Published: June 30, 2009 06:05 pm         

Readers' Forum: July 1, 2009

No benefits from ongoing drug war

As a retired Michigan police officer, I heartily agree with the comments of Alex Derry (Readers’ Forum, June 22).

Many of us in law enforcement would appreciate the major drop in crime when we repeal this prohibition. In a post-prohibition world we could do an effective job protecting our children from predators and all of us from the deadly DUI. Our troops in Afghanistan would no longer be killed by bullets bought by the profits from the drug trade.

Someone please tell me all the positive benefits, good outcomes of this “Modern Prohibition” which make it worth keeping. I never read or hear of any.

— Officer Howard Wooldridge (retired), Founding Member of LEAP, Law Enforcement Against

Prohibition (www.leap.cc)

Washington, D.C.

Another Tea Party set for Saturday

The “Tea Party” continues across the nation this Fourth of July. Terre Haute will again participate starting at 11 a.m. and going until at least 1 p.m.

The reasons to participate are many and needed. There should be hundreds of “headlines” and articles alerting and informing us of the financial problems that a growing federal bureaucracy is creating. The mainstream media is failing in its role as a watchdog, and now has become a liberal infomercial.

I cannot, in one letter, enlighten you totally, but I can contribute to the chorus of fellow citizens sounding warnings. The federal government has borrowed more money in the last six months than in the last 30 years. We are now borrowing billions and billions of dollars from China. Just to pay the interest on money already borrowed.

On a personal level, that means every 20-year-old will pay $114,000 in federal taxes over their working life, just on the interest accrued by the present national debt. If the federal government took all of the money from those people earning over $250,000 dollars, that amount of money would keep this government running for six months.

Beware, we all are going to be taxed, taxed and taxed in an effort to sustain this out-of-control waste, waste and more waste. A snapshot to help illustrate the big picture: Liberal states are bankrupt, California is $24 billion in debt and our liberal politicians want to scale up these models for the federal government. As we print a trillion new dollars with no new wealth to back up this money, it dilutes the value of our money, causing inflation.

The picture for future generations is not looking good; more taxes to pay for enormously wasteful and corrupted programs, hyper-inflation and an ever-growing welfare state.

The rally will be at the Vigo County Courthouse this Fourth of July.

— James E. Page

West Terre Haute

Hard-working class made teacher proud

During the 2008-09 school year, I had the opportunity to teach eighth-grade math at West Vigo Middle School. The faculty and administration were very helpful during my first year at a new school. I appreciate everything they did to make my year a successful one.

Even though my pre-algebra students weren’t always happy with the nightly homework, they soon understood that this pace was necessary to finish the book, and we did finish the book. Their hard work will pay dividends next year when these pre-algebra students are successful in algebra class at high school and finish by passing the End of Course Assessment (ECA), the new graduation qualifying exam.

The algebra students didn’t complain as much about the homework because they expected additional work in an advanced class. After successfully passing semester exams and course work, 17 students accepted high school credit, allowing these students to begin as freshman next year at an advanced pace.

This algebra class worked hard all year, and I am proud to announce that 75 percent of my students passed the End of Course Assessment (ECA), which placed West Vigo Middle School second among the six Vigo County Middle Schools in passing percentage.

These students deserve this written acknowledgment of my thanks and congratulations.

I also had the opportunity to coach the girls eighth-grade basketball team. This was an honor and a pleasure to coach this extremely talented and aggressive group of athletes.

We have many good memories that will endure.

Once again, I would like to thank the West Vigo Middle School staff, students, and community for accepting me in their educational community. I look forward to teaching at WVMS again next year, and I am confident that my eighth-grade students are more than ready for algebra 1 and 2 next year at the high school.

Enjoy the remainder of your summer.

— Keith Chew

Algebra and Pre-algebra teacher

West Vigo Middle School

Thanks for help with jamboree

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful people in the Wabash Valley that helped with Southwood Health and Rehabilitation’s First Annual Gospel Music Jamboree on May 31. We were blessed to have more than 10 groups ranging from gospel hymns to quartets to rock bands that all donated their time to help our mission.

Another special thank you goes to the local vendors that supplied silent auction items and door prizes. We had local vendors present their items to sell. The staff at Southwood and their family volunteers devoted many hours to the planning and running of the day’s events.

Many thanks go out to each person that was involved in any capacity.

— Angie Brewer

Admission Coordinator

Southwood Health

and Rehabilitation

Terre Haute