Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

Letters 10/29

A leadership void

I want to say thanks to Bob Darnell for cleaning up the home next to mine in Cahokia. And thank you to all the crew members and volunteers who cleaned up all the surrounding homes and yards that were run down and left behind by homeowners.

After many, many complaints over this past summer, I finally had to take pictures of this home and the backyard and take them up to the Zoning Department to get anything done. Then Darnell moved into action.

As for Frank Bergman, the mayor, I am proud to say I did not vote for him. He has let down the village and the people of Cahokia.

Cahokia used to be a nice community to live in. I have lived here all my life and it continues to go in a downward spiral, which is very sad. The homes, the streets, the kids are very disrespectful and nothing is being done.

Until we get Bergman out and someone in who will fight for our community and care it will continue to go south.

Lisa Sanford

Cahokia

Stop the burning

Why is Belleville allowing unnecessary air pollution (burning leaves and branches) to invade our beautiful city in the year 2009? Progressive communities such as O'Fallon banned burning of yard wastes years ago.

I am appalled that I am afraid to cruise around looking at the colorful trees and blue sky in Belleville because so many lazy, not environmental citizens are still burning and polluting our precious air. Stop it now.

Carolyn K. Harrington

Belleville

A federal issue

Conservatives complain that the federal government (Big Brother) is leading this nation toward socialism by its attempt to nationalize health care and education rather than allow the individual states to set their own rules.

I say the federal government has an obligation to direct all matters involving the well-being of its citizenry, including health care and education.

If we accept nationalized Medicare and Social Security and not call it a form of socialism, then why deny a similar nationalized health care system for the younger citizenry? Discrimination?

Some people want state control over health care and education. No way. All issues involving the well-being of this nation's citizenry, and the welfare of this country, must operate under one set of laws, federal laws. On very important issues, we cannot chance the possibility of inconsistent laws among the various states.

Some people resent Big Brother's intervention, as if the federal government is an enemy creature from outer space. Don't these people know that Big Brother is comprised of the same people they go to the polls and elect to represent them at the federal level? Please.

Frankie Seaberry

Centreville

What's the choice?

Randy Leffler brings up good points in his recent letter. We have a government bought and paid for by the special interests. There is little difference between the Democrats and Republicans when it counts -- the laws and policies are made to benefit their benefactors.

It is one thing to say throw out all the rascals. But who do you replace them with? Third parties have a very hard time getting on the ballot, particularly in Illinois. If they are coming from the right, the Republicans throw every obstacle in their way. If coming from the left, the Democrats do the same.

Also, institute the Fairness Doctrine once again on our airwaves, which was removed by Ronald Reagan. Give the other side the same amount of time given to Rush Limbaugh, et al.

Vicki Doetsch

Carlyle

On to climate issues

Recently Sen. Max Baucus and the Senate Finance Committee passed a health care reform bill out of committee with the help of Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe.

With health care out of the way, the Finance Committee has cleared the way to take on the comprehensive climate and energy legislation introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer and John Kerry. This bill gives America a huge opportunity to make the switch from dirty, dangerous sources of energy production like coal and oil, to clean, renewable, American-made sources like wind, solar and geothermal.

On Oct. 10, The New York Times published an opinion piece from Democrat Kerry and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham discussing the immediate need to address climate change and pass comprehensive energy legislation. It is commendable to finally see bipartisan agreement on this issue.

However, it is upsetting to see the senators talk about investment in more nuclear power, and more upsetting, the idea of clean coal and offshore drilling.

We need to address this for what it is: political compromises.

America does not need more dirty and dangerous energy sources to power this country. We have the potential to power America with 100 percent clean, renewable, homegrown energy and jump-start our economy with clean energy jobs.

I hope Sens. Dick Durbin and Roland Burris recognize this and vote to uphold a strong clean energy jobs bill in the Senate.

Jake Horowitz

Fairview Heights

Some standards

Rush Limbaugh is out as a part-time owner of a NFL team. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was against him because the NFL is held to a higher standard. Well, if embracing players like Michael Vick, Leonard Little, the wife beaters, the girlfriend beaters, the drunken drivers and the dopeheads is his definition of a higher standard, he may be right.

Jim Williams

Granite City

For our protection

Thank God the president finally put a tax on foreign imports (tires from China). Now tax the foreign cars and put the American auto industry back to work and save our country. He will win my support if he does that.

Joe Merriman

Belleville

Misses the wild West

When I started writing in late 1992, the one feature that made this paper different from others was its wild West, anything goes, debate in its letters section. Of course, that train left the station years ago. The few letters I get printed now look as if they have been edited by the archdiocese. It's too bad the News-Democrat has become just another small-town rag.

Jim Walters

Belleville

Send a message on hoax

Regarding the balloon hoax -- the topic of your poll recently. Evidently those parents never read, "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Hopefully nothing bad ever really happens to one of their kids because no one will believe them.

If convicted, they need to serve jail time for two reasons: 1) to discourage copycats, and, 2) to teach them a lesson that they can't use people to further their fantasies. How much time and money was spent on this hoax?

They should repay the agencies what it cost for the search, and they should be made to pay the volunteers for their time. Of course, this isn't going to happen.

Personally, I blame the stupid reality shows and the people who seem to get vicarious kicks from watching the antics of total strangers. They need to find something better to watch on TV.

Sharron Lindsey

Belleville