IndyStar.com: Letters to the editor
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
Full support for general is right response in Afghanistan
I don’t know how many wars Ken Bode (“Time for Obama to show rogue general the door,” Oct. 30) fought for our country, but I served in the Army for 22 years and fought in Vietnam with a combat battalion. I learned that the United...
They work for us, not for gifts from big-money lobbies
As Mary Beth Schneider pointed out in her article (“On the table: ethics reform at Statehouse,” Oct. 28), the 2010 legislature may consider requiring lawmakers to report gifts worth more than $50 from lobbyists. Let’s get real....
President asked for advice and that's what he got
How lucky we are that Ken Bode is not in a position of importance. I could not believe what I read in Bode’s Oct. 30 column (“Time for Obama to show rogue general the door”). His call to fire Gen. Stanley McChrystal is beyond...
You must be 21 to enter: We take that seriously
In Indiana, there are 11,420 establishments licensed to sell alcohol. Of those, 1,044 permits have been granted by state and local boards to package store owners (with 169 in Marion County). Unlike most other establishments licensed to sell a...
Union-represented schools have plenty of winners
Russ Pulliam’s column, “A boost for charter schools,” Oct. 16, is yet another example of The Star’s love affair with charter schools. Pulliam cites Herron High School teacher Greg Lineweaver, one of this year’s two...
It's about our health and it's the mature thing to do
As the smoking-ban debate has raged on, I’ve heard everything from patriotism (City-County Council member Ginny Cain) to treating our citizens as responsible adults (Letters, Nov. 2) as reasons to continue the status quo. The problem with...
Bah, humbug! Increase in property tax brings no joy
Was it just me, or did anyone else receive at nasty little Christmas present from the Marion County treasurer? From 2008 to 2009: Assessed value is down 35.5 percent; the local tax rate is down 22.8 percent, but my property tax liability is up 6.24...
Indy Parks staff inspired by public's passion
With the help of The Indianapolis Star’s Editorial Board and the Friends of Holliday Park, Indy Parks and Recreation hosted a unique public forum recently at Holliday Park. This was the first forum bringing together residents, our friends...
Big thanks to mayor for treating us respectfully
Thank you to Mayor Greg Ballard for treating residents of Marion County as adults and not children. The anti-tobacco cabal lost, thanks to the mayor (according to Matthew Tully), but smokers of Marion County won their liberty. As an oral surgeon,...
Led by invisible man, city fails to progress
Matthew Tully’s column regarding Mayor Greg Ballard’s “veto” of the smoking ban was dead-on referring to our every man ("Ballard’s veto threat helped kill smoking ban,’’ Oct. 28). Smoking kills an...
Federal stimulus dollars help stabilize Medicaid program
The Arc of Indiana appreciates the difficulty of quantifying how many jobs have been saved or created by federal stimulus dollars. Gov. Mitch Daniels and state Rep. Pat Bauer are correct in being cautious to not overstate the impact. However, the...
Wishard's very existence hangs in balance
For more than 150 years, Wishard Hospital has cared for Indianapolis. Wishard exists because of the goodness, decency and humanity of our community. On Tuesday, you will decide whether Wishard will continue to exist. Wishard provides compassionate,...
Promises, promises: Don't believe taxes will never go
As the old maxim says, “The only certainty in life is death and taxes.” So if a governmental entity tells me it needs the ability to raise taxes, but promises not to raise taxes, I am skeptical. Health and Hospital Corporation is asking...
Wishard's been constant in life's best, worst moments
I have been a nurse at Wishard Memorial Hospital for 18 years. In that time, I have experienced more than I could ever imagine: I have witnessed everything from the joy of birth to the compassion, dignity and respect shown to the terminally ill. I...
Carrying its own weight by picking up the tab
St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild has supported Wishard Hospital for more than 100 of Wishard’s 150 years of existence. The guild, established in 1907, raises funds for the programs and services of Wishard Health Services through the annual...
Sporting events open playing field to many
On the heels of Chicago’s loss to Rio de Janeiro for the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, a newspaper editorial encouraged Mayor Richard Daley to keep his talented and high-energy bid committee on the field with a new assignment: harness...
Why even ask for what Wishard richly deserves?
I think it’s despicable that Wishard has to ask for help at all. Wishard provides a valuable service to the underserved, the indigent, the meek of the Earth. I have never worked at Wishard, but know many who do. Not one of them has complained...
High-performing hospital is local treasure
Thanks to the upcoming referendum on Wishard’s new hospital, I’ve learned much more about this gem in our city. Wishard created the first regional medical information system in the country, now a key national strategy for improving the...
Vote no: Ballot issue bad for kids, property values
I would like to implore residents of Beech Grove and other local areas to turn out and say no to the school funding ballot referendums this election cycle. Yard signs in Beech Grove plead for voters to "save the school buses,’’...
Consider it a win-win for everyone in county
I have been an employee of Wishard Hospital for 26 years. I know what it’s like to walk the distance of three football fields to get from the parking lot to the hospital entrance. I am proud to be an employee of Wishard, as well as, the...
Too worried about tobacco to see alcohol's damage
I thought The Star prided itself on being unbiased, but now I know better. I see the facts, figures and statistics on smoking, but I never see the same things on alcohol. Why is this? Everyone is so worried about the smoking issue but not alcohol...
Reading is cornerstone of being well-educated
Matt Tully mentioned it in a column about Manual High School and it came up again in Dennis Ryerson’s column. However, neither noted that lack of reading ability (functional illiteracy) is a primary reason why students fail in school. If they...
Freedom to own guns not restricted to army
The statement in the letter (“Restrict gun sales for a more peaceful union”) that the Constitution emphatically points out that its purpose in allowing gun ownership was to provide a well-regulated militia is debatable. A standing army...
Americans have legal right to own guns, protect themselves
I am a retired woman, age 65, have a gun permit, own a gun and belong to the National Rifle Association. I have to respond to John Maxwell’s Oct. 24 opinion on "restricting gun sales for a more peaceful union.‘’ He states that...
Cooler temperatures since hot 1998 aren't convincing
John L. Sorg’s letter (Oct. 28, “Better ways to achieve cleaner environment”) repeats yet again a dangerous misleading reference to the Earth cooling since 1998. There was a spike in temperature that particular year, due to a huge...
Shocking link to politician's funds (sarcasm intended)
I am shocked, shocked, I say, that the feds have found possible links between earmarks and contributions to Rep. Pete Visclosky’s campaign. Richard Keenan Bloomington
Council fails to protect workers from smoke
We have experienced a disgraceful failure of the City-County Council to pass the ordinance strengthening the smoking ban in Indianapolis. Since the initial smoking ban was passed, the science demonstrating the dangers of secondhand smoke has become...
Savoring memories, lamenting the present
My thanks to The Star for Matt Tully’s “The Manual Project” series. It is information we need to know. But these columns continue to create distress and sadness for Manual alums, particularly those of us who went to Manual in the...
Lowering teacher standards all comes back to pay
The debate about teacher training (“How do you want teachers trained?” Oct. 24) comes down to one basic factor: money. Because potential teachers are not attracted to education because of low salary expectations compared to other fields,...
Urge Indiana delegation to honor humanitarian
On Oct. 14 the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Muhammad Yunus, the “Father of Microcredit.” Yunus richly deserves the award (he has already won the Nobel Peace Prize), because his movement to...
