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Letters to the editor
Letter to the editor
Lyle Horman takes Lori Witt to task in a letter (12 February) in which he suggests that Mrs. Witt takes history out of context for her own use. Rather than looking at the Bush administration, he suggests going back to the Clinton-era for an understanding of the national debt.
But Mr. Horman doesn’t tell the whole story, either. Let’s go back even further, say to the early 1800s.
The national debt and annual deficits have always risen and fallen with economic and national circumstances. Annual figures (available from a number of sources, including the Bureau of the Public Debt, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Congressional Budget Office, and others) indicate that deficits rose during economic trouble, wars, or other circumstances requiring increased government spending. Over history, though, the value of the debt and deficit, have always come back down when that need for spending ended. That back-and-forth ended in the early 1980s (the last on-budget surplus was in 1969). Reagan inherited a significant economic problem, which ended in 1982, ushering in the “Seven Fat Years,” a period of significant economic growth. But the deficit and debt continued to balloon over that period, despite Reagan’s stated fiscal hawkishness. We didn’t want to reduce spending to pay for what we wanted.
The first President Bush had the same difficulty, as did President Clinton, as did the younger President Bush. Spending helps, and not spending hurts. The surpluses at the end of the 1990s were a fantasy, as they were only buttressed by Social Security surpluses (which are counted as part of the general operating budget). Take Social Security out, and there was one year of surplus, and it was much smaller than anyone is suggesting. We’re unwilling to cut down the deficit because it means that we’ll have less for our own pet programs that benefit our jurisdiction. In fact, the PAYGO system, which requires that any new spending be offset by a revenue source, was allowed to end in 2002 (under the younger Bush) and has not yet been re-instated.
To consider either party as the party of fiscal discipline is disingenuous. Politicians stress spending with which we do not agree as unnecessary and antithetical to reducing the debt, but we believe that spending with which we do agree is beneficial, and indeed vital, to the national interest. That’s not economics; that’s politics. And in a number of circumstances, politics breeds bad economics. On both sides.
Brian Peterson
Pella
March 12, 2010 10:32 am
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Letter to the editor
We would like to thank the fans, players, cheerleaders, coaches, and everyone from the Pella Christian Eagle community for their generosity and support. Over $1,400.00 was raised for the American Cancer Society’s research, education, advocacy and service programs. This outstanding show of support proves that the Pella Christian Eagles are truly committed to the fight against cancer.
A special thanks to the Coaches vs. Cancer volunteers who worked to make this event a success, by reminding us to celebrate the lives of those who have had cancer, remember those lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. The Coaches vs. Cancer volunteers did an outstanding job of putting the event together.
Thank you to all of the volunteers and participants for all of your hard work! For further information about the Coaches vs. Cancer program, please visit www.cancer.org or call 1-800-227-2345.
Jenny Smith
Youth Initiatives
Nicole Mohler
Community Relations
February 26, 2010 06:28 pm
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Letter to the editor
To the editor,
To the 31-year-old Pella woman who recently left a 3-4 year old girl and an infant girl in a mini-van while it was running for nearly an hour in front of the Pella The Shoe Department, I want to say – I hope you learned a valuable lesson today. You should never, never, NEVER leave children alone locked in a vehicle, let alone a running vehicle!! How did you know the exhaust system on the van wasn’t faulty and could have asphyxiated those children!! Or, that the older child, who was loose in the van, could have put the car in gear. When the police officer arrived and went into Maurices to find the driver and bring her back out to the running van, it would have been a good idea to have had an extra key to open the door instead of depending on the child to push the button to get in. Which makes me think of another danger – power windows.
Last month, a Pella couple made a very courageous trip to Haiti after the earthquake to rescue five orphans who were in the process of being adopted. This effort to save the children made local, national and international news. It would have been ironic had something happened to the children in the van (God forbid) prompting news reporters’ return to Pella to report on an avoidable tragedy.
To any person who is thinking of running in somewhere for just a minute and leaving children in the vehicle – Please don’t do it!
Connie Lane
Knoxville
February 19, 2010 01:17 pm
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Letter to the editor
To the editor,
I understand why Lori Witt looks backward rather than forward (Jan. 28 letter). Looking ahead would require admitting that Obama’s accumulation of debt will exceed that of all presidents from George Washington to George W. Bush combined. It is not intellectually honest to complain about the way Bush drove the debt bus but ignore how Obama just floored the accelerator. Witt time-slices history as if it were an onion in a Veg-o-matic.
Let’s review the entire national debt picture from President Clinton onward.
Clinton inherited a prosperous economy from Presidents Reagan and Bush I. His task: don’t screw things up. And with help from the failure of Hillary’s government-controlled health care plan (don’t Dems ever learn?) and the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, Clinton didn’t mess up the economy. Bush II therefore inherited a strong economy, too. Bush’s mid-2001 projections still showed large surpluses. What changed? 9/11.
Bush had to get real about a foreign policy challenge Clinton only toyed with. And deal with a 9/11-induced economic downturn. So the war on terror and the Bush tax cuts – both post-9/11 responses – and Bush’s unwise Medicare expansion changed the deficit outlook significantly. The tax cuts kept unemployment from exceeding 6.3%. Bush should have vetoed spending bills to bend the debt curve downward, but he didn’t.
Then late in his term Bush faced the subprime loan implosion. (Subprime loans grew dramatically after Clinton pressured Fannie Mae in 1999 to lower its credit standards. Bush tried to tighten those standards, but congressional Democrats blocked the effort.) Subprimes ignited the meltdown of late 2008. In response, Bush created the TARP debt to halt the financial sector’s freefall. No one liked TARP, but it succeeded in its mission. Banks receiving TARP money repaid it, plus dividends.
That brings us to Obama’s debt. It is certainly true Obama inherited a bleak economic situation. But his efforts thus far have accomplished nothing. His stimulus bill hiked the debt by $800 billion even as 3.5 million jobs were lost in 2009. When Associated Press examined the results of shovel-ready spending from the stimulus in January 2010 they found no effect on local unemployment rates. Several academic economists confirmed AP’s findings. In 2009 Obama dumped $60 billion into GM and Chrysler, yet now his treasury secretary admits those funds will likely never be repaid. The federal government deficit for 2010 is $1.6 trillion; estimated 2011 deficit will be $1.3 trillion; Obama’s own budget projections show deficits of at least $700 billion annually for each of the next ten years. Almost all economists consider such a level of debt “dangerously high.” And if that were not scary enough, the future debts arising from Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will exceed even these, by far.
Neither political party comes to the debt discussion with clean hands, but Obama is the undisputed king of debt. Our future prosperity is already at risk. The prison of debt will be unlocked only when we citizens decide, and enforce through our laws, that no one is entitled to another person’s earnings.
Lyle Horman
Pella
February 12, 2010 10:23 am
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Letter to the editor
To the editor,
Regarding the Mountain Lion that was shot. I didn’t read anything in the news that said the Cat had attacked or threatened any Human, or Pets, or any Livestock. If it was just living back in the woods from eating deer or rabbits or any kind of wildlife, it should have been left alone. I suspect He shot it because He wanted a live target. The most detestable thing about those pictures showing a hunter alongside a dead animal, (whether it be deer or lion or whatever), is they think there is some kind of “glory or fun glory” in it. It is detestable, and I think there are other readers that feel the same about it.
I’ve poisoned mice, rats, and pocket gophers because they do damage, but not because I find any “fun or glory” in it. Rather I hate it. The Animal killer at the packing plant does the job because He has bills to pay, and needs the job, and probably can’t find any other, but not so He can have Himself and pictures of his dead animals in the newspaper to be proud of it. There is such a thing as becoming totally de-sensitized about “killing and violence”!
Anyone can be a gun owner, collector, target shooter, defense advocate, without killing anything. The primary reason for the 2nd Amendment is found about 150-350 words into the Declaration of Independence.
Herman Lenz
Sumner
To the editor,
I’m just flabbergasted and overwhelmed with the present state of the English Language. It just ain’t very proper to add 2 or 3 ya know’s to every centence, ya know. I didn’t learn this kind of talk in all my 10 years in Grade Skool ya know.
Wat was that King’s name – way back in the 1600’s ya know? O Yah – James, what would James say, ya know, if his subjects flooded him with, thou knowest, thou knowest. He would probably be, ya know, petrified. He probly is actually, ya know, petrified by now anyhow! Ha Ha.
And then there is the reely reely meaningless term, ya know, to end every sentence with as well, as well, as well.
My teacher’s never taut me to say, ya know or as well but then again I ain’t never went to college either, ya know.
What is ominous tho, ya know, I’ve seen highly educated and learned people on TV even, look you rite in the eye and end there sentences with “as well”.
What’s this werld coming to anyhow? Well, you know, have a good morning and an afternoon as well.
Frank Gritters
Pella
To the editor,
The National Grange is the nation’s oldest general farm and rural public interest organization representing nearly 200,000 Grange members affiliated with 2700 local, county and state Grange chapters. We call on Congress to pass the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) in order to protect individual vehicle ownership rights, especially for residents of farming, tribal and rural communities.
Grange members believe American motorists should have to the right to choose how, where and by whom their cars, trucks, motorcycles and other motor vehicles are maintained and repaired. We believe consumers are entitled to full access to all of the repair information for the vehicles they purchase.
The National Grange encourages our members and all Americans to visit www.righttorepair.org to send a letter to each of their Congressional representatives, urging them to support the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2057).
Leroy Watson, Legislative Director
National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
Washington, D.C.
February 08, 2010 10:16 am
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Letter to the editor
To the editor,
It’s a good time to say thank you! To Senator Tom Harkin and Representative Leonard Boswell for the long, tiring efforts they have been investing to give us health care reform. Particularly we thank them because they seem to know that we can’t all get exactly what we want; living together in a country, as in a household, requires compromise.
Yes, we can’t get everything we want – like a broad public option that could include everyone and save more of the dollars that are now going to insurance companies. But what we can get should be relief for most who have no health insurance now, aid for those who can’t afford the insurance they have, and a break through for those who can’t get insurance because of a “pre-existing condition”. It’s a pity that we are too late for around 45,000 adults who have died per year in this country, essentially because they had no health insurance. (Harvard Medical School research).
Finally, it is a moral issue. Even more reason to thank Senator Harkin and Representative Boswell. Especially we thank President Obama – he’s had the courage to move us forward toward health reform after decades of failed attempts. Health care reform should move us toward a happier New Year – with many happier and healthier years to come.
Charlotte Shivvers and Bob Baker
Knoxville
To the editor,
Governor Chet Culver told the Iowa Legislature in his 2010 address, “I am happy to report that the condition of Iowa is resilient because the people of Iowa are resilient.”
Tough times? Yes, but the independent, non-partisan Pew Center ranked Iowa the second best managed state in the nation, and Iowa received high marks for fiscal management.
As the 2010 Governor’s race heats up, that will be worth remembering.
Phyllis Weeks
Knoxville
To the editor,
I would like to comment on two misperceptions of the Republican Party in Lyle Herman’s letter to the editor last week. Herman told readers to join the Republican precinct caucuses and envision a brighter future, “one where Americans are free and government is on a leash.” Presumably, Republicans are the only ones who safeguard American freedoms and budget responsibly.
If we go back just one presidential administration, Americans were not necessarily more free under President Bush than they are now. In fact, the Bush administration undermined Americans’ civil liberties with the Patriot Act, which allowed federal agencies access to everyone’s personal records without their knowledge or permission.
In addition. Republicans have not kept “government on a leash” since Ronald Reagan entered office in 1980. His fiscal policies allowed the budget deficit to top $1 trillion dollars for the first time, and his successor’s budget deficit soared to $4 trillion. Democratic president Bill Clinton’s budget showed a $236 billion surplus when he left office, but these gains were quickly erased by Republican George W. Bush, under whom the deficit again went over a trillion dollars. The real deficit which our current president inherited is even larger, because the cost of the Iraq war was never included in the previous budget.
I am tired of these mythical representations of the Republican party as the party of freedom and fiscal responsibility. Recent history clearly shows that they are neither.
Lori Witt
Pella
January 29, 2010 11:05 am
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Letter to the editor
To the editor,
One Minute of your Time Could Help Cure Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
My name is Sarah Turnbull and I’m the mother to Stella who was diagnosed with Type I Spinal Muscular Atrophy at just one month of age. We were told she would live weeks or months but she is almost 3 years old. Yes, she is a miracle as there are only two living Type I SMA children in the state of Iowa. However, this disease is not RARE as it kills more than an estimated 500,000 children every year. However, we have HOPE because the NIH (National Institute of Health) deems Spinal Muscular Atrophy the disease that is closest to a treatment/cure. The problem? Public funding has not been readily available and therefore most of the money that has been put forth for a cure that is “almost there” is from private funds.
Diagnosed at one month of age with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, we once viewed SMA as a death sentence for our child. We were told to go home and love our daughter who had been born healthy but exhibited signs of SMA one month later. In a couple months, Stella will be turning three years old and she is indeed our hero! Spinal Muscular Atrophy is the leading genetic killer of infants. Never heard of Spinal Muscular Atrophy before? SMA is a terminal, degenerative disease that impacts the voluntary muscles in infants and children including the ability to walk, sit, stand, eat, breathe, and even swallow but does not affect the brain. Ninety percent of children born with SMA die before the age of two. Although SMA is not a household name, the gene responsible for SMA is unknowingly carried by 1 in 40 people or nearly eight Million Americans (it affects 1:6000 births). There is currently no treatment or cure, but SMA research is extremely mature and researchers have stressed that one is attainable in the next five years if provided the appropriate resources.
We have a lot of hope for our very happy little girl and hope that you can help us. Would you be so kind as to donate a minute or two of your time to help an important organization win $1 million, all of which will go directly to finalizing treatments and hopefully a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy?
The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation (GSF) is a nonprofit organization striving to put an end to SMA. GSF was voted by Facebook users as one of the top 100 charities to win a $25,000 grant and is now competing in the final round of the Chase Community Giving campaign with a chance to win $1 million. You must be a Facebook user to vote, but what better reason to join Facebook?
-Go to www.voteforsma.com and it will direct you to the link for voting.
-Become a “fan” of Chase Community Giving and cast your vote for Gwendolyn Strong Foundation
-Please tell your family and friends to cast their vote too by January 22, 2010.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your continued prayer support for our daughter, Stella, and her journey in battling Spinal Muscular Atrophy and for taking a moment to vote, because it could very well be the vote needed to push us toward funding for a cure! Together we can work to finalize the cure! Go to: VoteforSMA.com. You can also follow Stella Turnbull’s journey by going to www.caringbridge.org/visit/stellaturnbullturnbull.
Sarah Turnbull
Pella
Mother to Treyton (5 and SMA-free),
Stella (almost 3 and Type I SMA) and
Sayer (15 months and SMA-free)
January 22, 2010 01:42 pm
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Letter to the editor
To the editor,
Nationwide, voters are telling pollsters interesting things.
A near-landslide majority believes Obama-led America is headed in the wrong direction. Those who “strongly disapprove” of Obama’s performance as president outnumber those who “strongly approve” by 43 to 25 percent. By a 58-to-39 margin Americans oppose the Democrats’ health care scheme, while almost 80% believe Obamacare will cost more than anticipated and will raise taxes on the middle class. More Americans believe Obama’s trillion-dollar “stimulus” hurt the economy than helped it. By a 16-point margin more Americans believe climate change is caused by long-term planetary trends rather than human activity. And, compared to when Obama was elected, one out of every seven Democrats considers himself or herself a Democrat no longer. That’s one of the fastest declines in party affiliation ever observed.
Perhaps you’re disgusted because the Democrats have created a mountain of debt but no jobs. Or disturbed to see an American president bow to foreign kings. Maybe the Democrats’ “Cornhusker kickback” strikes you as being closer to bribery than law-making. You’re not alone. And it doesn’t have to be this way.
On Saturday, January 23, at 1 pm the Republican Party of Marion County will be holding their 2010 precinct caucuses. For Pella, Otley, and Lake Prairie and Summit townships the meeting will be held in Pella at Madison elementary school (950 E University St). We’ll conduct some party business, but much of the time will be spent talking about hopes and ideas for a better Iowa and a better America. Your ideas and our ideas. So come. Bring family and friends, join with your local Republicans, and start envisioning a brighter future. One where Americans are free and government is on a leash, rather than the other way around.
Lyle Horman
Pella
January 22, 2010 01:41 pm
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Letter to the editor
To the editor,
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside!”
Our warm thanks go out to area businesses and volunteers who contributed their talents, skills and financial support to make this year’s Festival of Trees a magical event. Proceeds from the Festival of Trees have been calculated, and the generous amount made from this year’s auction was 50 percent more than last year and our donations at the door - three times more! Mostly due to the fact that we had double the number of entries this year.
Through anonymous donors, two families identified through Crossroads of Pella were gifted trees and another tree was placed at the Comfort House of Pella. We will use a portion of the funds to improve the Pella Opera House kitchen floor. In addition, the Opera House Partner Committee sponsors Missoula’s Children Theater annually. Don’t miss Princess and the Pea - January 29 at 7 pm and January 30 at 10:30 am. Children who love to act may participate in this special play. Contact the Pella Opera House at 628-8628 or visit us online at www.pellaoperahouse.org for more information.
Thank you for your help in bringing the gift of joy and the spirit of family, love and sharing to our wonderful community.
Natalie Wesemann
Pella
December 31, 2009 04:07 pm
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Letter to the editor
To the editor,
While many Republicans are predicting an increase in energy costs if we pass the cap and trade legislation, they are missing the big picture. In fact, the legislation will save exponentially more money than it will cost, as was seen with the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.
redicted to cost $5.7 billion, the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, which used a cap and trade market system, turned out to cost just $1.6 billion to cut more than 4 million tons of sulfur dioxide. But savings in health care costs were found to be as much as $70 billion dollars, according to a 2003 EPA study. That is a savings of 43 dollars for every dollar spent.
With many scientists warning that climate change threatens the lives of billions of people this century, and could accelerate out of control unless we cap and reduce emissions very fast, the savings will likely be vastly greater with investments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Many larger cities in the United States have unsafe air pollution that is increasing with the temperatures that are a precursor to smog. By switching from dirty coal to clean solar and wind energy, air pollution will be reduced significantly.
Burning coal kills an estimated 24,000 people each year in the United States from particulate air pollution according to the American Lung Association. This is equivalent to eight September 11, 2001 terrorist attack deaths every year. But these people are separated around the country, dying in hospital wards along with an estimated 38,200 non-fatal heart attack victims and 554,000 asthma sufferers whose illness was caused by burning coal, according to the American Lung Association.
People do not see the deaths in one dramatic event, and are not mobilized to action as happened with the September 11 attacks. But they are real, as is the threat of climate change to our national security that prompted the U.S. Pentagon to call global warming a greater risk to national security than terrorism in a 2004 report.
And that is just burning coal. The cap and trade legislation will also reduce the burning of oil, and cut down on the 700 billion dollars that we spend every year to buy petroleum from other countries. Electric cars and trains charged with solar and wind generated energy will be pollution-free.
Having seen the impacts of climate change in the Arctic, and studied the horrific predictions if we continue on our current path, I implore citizens to get behind the cap and trade legislation. The science proving climate change is the most documented of any issue in history. We must take action, before it is too late.
Chad Kister
Nelsonville, Ohio
December 11, 2009 09:25 am
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