September 27, 2009

9/27 Letters to the Editor

Corruption rampant in Obama administration

Dear Editor:

When Obama met in November 2008 with ACORN leaders, he reminded them of his history with ACORN, saying, “I come out of grass-roots organizing background. That’s what I did for three and one half years before I went to law school. That’s the reason I moved to Chicago was to organize. So this is something I know personally, the work you do, the importance of it. I’ve been fighting alongside ACORN on issues you care about my entire career. …”

Wouldn’t you bet they were as corrupt then as now, which gives me little hope that Obama is anything but the crooked politician he appears to be.

Could that be the reason our justice department, under Eric Holder, refuses to investigate the corruption in ACORN?

All over the country there are state investigations and indictments of ACORN workers for voter fraud, tax fraud, and etc., along with their aid in brothel buying and underage prostitute hiding.

ACORN is being protected by the people above the justice department — Obama probably, because he paid them more than $800,000 for their help in getting him elected and tens of millions in the various stimulus and bail out packages passed by this sorry, corrupt Democratic Congress we must suffer with until November 2010.

Congress, after Republican prodding, stripped them of tens of millions of your tax dollars in funding, but they still need to be investigated and prosecuted by the Justice Department or it will simply fade away because they are the “dirty work” arm of the Democratic party, and the Democrats will not lose them easily.

The old boiling a frog adage comes to mind.

It states that you have to do it gradually by slowly turning the heat up on a pot of cold water to prevent the frog from jumping out.

It is sometimes used to describe people ignoring the slow, gradual, negative changes in their environment, such as the gradual erosion of civil liberties and America’s creeping march into socialism.

In my youth we heard of corruption in many foreign nations, from banana republics in South America to third world countries in Africa.

I was proud to live in a country I believed had negligible corruption.

Little did I know that 60 years later, America would put the rest of the world to shame with corruption from the bottom through the presidency.

Apparently rich Democrats and Democratic congressmen like Charles Rangel of New York need not bother paying their taxes.

It is mind-boggling that we are so entrenched in corrupted politics that the only way out seems to be eliminating them all by whatever means necessary and starting over.

Hopefully, we will not take the route of revolution but can clean America up at the polls.

Especially now that ACORN can no longer register tens of thousands to vote 20 plus times each.

It might seem that Obama went to Chicago to better learn the ins and outs of being a really successful crooked politician.

My liberal relatives, blinded by their hatred of Bush, ignore anything factually detrimental to Obama. Would they have approved if Bush proposed doubling in one year the national debt accumulated over two centuries, which included the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and then doubling it again in 10 years?

I am sure they would not. But Obama can, with impunity, spend many times more than the cost of the wars bailing out his financial supporters who then handed much of it out as bonuses.

The majority of taxpaying Americans are satisfied, with most of the things Obama is trying to destroy.

Call your congressman and complain frequently.

W.V Bonds

Cleburne

Let’s get to the real issue — the kids

Dear Editor:

I see that once again Mr. Nellis presented to the CISD board meeting recently a proposal for single member districts for the elections to the school board.

These issues, as well as many others, have been brought before the board back to February 2009.

I am a parent with a child in CISD, and I’m wondering what Mr. Nellis is really after.

To my knowledge he doesn’t have children currently in the school system.

We have a free election that anyone who is interested and qualified may submit their name and run for office.

In the most recent election, Mr. Navarrete — well qualified, minority candidate — ran and Mr. Nellis threw his support behind Mr. Dempsey, who lives in the same area as some of the rest of the board, which is what Mr. Nellis disagrees with.

It seems that he wants things both ways. If he truly wanted SMDs, then he should have supported Mr. Navarrete.

He lost his credibility when he demands one thing but actively pursues another. I don’t ever remember electing Mr. Nellis as my spokesperson or as my watchdog.

If I have concerns, then I’ll go to a member of the board, my son’s principal or the superintendent.

If I’m concerned about finances, I’ll go to Mr. Johnson or ask for a copy of the audited financial report. I’m certainly not going to ask Mr. Nellis.

We have everything from a literary debate to a spelling issue that could have been addressed by either the principal of the school, or the administrative staff.

Central Office’s communications staff could have researched the spelling issue, and the principal and curriculum committee could have addressed the literary issue.

My question is simple: Shouldn’t our school board and staff be concerned with education?

How much has been wasted on pursuing frivolous issues that don’t have impact on our children’s education? How much of our board meetings are spent rehashing old ideas and arguments?

How many good people have left the school system that takes care of educating my child because they finally just got fed up with all the baloney?

My experience with CISD employees and board members is that this is a collection of folks that care about my child and the quality of his education.

They go above and beyond the call of duty.

I can name specific instances where my teachers made an impact on my life through knowledge and experiences that they shared.

My life is better because of the teachers and staff that I had the privilege of seeing every day at school.

Our CISD staff does what they do because they love education, and they love our kids.

We spend a lot of time on negative issues; let’s take a moment and just say thank you.

Thank you, school board, for the time you volunteer as an oversight committee for CISD. It is important to remember that they are volunteers.

Thank you, administration and staff, for the countless hours spent planning the thousands of details in our school year.

Thank you to the principals and support staff and all that you do to operate our campuses.

Thank you teachers for the time, effort, sacrifice and love that you pour into our children on a daily basis. You all are the unsung heroes and deserve the applause of a grateful community.

It is time that the rest of us stand up and speak out.

Brad Stevens

Cleburne

American Legion post advocates for veterans

Dear Editor:

I read Sgt. [Jonathan] Laureles’ words [in the Sept. 17 edition] with interest as commander of American Legion Post No. 50 here in Cleburne.

Although we don’t have a single problem with a VFW post being established in Cleburne, I believe I should point out that American Legion Post No. 50 has been trying to fulfill our mission of aid and comfort to veterans and our community since 1919.

Our post bears the name of C.E. DeLario, the first Cleburne World War I casualty.

We have been in this same building in downtown Cleburne since 1936. We work in unison as much as possible with the VFW Post in Alvarado, and would do the same if one were to come to Cleburne.

After all, we are all dedicated to veterans.

The American Legion Post here, in conjunction with the American Legion Auxiliary, and The Sons of The American Legion, have a long record of helping veterans with emergency funds, groceries, bill payments and guidance with the maze of the Veterans Administration.

We also help descendants of veterans and other citizens by buying school supplies for needy kids, donating generously to local charities, and help with Meals-on-Wheels delivery on Thanksgiving.

We always give presents to needy children at Christmas to the limit of our funds.

We sponsor high school juniors on a trip to Boys State and Girls State each year in an effort to educate our next generation exactly what it means to be a free person.

We always hold Memorial Day, and Veterans Day programs at Rosehill Cemetery, weather permitting, and give shortened versions at some of our local nursing homes.

Every year, we are proud to give flag education programs at day care centers around town to educate our kids while they’re young.

Sgt. Laureles is correct in his statement that we need younger veterans to join us and help.

I believe the VFW would second that opinion, too. Most of the active Cleburne American Legion members are Vietnam veterans, and we are aging quickly.

Sgt. Laureles, and all his comrades-in-arms would be welcomed at The American Legion while striving to establish a VFW Post.

We invite veterans of war-time service regardless of where they served to stop by 313 W. Chambers to enjoy a cup of coffee and meet fellow veterans.

Joel L. Franklin, Commander,

American Legion Post No. 50

Cleburne

Amnesty moving forward

Dear Editor:

The clamor over the health bill has taken the focus off of all other devious schemes of the liberals who, in fact, are working behind the scenes to get their idea of an amnesty bill secured.

You kind souls may think that I am an unkind and selfish person for being against allowing all of these less fortunates into this country. I suggest that you study the issue from the standpoint of the long time effect. I don’t hate these people but actually like most of those who I have encountered. Many are good workers and decent family folks.

What I do hate is the fact that our weasely government officials ignored the laws governing immigration while bending to pressure from liberals and Mexican-oriented lobbying groups, who, by the way, hold a big stick over some of our lawmakers.

People in public works who do poor or dishonest work should be punished, not re-elected and given raises. The rapid increase in population has endangered our natural and cultural resources.

It is likely that those receiving amnesty will also be included in whatever health bill is passed. Amnesty granting is already current in ongoing small increments. Their next benefits will be the right to vote, Social Security, and free higher education. [a new “guaranteed” prepaid college tuition for them only!] The voting right is the pearl that the Democrats really are diving for, in my opinion, and favors are usually returned, at least in the short term. These folks form a large voting block just as have other racial, religious and cultural groups.

Many of us vote for whatever is best for “me,” not for what’s best for the whole of us. Perks are gained for the constituents back home by our congressmen, each of whom has learned how to work the pork barrel to his advantage.

This is often done by bill attachments having nothing at all to do with the bill itself. I’m not sure how this attachment plan came into effect, but without a line item veto it has been killing us for many years.

By handing out amnesty and these attachment perks to illegal immigrants, the Democrats plan on their votes for years. As their population and political skills increase, illegals will likely use their “block voting clout” for their own desired directions. In fact, their unknown numbers are already being used as clout.

Unthinkable things are being moved pretty fast by our new regime and allowed by our congressmen. Small numbers of them complain about Obama’s moves, but his partisans have fallen on their faces and uttered “amen.”

Does Chet Edwards have the character and gumption to butt heads with Obama? I feel that if he doesn’t, he won’t be on the ticket next time although he could vote as dictated if his vote is needed and then accept a plum job as a reward. If his votes are not critical for passage he might vote against Obama bills, allowing him some favor at home with a chance to stay in office for other needed Democrat vote counts.

There are many psuedo-Americans in public office while doing whatever is necessary to prevent common sense laws and rules from being upheld.

You may have been ignoring for years that our wonderful country and its traditions are being sabotaged by these psuedo-Americans addicted to liberal and socialistic causes.

This includes Obama and several past presidents as well as hordes of judicial and legislative bipartisan boneheads with mindsets. I don’t know what such name calling makes me, except disgusted and saddened, but I urge you to resist these treasonous ways of thinking by peaceful but forceful methods.

.

Monte Swatzell

Cleburne

The best health care is available

Dear Editor:

The OECD conclusion was not a surprise. We just do not get enough for our buck.

But that is not true for everyone in the country. There is an employee-insurance deal in the U.S. that includes unlimited doctor office visits of your choosing; covers all accidents, routine exams, physical therapy, labs and X-rays and the like; unlimited hospital visits and stays; certain chronic care and rehab; full prescription coverage; and unlimited specialty consultations — for the employee and the entire family.

There are no deductibles, no co-pays, and only a $35 monthly fee taken from an annual salary of $158,000. Thirty-five dollars!

The members of the group awarded this insurance look forward to a full pension and continued coverage until their deaths.

Quite a few, most in fact, were millionaires before they took on the jobs that got them such a perk. Who gets this coverage?

It would be nice if it were the underprivileged or the chronically ill and debilitated or our veterans.

But no.

For starters, the 535 members of the U.S. Congress, and add to that the few hundred in the upper executive and judicial branches of government.

They are also members of a demographic group where seven were arrested for shoplifting, 19 for writing bad checks, and 84 for drunk driving.

This bunch also has an over-representation of felony indictments, and a few ended up serving time.

They are also the very same group that keeps such credible health care proposals and bills like John Conyers’ HR676 and Barbara Lee’s HR3000 holed up in committee, year after year, denying them access to a public hearing and floor vote.

In 2005, the president and his cronies up on the Hill voted to slash $10 billion over the next decade from Medicaid. Their own medical benefits stayed intact.

Could it be they don’t believe that the rest of America should share in what they are so fortunate to have?

We know better. That is the kind of care that we should all have and can afford.

If what they want the general population to have is so great, why did they vote recently to exempt themselves from the new health care and keep what they have?

We all know the answer to that. Just look above at what they have.

Is it possible they want to push this through just for the sake of insuring illegal aliens? Just a thought.

Sarah Chapman

Cleburne

City should spray for mosquitoes

Dear Editor:

My name is Hazel Miller. I reside at 110 Dale St. in Cleburne, and I have contacted the city and the mayor on the very serious mosquito problem in this city.

I can’t even go out my door without being bitten all over.

Because the city has not sprayed, it has caused them to multiply. I was told they had not sprayed in 15 years.

There has already been deaths from West Nile virus in Tarrant County. It needs to be addressed now, and I will take it to the media if I have to. It is crazy for them not to spray because people supposedly having allergic reactions to the spray.

I moved to the house so I could enjoy outdoors. I can’t even walk out for five minutes.

I have not heard back from the mayor. I am a citizen of Cleburne. I wish to live here safe.

It is endangering me and my family and friends who visit. Commonsense tells you not to go when they spray.

I’m asking for some kind of help here on this matter. It needs to be addressed or taken before council.

Thank you very much.

Hazel Miller

Cleburne