IndyStar.com: Letters to the editor
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
They'll tolerate crimes but not Rush's speech
Leonard Pitts’ column was an unwarranted slam on Rush Limbaugh (“Rally round Brother Limbaugh,” Oct. 23). Limbaugh, according to Pitts’ own words, merely was stating opinions, which he has every right to do. The NFL coaches...
Doubts about whose interests Buyer would uphold
The Frontier Foundation is a cover for currying influence. No elected official should get cozy with special interests — it affects how a legislator votes. Will Rep. Steve Buyer vote for his constituents’ interests or his charity...
Star should rethink use of photo
How can the grisly depiction of a (fake) severed human head in the newspaper’s own advertisement get past The Star’s editors? The Star solicitation for scary Halloween photos in the Oct. 23 sports section is far out of bounds. Readers...
Everyone wins with Sunday liquor sales compromise
It is apparent that the money opposing Sunday alcohol sales is primarily coming from independent liquor storeowners. They argue it would cost them too much money to be open one more day of the week. Where in the new proposal would they be required to...
Standing up to disruptive Manual students
I have been reading with dismay Matt Tully’s column about the awful learning environment at Manual High School. Now, The Star reports that Col. Vincent Johnson has been fired by the IPS Board following an incident where three Manual non-ROTC...
Townships sit on tax-paid cash cushions
The recession has hit Hoosiers hard, and government isn’t immune; there’s been a lot of attention over the past two weeks about the state’s plummeting revenues, short more than $250 million over the last quarter. But even closer to...
State grabs gambling money at expense of the public
Since we are celebrating the lottery’s 20th birthday and since The Star brought up the governor’s “List of Failures,” let’s not overlook the Big Sell-Out. That is the disenfranchisement of hundreds of mom-and-pop...
Little evidence that cap and trade would work
It is never a good time for a bad idea. Many put up the argument that expensive cap-and-trade taxation is not good now because of the weak economy. The economy should have nothing to do with it because cap-and-trade legislation is an ineffective and...
Harm done in rush to reform social studies education
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett and the Indiana Department of Education have failed social studies. In the rush to reform K-12 social studies education, the department is harming students and teachers. The proposed changes to...
Rep. Buyer's definition of 'no good deed'
So Rep. Steve Buyer has accepted trips to multiple golf outings with lobbyists under the guise of raising money for Hoosier scholarships, yet more money has gone to the National Rifle Association than to any student. Both political parties need to...
Read deep into article to find exoneration
How the mighty have fallen. That expresses my strong sentiments toward The Star after having read the front-page hit piece on Rep. Steve Buyer on Oct. 18. What a travesty that this once great newspaper has been reduced to such biased reporting. The...
Secondhand smoke and the limits of freedom
David Patterson’s Oct. 21 letter claims that “freedom is defined by public opinion.” Freedom ends if person A is doing harm or even discomfort to Person B. That’s why murder is illegal and it’s not appropriate to yell...
Cozy relationships with corporate interests
Let me see if I understand this correctly. U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer regularly champions the interests of energy companies as he attacks pending cap-and-trade legislation opposed by those companies. Simultaneously, he creates a scholarship foundation...
The risks of paying more than our fair share
One reason the health-care debate is so contentious is that it’s about tradeoffs that are difficult to make. How do we improve care for the 15 percent of Americans who lack insurance without undermining the care for the 85 percent with...
'Boom, baby' transcends global boundaries
Indiana’s economy benefits greatly from exports, but during a recent trip to Asia we learned that the Hoosier State has no finer export than basketball. Being part of this “export” revealed to us an instructive lesson in...
New rules on Net neutrality could mean loss of jobs
In recent months, The Star has reported extensively on the down economy and resulting job losses. We had hoped that the worst days were behind us, but now the Federal Communications Commission is considering putting new regulations on the Internet...
The economics, politics of climate change
State Sen. Brandt Hershman’s recent letter regarding climate and energy legislation misrepresents the economics and politics of climate change (“Cap-and-trade disadvantages outweigh any potential good” Oct. 4). Hershman wants an...
Restrict gun sales for a more peaceful union
The editorial “Tougher ban is blow for health” (Oct. 5) says that half the states have emphatically stated that smoking is not the prerogative of the smoker. I have to wonder when those states are going to decide that casual gun...
Women still heeding Earhart's inspiration
Amelia Earhart has long inspired young women to pursue their dreams, even if they face obstacles to their goals and especially if those dreams will take them beyond traditional careers. Interest around the world in the aviatrix is sure to be renewed...
News flash: Lawmakers seldom read bills
I’m tired of hearing the argument that our nation’s legislators haven’t had time to read the 1,000-page health-care bill, and soon they will be expected to vote on it. Here’s a news flash: Legislators almost never read every...
It's about truth, trust, not friendliest news program
I find it amazing that when a leading news organization asks the questions people wish to pose to their government, it is shunned. What is the government afraid of? The truth? If the government’s policies are good for America, then leaders...
Money's gone because Congress spends it
Marie Cocco (“Low times for middle class,” Oct. 16) repeats the weary assertion that “Social Security has sufficient benefits though 2037.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Social Security is an unfunded liability...
Tax money supports him as girls live with nightmare
Imagine for one moment how two little girls huddled in a closet, hearing the murder of their mother, are going to feel when their father is released from prison. They will be adult women going through hell trying to recover from this nightmare...
Where's concern for those who will be left out in cold?
Passionate, yet flimsy medical “evidence” propagated by professionals is hardly a justifiable backdrop to expand an already restrictive tobacco usage ban in this city. If this collective concern is for the health of workers, where then is...
For our health, jobs, we must pass climate legislation
While I agree with my colleague, state Sen. Brandt Hershman, that hearing from constituents is important (Letters, Oct. 4), I take issue with his comments regarding how U.S. Sens. Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh should vote on economy-boosting climate...
Cartoon criticism: Limbaugh caused his own segregation
I feel compelled to comment on Gary Varvel’s Oct. 16 cartoon. Segregated drinking fountains represent such a sad time of disrespect in our country’s history, when people were judged by the color of their skin instead of the quality of...
No representation from him, yet they keep voting for him
Just whom is Dan Burton representing? Apparently not his constituents in Indiana, who for some unfathomable reason continue to elect him year after year. Ruth Strickland Indianapolis
Putting liberty at risk, they can fight for their jobs
People’s burning passion for freedom was vigorously displayed at U.S. Rep. Dan Burton’s recent town hall meeting in Carmel. With loud applause, the crowd agreed with members of the audience who spoke out in defense of American liberty and...
Carpenter's columns are always good for a laugh
Please promise you will never get rid of Dan Carpenter’s editorial column. I used to love Peanuts, Beetle Bailey, Blondie, and all the other classic comic strips. But now nothing makes me laugh as loud as his columns do. Chris Hirschfeld...
New Wishard is fine, but taxpayers still foot the bill
In response to The Star’s Oct. 18 editorial in support of the proposed Wishard Hospital building project, let me begin by saying I support the proposal and intend to vote “yes” in the upcoming referendum. However, I am tired of...
