IndyStar.com: Letters to the editor
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
Charter school foes aren't cheering for the kids
The article “Are sports powerhouses on the way?” exposes the typical hysteria that accompanies charter school success. One basketball coach said, “I’ll guarantee this: My teams will never play against a charter school.”...
Instead of new Wishard, try cooperating with others
Rather than spending $754 million to replace Wishard Hospital, then also spending whatever the inevitable cost overrun is, we in Marion County would be better served if the Health and Hospital Corporation simply contracted with the other existing...
My View: Vote for good schools, reap the rewards
In coming weeks and months, voters in five Central Indiana school districts will face a tough choice: voting to support school financial requests with their property tax dollars, or forcing their local schools to make difficult budget cuts. Such...
Stemming incivility takes a village
While I concur with the commentators’ advice in “Uncivil Season” (Conversations, Oct. 4), they are preaching to those who already embrace civility. Acting alone, the Joe Wilsons, Serena Williamses and Kanye Wests of the world are...
Timeless brotherhood for Butler fraternity
In Cathy Kightlinger’s article on restoration of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house at Butler University, I was amused by the comment of Ron Reed, a 1990 graduate and Phi Delta member, who stated that being back on campus made him feel young...
Health reform should slant toward more freedom
According to recent news, the health-care reform options being discussed will “allow the government to dictate the types of coverage that must be included in insurance policies,” put “limits on co-pays and deductibles” and...
Riding the trails and spending some cash on Eastside
Thank you, Mayor Greg Ballard and all those who helped get the first section of the Pennsy Trail on the Eastside. After biking it, I spent a few dollars at a store near Shortridge Road and the trail, and will keep doing that. We who bike and walk can...
Let's get with times, clear the air of smoke
I would like to thank The Star for the editorial on making Indianapolis smoke free (“Tougher ban is blow for health,” Oct. 5). It is good to remember that going smoke free is not a new or radical decision, but instead a step that many...
Start with tax deductions for simple health reform
Why can’t we approach the health-care debate with caution? Every time Congress sees a problem, it seems to have this need to create a new federal bureaucracy. This is an area where we need to tread lightly to avoid unintended consequences....
Living with consequences of Bush's tragic errors
If you are worried, upset and disgusted about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, you can thank the previous administration. Instead of staying there and finishing the war against those who attacked us on 9/11, the Bush administration chose...
Stacked deck doesn't play out like real competition
Government competition? Sure, let’s play health-care poker. I’ll be big government, you be private insurance. We’ll use my cards. I’ll always deal and determine how many cards you get. I set the rules, but can change them at...
The way to cover all for less: public option
I agree with E.J. Dionne’s point (“A public option isn’t dead yet,” Oct. 3) that a public option would result in greater competition and help make health insurance more affordable. The United States spends approximately $2.4...
Feeling at home with learning respect for others
Civility begins at home. (“Uncivil season,” Oct. 4). It begins by treating one’s parents and siblings with respect — in the home. Evan L. Lehman, M.D. Indianapolis
Attorney needs to re-read the Constitution
I find it amusing that attorney James Voyles thinks judges are beyond reproach and criticism (“Public criticism of judges has no place in judicial process,” Sept. 30). Voyles might want to turn to the top of The Star’s editorial...
Who's against public option? Well-paid insurance execs
I have never been a single-issue voter, and have never before applied a litmus test to any candidate for public office. However, I will not vote for any candidate for federal office who opposes a government option health-care plan. I have done a lot...
My View: Alternatives, efficiency offer best energy savings
In his Sept. 21 My View, state Sen. Jim Merritt, suggests that coal-fired power is a cheap source of energy and that’s the reason behind Indiana’s “low rates.” This may have been true in the past, but it’s not true...
Keep state archives dry with move to unused building
It is my understanding that a new use is being sought for the building that once housed the State Museum and later the Central Library until its remodeled building was completed. I saw in The Star on Oct. 4 that the state archives are in danger of...
Don't be hoodwinked into voting yes
Vote no on Nov. 3 on the misleading and ill-timed Wishard ballot measure. I don’t know which is worse: having a special one-purpose election at horrendous cost to taxpayers or using misleading ballot language that doesn’t say what the...
Invite these people to town meeting on health care
I’ve been following the health-care legislation debate on C-SPAN. Various members of the Senate Finance Committee always bring up discussions at town hall meetings to suggest an aversion to any type of public option. The one town hall meeting...
Students without insurance: Let parents, not public, pay
I have health insurance through my employer. I have two children who are 28 and 24, both students, but beyond the age my health insurance will carry them. Would I like to see insurance companies be required to let me continue to carry them if they...
Armed with education degree, but not headed to IPS
In reference to Andy Gammill’s article, “A new breed of teachers,” Oct. 4: As someone who will be graduating from IUPUI’s School of Education next spring, I’m glad to learn that Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent...
Mayor's pay went up, water bills didn't come down
Why doesn’t The Star investigate the water rates in Lawrence? The bill I recently paid was for 5,180 gallons of water used. The bill totaled $68.87. If you subtract the trash pickup charge of $15, the bill was still $53.87. That is a much...
Raises with our money, while private workers get less
Angove, you seem somewhat misguided. Didn’t...
Billionaire Irsay, overburdened taxpayers
No wonder Jim Irsay is one of the richest people in America (“Jim Irsay lands on Forbes 400,” Sept. 30). The taxpayers of Indiana are paying for his new football stadium. It’s just another example of the overburdened taxpayer...
Our soldiers in Afghanistan died due to inept leadership
While President Barack Obama fiddled at the United Nations placating our enemies and repeatedly apologizing for American excellence and worldwide success, Afghanistan burned despite pleas for more troops from Army Gen. David Petraeus and Chairman of...
Put trust in Citizens to manage utilities
Citizens Energy Group is pleased to propose a partnership with the city of Indianapolis to place its water and wastewater utilities within Citizens’ public charitable trust. We are making this proposal to be helpful to the city as it looks for...
A better comparison of Lilly's pipeline
On Sept. 20, The Star published a story, “In Lilly’s Pipeline: Profit or Peril?”, that examined recently announced organizational changes at the company. As a part of this article, The Star cited a report and graphic by Morningstar,...
Include time at home in school time debate
In the Sept. 30 article, “State panel will revive time debate for school days,” Stephen Stephanoff says that deciding on a longer school day is “really a matter of where you want a society to go.” He is right. However,...
Real people, real problems, now we need real solution
Thank you for the excellent front-page coverage of “America’s Uninsured: 5 Stories,” Sept. 23. Your choice to print the story helps put a human face on this very complex issue. The misinformation and deliberate lies that have been...
Cap-and-trade disadvantages outweigh any potential good
As an elected official, I know the power of contact by constituents. Therefore, I encourage you to join me in writing, calling or e-mailing U.S. Sens. Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh and urging them to vote against the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade...
