David Eisenhower about the segregated armed forces. She went on to say that she abided by her mother's wishes and did not mail the letter. Maybe her mother was smart enough to know that desegregation of the military had already occurred on July 26, 1948, under Harry S. Truman. Eisenhower, our 34th president, was elected to his first term on Nov. 4, 1952.
Of course being the loyal Democrat that she is, Seaberry is not bound by facts or results for that matter. How she felt was all that mattered. Kind of like Hillary Clinton's lie about her encounter with sniper fire in Bosnia. Doesn't matter that it never happened to a Democrat because Clinton felt that it could have.
Remember how smart Seaberry told us Barack Hussein Obama was? Well, Obama claims that although he attended the same church for 20 years, he wasn't aware of the racist anti-American nonsense his pastor was screaming from the pulpit. Now either Obama isn't very smart of he is lying. Which is it?
Larry McClintick
Collinsville
Blame conservatives
If conservative fiscal policies worked, we should be living in a virtual economic utopia today. Look around, folks. Our economy is in the toilet.
I was happy to pay my taxes during the Clinton years, when we had the longest period of peacetime economic expansion ever.
Thirty-eight percent of the 2001 tax cuts went to the richest 1 percent. Seventy percent of the 2003 tax cuts went to the richest 5 percent. Forty-two million working class Americans haven't received one cent in tax cuts.
Warren Buffett pays a lower rate of taxes than any of his staff of about 30 people. He says he doesn't pay near enough. Some of our richest pay a rate of only 15 percent.
Because of deregulation and predatory lenders, President Bush has borrowed $150 billion from China for his economic stimulus plan, so Americans can spend $150 billion on Chinese products while adding another $150 billion to our debt to China.
Conservatives are always happy to hand over huge debt to the next generation.
A five-story building in the Cayman Islands houses 12,748 offices of U.S. companies avoiding U.S. taxes with the blessing of Dubya and the GOP. These tax havens cost us $100 billion a year in tax revenue.
Kellogg, Brown and Root has hired more than 22,000 employees through its offices in the Caymans, avoiding Medicare and Social Security taxes.
Aren't you conservatives proud of this mess?
Gene Robke
Carlyle
Instituting inspiration
Congratulations to East St. Louis School Superintendent Theresa Saunders and her assistants Darlene Morgan, Kathy Walker-Steele and Dennis Stokes. They made the 2008 St. Clair County Teachers' Institute on April 4 special.
There was an historic event at the school improvement session when Thelma Mothershed Wair was honored. She was introduced by retiring union president Peggy LeCompte and received a standing ovation. Thelma Mothershed Wair was one of the "Little Rock Nine" in 1958 who integrated a high school in Little Rock, Ark.
This year is the 50th anniversary. Wair is a living legend and a civil rights trailblazer.
Wair held many titles when she worked in the East St. Louis district. I worked with her a few times and knew her husband, Fred Wair, now deceased. Mrs. Wair gave a good speech and was presented with a plaque.
Thanks are also to be given to St. Clair County Superintendent of Schools Brad Harriman and Assistant Superintendent Susan Sarfaty for another good institute. Keynote speaker John Powers did a good job.
A few years ago, I, along with other teachers, suggested having the institute earlier in the school year. The next one will be in October. Thanks for this change.
Richard "R.J." Krause
East St. Louis
Ban will cost us
All non-smokers and proponents of the no-smoking ban, please board the No Smoking Express, tighten your seat belts, but don't forget to loosen the grip on your wallets. Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his minions have run out of money again due to another of their boondoggles called the no-smoking ban.
Revenue has dropped sharply in local restaurants, bars and casinos, so all you victory flag-waving non-smokers, gather up those old $10 and $20 bills just lying around the house and be prepared to mail them to the state c/o Luvable Guv. Blowhard & Co. As silly as it sounds, it's true.
A letter April 6 by Robb Bledsoe was very interesting, but a bit one-sided. It's his choice whether he plays music in bars, but smokers and business owners had that choice taken away.
I also am in the music business as a DJ, I play in the bars every weekend, and I agree in part with his opinion about the smoke. But I agree more with Brent Rains' letter the same day, about legislative intrusions into our personal lives. Our rights are being snuffed out one at a time by the "those who know what's best for you" crew. And no, I don't smoke.
Dennis Rodenhofer
Swansea
If it's a car, it's a lemon
I would like to reply to a Sound-off caller March 24, whose comments were naive and almost laughable. The caller's comments were titled, "Drive a Democrat."
First of all, the caller had the nerve to call Sen. John McCain a warmonger. McCain is no more of a warmonger than I am. McCain and I both served in a war that was unappreciated and unpopular with the people of our own country. Vietnam was the most selfless act by a world power. The side that we backed lost. Nobody hates war more than someone who has had to fight it and then seen it all come to nothing gained.
I felt like laughing when the caller said Hillary Clinton is competent and has a history that is quite distinguished. The last thing this country needs is another Clinton on the national scene.
What self-respecting woman would ever tolerate the adultery and infidelity that her husband committed? If Clinton has no more respect for herself than that, why should we have any respect for her?
If the caller wants to compare presidential candidates to cars, then driving a Democrat is asking for car trouble. The Democrats have come up with a crop of lemons.
Frank B. Austin
O'Fallon
Hospitals are hurting
It would be worth checking the facts about small Illinois hospitals. Barack Obama talks about all his success with health care in his state.
My husband is a director of a small hospital in Southern Illinois. This hospital is hanging on by the skin of its teeth because of $2.2 million owed by Illinois' Medicaid program.
My sister works in the business office at another county hospital with a $600,000 debt not being paid by Medicaid. This may not sound like much to the big hospitals, but to the small ones it is critical. Obama may be promising the people but not reimbursing the hospitals that could likely be going under without the payments for services rendered.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has the papers on his Springfield desk to sign for the money's disbursement; however, he is usually in Chicago where he resides. Oh yes, he gets to Springfield in his now upgraded jet after refusing to move to Springfield.
So while Obama is busy either in the U.S. Senate or on the campaign trail and Blagojevich is in Chicago negotiating for better upgrades for his jet, our small hospitals are going to pot. If doctors do not get paid, they move out of state. Oh, wait a minute ... now I get Ebenezer Scrooge's statement when he talked about decreasing the surplus population. Well, that would do it.
Rebecca O'Connor
DuQuoin
Still time for a legacy
Does anyone think that President Bush is anywhere near trying to get hold of this illegal alien fiasco before he gives us all his much welcomed good bye? A lot of our senators aren't much help, either.
So what about an urgent mass deportation? The estimated cost for that would be between $200 billion and $230 billion. If the illegals are already costing us more than $330 billion a year, that would be a savings of at least $100 billion. That does make sense.
More than $50 billion was sent back to their real homes, $200 billion a year is suppressed in wages, $12 billion is spent on their kids' education, $2.5 billion is the cost for free lunches, food stamps, WIC, and Medicaid. U.S. taxpayers paid more than $90 billion for their yearly welfare and social services.
And we're repaid with their huge crime rates. About 30 percent of all federal inmates are illegals, $3 million is spent daily to incarcerate them. Plus they've brought in millions of pounds of drugs. Doesn't that big old border wall make more and more common sense?
Bush should start something that will make him look good instead of this Iraq war and the unfinished business in Afghanistan.
Wally Platz
Collinsville
Faith misplaced
Keep the faith? You're kidding! The current housing mess has me wondering about a lot of things. Seems like I and others were talking about this inevitable pending problem nearly four years ago.
We were told that housing and values were booming. We were assured that jobs were being created, and that our economy was growing. The reality was far from what those in charge wanted us to believe -- you know, give us that warm and fuzzy feeling.
Facts spoke much louder, assuming you were willing to look for or listen to them, than the administration's words and assurances. No, not Rush Limbaugh's facts or the facts of other talking heads -- real facts.
The housing market was growing so fast that a high percentage of Americans could no longer afford to buy a home. Creative (manipulative) lending helped cure that problem. With eyes wide open, legislators watched as we headed toward impending doom. Yes, I saw it, so did many others, but what is one to do?
Growing economy? Sure, you can grow, too, if you charge your butt off. But it will catch up with you.
Our dauntless leaders are now doing what many people saw was needed years ago. If they had, much of the "charge your butt off" wouldn't have happened, and the bitter pill would have been easier to swallow.
Surprised? Oh, well, keep the faith.
H. John Baumann
Swansea
Racism continues
I was shocked to see the News-Democrat run such a bigoted and slanderous cartoon by Glenn McCoy characterizing Barack Obama as Alfred E. Newman and questioning his middle name, Hussein, past drug use, etc.
Did cartoonists do the same with George Bush, who had more serious problems with cocaine use in college, during his run for presidency? Did cartoonists question Bush's lack of political experience or his association with his pastor, James Robinson, who was removed from the airwaves because of his hate-filled, anti-gay rhetoric?
Thanks to McCoy for showing us that racism is still alive in middle America.
Michael Burton
Salisbury, N.C.
