Editor, Times-Union: The original source for this report is unknown to me, but it is probably accurate.
Imagine working at the following company - It has less than 600 employees with the following statistics: 29 have been accused of spousal abuse, three have been arrested for assault, at least one has been suspected of murder, seven have been arrested for fraud, 19 have been accused of writing bad checks, 117 have bankrupted at least two businesses, 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit, 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges, eight have been arrested for shoplifting, 21 are current defendants in lawsuits. In 1998 alone, 84 were stopped for drunk driving. Can you guess which organization this cast of characters belongs to? It's our United States Congress, 535 senators and representatives. The same group that perpetually cranks out hundreds upon hundreds of new laws designed to keep the rest of us in line.
Why are such people in government? We like to think that people in government are there as public servants, but unfortunately, the people who actually end up in government tend not to be motivated by service. The average politician is motivated by power. This assessment is validated by the results we invariably see coming out of Congress. How is it that time and time again, well meaning, idealistic "public servants" are sent to Washington, but they become self-serving, compromising, "keep-my-office-at-all-cost" politicians? It happens because they do not keep service as their major focus. If they did, they would base their decisions solely on what is best for the people without concern for the impact their decisions have on the media coverage, the opinions of their colleagues or their chances for re-election. Instead, after an amazingly short period of time, our "representatives" make decisions which they think will put them in the best position to keep their power.
The general public may or may not recognize the metamorphosis its representatives quickly go through. However, what concerns me more is that the general public chooses our representatives based on priorities which foster this corruption of power. We have a corrupt Congress because of the role the general public wants its government to play in our lives. As people look to government to provide their wants and needs, they give the government more power so it can make such provisions. But that same power is what corrupts the individuals in government so that they make decisions which are not in the people's best interest, but their own. As more power is given to government it becomes more attractive to seekers-of-power who, by nature, want and expect to live above the laws of society. And these same licentious legislators will continue to impose greater restrictions on others, and gather more power to themselves. What is the solution? Without exception, do not elect/re-elect people who consider themselves above the law. Elect/re-elect people who are committed to diminishing the power of government in our lives.
Ben Scripture Warsaw
Pierceton Givers
Editor, Times-Union: I would like to write this letter to the people of Pierceton, who have helped me in the last eight years to feed the needy.
And believe me I know who you all are. I don't think we did too bad. We started out with three turkeys and ended up with 70 turkeys. Also, the same in milk, canned goods, potatoes or including the truckload of toys we took to the Catholic Church and 14 boxes of canned goods to the church by the fire station. I would like to say, if it weren't for you special people who give, this could not happen. Although this is my last year of doing it, I hope the American Legion can find someone to continue what has been started. May God bless you all.
Karey (Stoney) Burk Pierceton
People In Government
Editor, Times-Union: I am writing this letter in regards to Warsaw school corporations bus garage. Today I tried for 30 minutes to reach the garage to have them help me find out if my son was on his bus or not. This whole time the number was busy, by the time I did get them to answer the call my son's bus was pulling up in my drive. This infuriates me because at the time when our children are on these buses we should be able to be in contact with someone. When I voiced my concerns to the man who answered his only reply was that they had been on the phone and that they only had one line. Then he asked me what bus my son was on and said it was running a little late, which was not true because the bus arrived at my house exactly when it should have. This man had not even listened to what I had said to him because I didn't ask if it was running late. I didn't care if it was late I just wanted to be able to get in touch with someone who could help me find out if my son was on his bus. In this day and age there is no reason why we as parents should not be able to get in touch with the people who have access to the buses our children are on, I'm sure the bus garage has heard of call waiting or two line calling. Let's make a change and make sure parents can get through to the garage if the need arises.
Tammy Kendrick Claypool via e-mail
Small-Minded Community
Editor, Times-Union: 03-17-2000 - "Father Jailed On Battery Charges After 'Disciplining' Daughters." I think this is the most disgraceful thing I have ever read. Parents are held responsible for their children's behavior, yet a man has been arrested for trying to teach his children to respect his rules. Kosciusko County's department for child welfare is also another disgrace to what could be a fine community. Certain officers of that department should not be involved in children's services at all.
What will those girls think of authority now? They can "tattle" on daddy and now they don't have to do what they are instructed to do.
When I read things like this article, I have no doubt that moving from such politically driven and small-minded community was the best thing I ever did for myself and my family.
Vicki Krajewski via e-mail
Traffic Laws
Editor, Times-Union: This pertains to all who break traffic laws with no respect for human life. In response to Randy's comments that I made about truckers, I could not have said it better myself: that there are truckers he wouldn't trust with his tricycle.
Now the state is looking into the problem why there are so many truck accidents. They should quit playing games. Fine and remove the lawbreakers from our highways. I called the Sheriff's Department three times in the past 15 minutes, where one car doing about 80 mph and two semis just ran the signs at CRs 350W and 200N. That is just a few from the many that run them daily. There is a red vehicle that runs the signs every day between 12:10 and 12:15 p.m.
As for Kent's remarks in trying to educate me. I drove a semi when many of today's drivers were in diapers. I heard all the jargon for 50 years. I don't care if you have 200,000 pounds on your rig - if you can't control it, don't drive it. The only reason I am behind a semi in foul weather is because they passed me going too fast in such weather. You admitted they speed. I agree with Christina Klika, the INDOT commissioner, that flashing lights to warn the truckers that the light is going to change is useless. Save the money for more law enforcement.
Telling us that "if we have it, a semi brought it," sounds a lot like the air traffic controllers that thought they would stop the world if they walked out. So Reagan fired them and the planes didn't fall from the sky. Life went on. As for truckers being tested for drugs, it's a joke. My sons and grandsons have yet to be stopped and no fear, not a druggie in our huge family.
As for truckers having blind spots, so do all vehicles. They are not enclosed in a glass dome. When in doubt, don't pull out! As for the remarks made by Doris, they chose their profession. The same day her defense for them was printed, two more semis came together at U.S. 30 and CR 350W.
Again I say, more and better law enforcement and stiffer fines for all that disregard traffic signs and signals. Not on a temporary basis, but permanently.
