Speak Out 12/13/11

Corporations raiding treasury

I would like to respond to people talking about the old vet's comments. It is true that when the blacks and the women went into the military, everybody got on their soap box and said they're going to destroy the military. As far as gays in the military, well, just don't turn into a gay. I guess if you don't bother them, they won't bother you. I think that they better have their minds on their business at hand instead of worrying about all this other stuff. You know what? If you think being gays a sin, don't be gay. But, I got news for you. You know what's going to destroy this country? What's destroying the military faster than anything? It's these government non-bid contracts. They're just giving away our money to any corporation hands over fist. They're paying these corporations to have these people -- they're doing a very similar job the military is doing -- only they're paying the contractors, as they loosely call these people, they're paying them three times what they're paying our U. S. Military. Now, you tell me where that's right? Taxpayers are forking over all this money. I hardly know a taxpayer that wouldn't want to help a young military person. I'd pay them three times the amount. Wouldn't blink twice if I knew it were going to one of our enlisted men or women, but I think it's a dog-gone shame that these corporations are raiding the American treasury. I think somebody should be held fiscally responsible for these non-bid contracts. They should have to account for every penny of the government's money they're spending. Thank you.

Ill conceived

design

As a retired automotive engineer for the now defunct American Motors Corporation, when I saw the push for the Chevy Volt under conditions that were truly unfavorable for its development: 1) for the recycling of their batteries and 2) the placement and the charging of the batteries, I sat there and just told myself this is an accident waiting to happen. It was a poor design pushed by a government for purely political reasons only. And, what do we see? Yes, an accident waiting to happen. They are catching fire, America. So, yes. General Motors has now offered to the buying public to buy them back if you are afraid of them catching fire. As an engineer, I would recommend, yes. Highly recommend that you do so. If you value your family, go back to your Chevrolet dealers and sell them back in a heartbeat. It is a poor designed pushed by an agenda driven president trying to push a green agenda. Don't risk your family for a poorly designed automobile pushed to build General Motors back at your expense. Don't risk your life, your children's lives, at the idea of padding General Motors' profit line. Take that car back. Get your money back and buy any other, well let's say, safer product line from Ford, Chrysler or any of the foreign imports. Just one man's opinion, but let's just say it was an agenda that was ill conceived at the time.

Thank you street department

I would like to thank the Street Department for all you hard work. You keep our streets clean and safe and help beautify our city. Especially thanks to the street sweepers and leaf disposables 'cause I know it's against the law to burn leaves in the street and it's also bad for our environment, but you help us take care of this problem. Many thanks to all of you for your hard work. Happy holiday.

Commend

the soldiers

I would like to commend Mr. Slater of Van Buren for his excellent letter to the editor in your Monday's Nov. 14 newspaper. Unfortunately, he's article is true. The younger generation have no concept of what their ancestors: their fathers, their grandfathers, their great-uncles even fought in the wars prior to the Gulf one. The newer history books skip or glaze over what World War II was really about. And, the Korean War is rarely mentioned. The Vietnam Conflict was confusing to our grandchildren, nieces and nephews while it was confusing to our generation at the time it was going on. But, still our soldiers need to be commended for what they did. While my grandsons ask their grandfather about what he did or where he was stationed during the war and if he lost good and dear friends during that times. They don't get the important undertow to his answers. We can't allow history to simply condense down to a couple of paragraphs in our history books. What happened during the wars prior to the one we're currently in I would like to keep in the forefront of their minds that our children are here to day because of the safety and the responsibility that our soldiers fought for. Bye.