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Kokomo Perspective

August 10, 2011

kokomoperspective.com/opinion

Kokomo Perspective
Because you deserve more on a daily basis.

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THE KOKOMO PERSPECTIVE IS PUBLISHED 52 TIMES EACH YEAR AND IS DISTRIBUTED TO 31,600 HOMES IN HOWARD COUNTY.

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Editorial

Howard County needs a surveyor

Minors absentee term in office hurts community; show up or step down
The office of county surveyor isnt one that garners much attention. In fact, if not for its inclusion in the state constitution, there is little reason for the position to be elected by the people. It is a functional office, not an administrative one. The public needs a qualified and reliable individual in the chair; politics really has nothing to do with it. Unfortunately, Howard County Surveyor Dan Minor is sorely lacking in the reliable category. In fact, he has logged so little time in the office since taking over in 2009 that it is difficult to acknowledge his existence. Minor missed most of last year with medical problems. He was on leave for so long that his chief deputy, Greg Lake, was named acting surveyor by the county. Lake already has a job. He is the administrator of the countys stormwater management office. The administrator part of the title is largely ceremonial. The guy is in the field more than hes in the office. Thats how the job works. Lake worked 128 hours without pay for Howard county last year, ensuring that the tasks the people needed completed were handled professionally. Thats in addition to his normal 40 hours a week and 80 hours in compensated time outside of the normal schedule. The public should thank him for stepping up when Minor fell ill. When Minor came back to the job last fall, the expectation was that things could go back to normal. He could do what he was elected to do. Lake could go back to devoting time to stormwater manage-

Letters to the editor

Thanks to Humane Society
I am writing this letter to thank the staff and volunteers and those connected with the Kokomo Humane Society for their great efforts in showing care and compassion with animals. On July 28, my daughters -- Ava and Lilly -- and their friend, Dharni, and myself came all the way from the Wayne Township area of Indianapolis to drop off a neglected kitten. I called animal shelters and humane societies across a number of counties in hopes of finding a good, safe home for teh kitten, which the kids had already named Rocky. We would have kept the cat ourselves, but our cat has already had the run of the house for a number of years now. I called areas from Indianapolis, Danville, Martinsville, Mooresville, Zionsville, Lebanon and other locations until I came in contact with the Kokomo Humane Society. I wanted to let the public know what a great job the facility does there and

ment. And the surveyors office would fade into the background where is typically should spend its time. That didnt happen. When Minor was on the job, he was described as uncooperative by other officials who interact with his office. And his field work is dotted with accounts of unusual behavior. Now Minor is absent again with physical ailments. Lake is logging in extra hours, and recently he discovered the cost of being chronically under-staffed. Construction work on State Road 26 and U.S. 31 has caused a good number of potential drainage problems that must be addressed. These could have been caught had the surveyors office been firing on all cylinders. Fortunately, the taxpayers wont pay for the mistakes; theyll only have the inconvenience of construction delays. The situation has degraded to the point that Lake recently exercised an option to hire someone to help with the workload. The irony in bringing former Why do the unions support the surveyor Jake Grimme on board shouldnt be lost on policies of the Democrat Party that anyone. He is the man who kept the office running relatively smoothly for years before losing to Minor provide for and support a class of inin the 2008 election. dividuals in our country that does not This is not what the people thought they were getting when they cast their votes. Minor campaigned work (and) does not intend to work? on his credentials as a certified surveyor, and he got a 50-percent bump in pay for having that piece of paper in hand. But weve gotten next to nothing in will forever be wards of return. Illness or no illness, a public official needs to editor of Aug. 3 is total the United States governactively serve. If Minor cant do that, he needs to refiction. ment? It doesnt make sign. Ream is not the only sense. one who thinks the CCC My dad was a Demoon limited resources. This there hoping they would is recommending and crat. I grew up with was most certainly a les- be able to find good advocating school con- Democratic values in evsolidation. At the CCCs son in showing compas- homes for them. ery sense of the word. I We know that there is Aug. 3 forum on educa- loved Franklin Delano sion to Gods creatures to our children. Thanks, always a chance that they tion, one superintendent Roosevelt and still do. again, as the kids are as- can be put down if they talked at length about the John F. Kennedy was the sured that Rocky andthe are not adopted within a perils of school consoli- catalyst for my intense inothers are well take care given time. We were told dation. School consolida- terest of politics. that was not the case if tion has never been on of. But, slowly, an evoluthe radar screen of the Mark Hummer they stayed healthy. tion -- not revolution -- of They wanted to know CCC, nor is it of any in- the Democrat Partys valIndianapolis the kittens names. We terest to the committee. ues changed my politiHowever, there has did not just take them cal party affiliation from Upset about cats there and dump them. been much discussion Democrat to Republican, Im writing to tell about the five separate about a matter that hap- We were told that they administrations with five then to an Independent. pened a few weeks ago, would help us find good school boards, five school The Democrat Party left namely, about the Koko- homes and to call any- superintendents and five me, I didnt leave the partime to see how things ty. Both parties -- Repubmo Humane Society. administrative staffs. were going for them. lican and Democrat-now We placed a very So, after a week, we While the subject never are incongruous with healthy mother cat and came up in the first edufive very lively, beauti- called and were told cation forum, the need mainstream America. The Democrat Party ful, playful litter-trained that they were doing just for five separate school kittens, eight weeks old, - A5 administrations of How- A6

In the Aug. 3 edition of the Kokomo Perspective, Todd Reams letter to the editor states, Persuaded by John Floyd that consolidating the countys five school corporations could save more money than all other consolidation efforts combined, the Citizens Consolidation Committee (CCC) scheduled its first of five public hearings to address this topic. He then charges that I am guilty of trading facts for fiction and uses that term again in his letter. Obviously Mr. Ream is questioning my veracity; consequently, I must respond. Ream ends his letter with the term, just the facts. Here are the facts. I have never been an advocate, supporter or enthusiast of school consolidation, and certainly never encouraged or tried to persuade CCC committee members to support consolidation of Howard County schools to save money. While I am not responsible for Mr. Reams English comprehension, he should pay more attention to the subject. Ream obviously has interpreted my remarks concerning possible consolidation of the five school administrations as meaning consolidation of Kokomo and Howard County schools. Ream is addressing two completely different subjects. As he stated, lets deal with just the facts. The fact is Reams letter to the

Of consolidation and unions

columnist

John Floyd
ard County schools will be a matter of future discussions. Todd Reams letter to the editor subject is closed. Moving on, this question baffles me. Why are the United States unions in lockstep with the Democratic Party? I can understand union support for the Democratic Party over Right to Work laws, card check for union elections and the many issues that are to the benefit of the unions as a whole. What I dont understand is why the unions blindly follow all liberal policies of the Democrat Party. As a general rule, union members are hard workers. They are taxpayers, and have a deep love for our country. I want to emphasize they are hard workers. With this plain and descriptive definition of the union worker, why do the unions support the policies of the Democrat Party that provide for and support a class of individuals in our country that does not work, does not intend to work and is breeding a class of individuals that

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August 10, 2011

Kokomo Perspective

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kokomoperspective.com/opinion

A first step toward an uncertain future

The Tea Party set the agenda. The Republican oldguard reasserted itself in the final hours and forged a deal no one is really happy with. President Obama, faced with a 9.2 percent jobless rate, couldnt afford to let the United States slip into default, which was the universally unacceptable result to everyone but elements of the Tea Party and Club for Growth. Republicans, controlling a little over half of one chamber in Congress, called the Presidents bluff on this manufactured crisis while manufacturing plants across the country were quiet. Obama, without a deal of his own, had to swallow this deal while his base grimaced over a Satan sandwich. There were $1.5 trillion in cuts, no tax increases and a new, 12-person, super committee that will try to find more permanent solutions this fall. Indianas congressional delegation was split five to six over this matter, -almost in half -- as was the House Tea Party Caucus. Two Republicans,

columnist

Brian Howey
you owe debts, pay debts. We had to find an obligation to pay the nations bills. But my requirement was to do that in a fiscally responsible way, Pence said. The New York Times reported: By the end of the 10-year deal, the federal debt would be much larger than it is today. Indeed, both the government and its debts will continue to grow faster than the American economy, primarily because the new law does not address federal spending on health care. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the federal debt is likely to exceed 100 percent of the nations annual economic output by 2021, largely because of

Editorial

President has surrendered his mandate for change as inflexible Republicans push him into lopsided compromises
This is not what anyone should have expected. Elected with a mandate from the American people to change this nation for the better, President Barack Obama has squandered his time and his political capital by conceding to the demands of the Republicans in Congress. Healthcare, debt ceilings, deficit management -virtually at every turn, Obama has turned aside from the path of socioeconomic reform and justice in order to find a middle ground that doesnt exist. This new breed of Republican doesnt compromise. John Boehner, Mitch McConnell and Eric Cantor have no intention allowing the President to prevail on any issue. Unfortunately, he isnt strong enough as a leader to stand up to them. Of the three, McConnell is the most obvious in his neglect of the electorate. His stated intent -- again and again -- is to defeat President Obama. Nothing else appears to matter. Any time this guy gets in front of a microphone or camera, hes waging political war. If he thinks Obama might veto a piece of legislation, he talks about finding ways to freeze discretionary spending through recission bills. When it came to the debt ceiling crisis, McConnell was the one ready to pull the trigger in this latest round of Russian Roulette. Damn the nation and its needs; McConnell has a President to defeat. Boehner isnt much better, with his post-game How to blame Obama speeches after a compromise on the debt ceiling was reached. And Cantor? Heres a guy who initially looked like he might work with Democrats to find middle ground positions to help all Americans. He was willing to agree to fair compromises in December and April. They were so even that the media failed to give much attention to them. But that all changed this summer. He went from negotiator to the definition of a hard-line political player, joining McConnell and Boehner in opposition to everything that vaguely resembled reasonable discourse and good-faith negotiation. Given the Republican leaderships single-minded focus to ignore the needs of the nation in favor of a dangerous game of political chicken, we need a President who will stand with the people. Obama has proven not to be that person. Its late in the political season, but the Democrat Party really needs to find someone to run against Obama next spring. The people need a leader who wont wilt when faced with political pressure from Republicans. In fact, the three Republican leaders need tobe sent packing, as do many other politicians is Washington. Perhaps columnist John Floyd was right when he recently suggested we get rid of them all and start over. Theyre failing us. ral cats cant be domesticated. I have four that live inside, have been fixed and are very loving pets. Also, I was told when I called about the strays, do you feed them? If so, youll have to trap them and bring them in. They are your responsibility. So, now I find people who need barn cats. At least I know they have a warm place in the winter and have a chance to live. Also, my daughter went to adopt a dog. She found one she wanted and was told she was an older dog. The fee was $224. That was to get her fixed and six months of insurance. She paid the fee and was told she couldnt take her. They would take her to the vet to be fixed, and they would call her when she was ready for pick-up. So, we left, only to be called by the vets office the next day to tell us she wouldnt be having surgery. She was already

Obama is failing us

Obama, without a deal of his own, had to swallow

this deal while his base grimaced over a Satan sandwich.
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar and U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, facing the races of their political lives in 2012, voted for the measure. Two Republicans in the safest districts, U.S. Reps. Todd Rokita and Marlin Stutzman, voted against the measure, joining liberal Reps. Andre Carson and Pete Visclosky, as well as Sen. Dan Coats. And the most vulnerable, U.S. Rep. Dan Burton, also voted no. I dont see this so much as a good deal. I see it as a good start, said Pence in an Aug. 3 interview at the Rathskeller in Indianapolis. We have a long way to go. This is a first step in a long process to restore fiscal discipline in Washington, D.C. I thought it was worth supporting. I dont think it was anything to write home about, reiterating that it is a modest, but meaningful step toward fiscal discipline. All we did here was stop digging, said Pence, who left Washington on Tuesday and ended up at the Morgan County 4-H Fair, watching the bull competition and even standing in the inevitable bovine by-product, which he said he preferred over the Capitol Hill marble. Thats all we did. If

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Opposition ran from the liberal to conservative within the Indiana delegation. Rep. Visclosky called it inadequate and noted that two wars are being funded and a dozen big corporations earning $171 billion in profits pay no taxes. Its important to remember that this debate is only one symptom of our nations larger debt problem, Stutzman said. I have consistently sought a solution that is grounded on the conservative principles of cut, cap and balance. Rokita said, For decades now, we have spent too much money on ourselves and have intentionally allowed our kids and grandkids to pay for it. It is intergenerational theft literally stealing from our best asset, our posterity. The correct course of action, as I have said from the beginning, is to enact permanent and structural reform as the price for raising the debt ceiling. He said the bill failed to do that. That may be true. But the alternative, in the end, was not a better bill. The other option was to have the country default on

LETTERS
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HOWEY - A6

great, and they will still do just great and that there was no way they would be put down. The next week, we called to check on them and were told that they had been put down. When we asked why, the woman then just said, Sorry, sweetie. When my friend came home from work and was told this, she was as shocked and hurt as we were. She said that she was going to call and ask if the kittens were sick or what had happened, to which she was told they just did not have any room for them, that they just had too many cats. To that, my friend stated, But they were only ten weeks old. To that, she was told, Oh, we do this all the time! Is this what the Kokomo Humane Society stands for?

We can only hope that those little kittens deaths were quick and painless for them, for it will never be painless for us in our hearts. If you read this letter, I think you and please believe that we are not catty old ladies or nutcases that dwell on our cats -- just very upset over this matter. Becky S. Hatt Rita M. Hatt Judith K. Haskett Kokomo

Take on the Humane Society

Cheers for Derick Beroshok. Its about time someone takes on the Kokomo Humane Society. Its long overdue. I am a cat lover, and where I live, many get dropped off. Some are ready to have babies, and in a two-week period in 2009, we trapped 46 cats and took them in to the Humane Society, only to find out they would all be put down because fe-

fixed, but she did have a tooth that needed pulled and a heartworm test that should be done. The tooth would cost $80, the heartworm test $20 more. You would think if they didnt have to do the surgery, they could have pulled the tooth and did the heartworm test at no charge. By the way, they take the animals to the most expensive vet in town. And what was the six months worth of insurance she paid for? Its a joke. I pray Derick Beroshok gets his wish, for it couldnt come too soon for me. Ill even volunteer to help him any way I can. If the man in the truck that says Kokomo Humane Society is too lazy to come pick up strays when asked to, let him find a different job. Hes had it too easy for too long. Marcia Evans Kokomo

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Kokomo Perspective

August 10, 2011

kokomoperspective.com/opinion

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ment doesnt care about their officers. Brent Bartholomew Kokomo

Too hot for police

to Jail Commander Capt. Harold Vincent who took time to speak to our group. Patricia Sottong Kokomo

This is about the welfare of the Kokomo Police officers. On July 20, Chanel 8 news stated that law enforcement officers were being allowed to wear pullover shirts and short pants around the state, but Kokomo Police officers were not allowed to wear pull-over shirts and short pants. What is the big deal about it? Those uniforms are hot and heavy. What does the city want these cops to do? Collapse from the heat? There is no reason why kokomo cops cant dress as cool as they can in this extreme heat. Well, people, if you see a Kokomo cop collapse, call an ambulance because they are going to need one. I have only onething to say to Kokomo Police officers. The heat is on. Be carfeul because if youre not, taxpayers will have to come to your aid. Its obvious the Kokomo Police Depart-

On Wed., July 27, the City of Firsts Red Hatters were given a tour of the Howard County Jail. And we were impressed! We ate the same meal served to the inmates and made by a selected group of inmates. The meal was delicious adn well-balanced. The cost permeal was amazingly small for the quality. The facility tour showed a self-contained unit with administration, laundry, food services, inmate housing with its appropriate divisions, recreation, classroom, visitor, court, evidence and individual processing rooms. The staff was knowledgeable and pleasant. Howard County has every rigth to be proud of its jail andthe remarkable people who run it. A special thanks goes to our tour guides, civil processor Diane Howard and SSgt Mark Brackett, and Hoosier could have been hurt. And Indiana becomes a vivid battleground in 2012 over this matter, with Lugar and Indiana Treasurer Richard Moudock taking opposite sides. Lugar defied political observers, who thought he would cave to the Tea worker his or her hard earned money to give to people who have no desire or inclination to work. There are individuals in our society who have learned to play a system that was created with good intentions. These individuals get welfare, food stamps, a housing allowance, free health care and a free cell phone

Red Hatters liked the jail

In response to David Plantengas letter of confusion about the God of the Old and New Testament. If you asked Jesus to be your savior and confessed your sins, then you are a Christian. So, dont keep trying to be one. God created all things to be perfect. But he also gave man free will. Adam and Eve brought sin into the world by disobeying God. Gods love never changed for mankind, but, because of disobedience, God had to discipline people who continually chose not to believe in Him. He rewarded those who did choose to follow Him. In order for us to go to heaven, God had to send Jesus to earth as a sacrifice for our sin. By Gods grace we have that opportunity to be with Him for eternity. Party by voting against the debt-ceiling deal. In typical Lugar fashion, he cast a vote for the agreement that achieved significant conservative wins in terms of budget and tax policy. Initially, President Obama asked Congress to raise the limit on U.S. -- all these benefits without having to get out of bed in the morning. In addition, a welfare worker told me, the allowance for women on welfare for each child is $600 per month. Some welfare recipients are living better than ever and have no requirement to contribute to society. There is absolutely no incentive to leave the wel-

Question about God answered

Find a church that teaches that Gods grace through Jesus is the only way to heaven. You do not have to earn your way to heaven. He loves all people, but only a few will choose to follow Christ. Gods love was, and is and always will be the same. The Old Testament is the history of mankind and the New Testament is about Jesus and our salvation. Patty McHatton Kokomo

both vocal and instrumental. They have a very knowledgable staff, and I feel Kokomo should be exceptionally proud to have a business of their caliber here in town. Louise McIntire Kokomo

Illegals to blame

Congratulations to Rhum Academy

I would like to congratulate the Rhum Academy of Music and Performing Arts Center on their third anniversary in Kokomo. I have a great niece and nephew in their program, and I feel they are getting the very best in music education, not only in their voice and music instruction, but also by encouraging on-stage performances on student night once a month. Gary and Jessica Rhum are excellent musicians, debt without any cuts in spending, Lugar explained. He then asked for increases in taxes. Republicans succeeded in gaining substantial cuts in spending and no increases in taxes. We were also successful in gaining spending caps to restrain future spending. fare programs because of the way the program has been structured by Washington politicians. Present social programs have created a generation of Americans who dont work, will never work and are establishing future generations that will have government handouts as their heritage. Forty seven percent of Ameri-

The American citizens have been hammered with the propaganda that it was the Iraq war and the war on terror that is bankrupting us. Now, there is speculation of cuts in Social Security (citizens monies, deducted monthly) benefits, Medicare and Medicaid cuts due to the unstable economy. I have the following questions: Why is $11-$12 billion spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state government? Why is $22 billion a year spent on food assistance program such as food stamps, WIC and free school lunches for illegal aliens? Why is $2.5 billion a year spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens? Mourdock was defiantly against the deal, embracing a Tea Party perspective. The tin can of responsibility was once again kicked down the road, he said. Our debt will grow another four billion dollars today, tomorrow, the next day and the day cans dont pay federal taxes. The other 53 percent carry the burden for social programs that reward someone for not working. The American unions, made up of hard-working members, are in the taxpaying group that blindly supports the Democrat Partys socialistic programs. As hard as I have tried to under-

Why is $12 billion a year spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English? Why is $17 billion a year spent for education for American-born children of illegal aliens (known as anchor babies)? Why is $3 million a day spent to incarcerate illegal aliens (30 percent of all federal prison inmates are illegal aliens)? Why is $90 billion a year spent on illegal aliens for welfare and social services by the American taxpayers? Why is $200 billion a year in suppressed American wages is caused by the illegal alien benefits? That is $350 billion plus being spent per year! In summary, instead of reducing benefits (Social Security, etc.) for true Americans (U.S. citizens), begin reducing the abovementioned and not penalize the American citizen and their rights and entitlements! Charles Woolley Kokomo

HOWEY
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its debt. That outcome could have dealt a devastating setback to the U.S. and global economy and potentially sent interest rates skyrocketing. Every

after that. Today merely sets the stage for an even bigger crisis. This is a debate that will continue through the 2012 elections. The columnist publishes at www.howeypolitics. com. Contact Howey at bhowey2@gmail.com.

FLOYD
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now represents values that are totally foreign to most working men and women. The party portrays itself as being the party that represents labor, however the Democrat Party takes from the

stand the unions thinking on this issue, it just doesnt compute. I have talked to my friends in the UAW, and they dont have an answer. Perhaps someone with UAW leadership responsibilities could enlighten our readers, as well as members of the UAW, as to why all Democrat Party programs are good for our country.