Advocate for rights
Re: Gaylord's new Bishop, the Catholic hierarchy has been very good about preaching and enforcing their rights -- and our duties -- under canon law, with the rights of the laity rarely preached or acknowledged even though very explicitly covered in canon law.
Hopefully this new Bishop, despite all his time in the Vatican, will advocate for our rights and the need for accountability (and transparency) by the hierarchy.
Let's pray so.
John Chuchman
Central Lake
'Punished' with a baby?
On March 29, 2008, Barack Obama stated, "I have two daughters ... if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."
Enter the "tax-funded abortion" proposal in the health care bill (already approved by the Senate Finance Committee).
What effect will tax-funded abortions have on taxpayers?
1. There are approx 3,700 abortions daily in the U.S.; 1.37 million abortions per year.
2. At a low estimate of $400 per abortion, tax-funded abortion will cost the taxpayers EACH year $540,200,000. Multiply by 10 years!
Only 1 percent of these abortions are related to rape or incest; 6 percent for health reasons and a shocking 93 percent of the total abortions are for social reasons!
3. So why should taxpayers be forced to pay to remove a pre-born baby from their neighbors' wombs so that these mothers will not be "punished" with a baby, as our President puts it. Both the pre-born baby and the taxpayers are victims!
Call your senators and congressmen to tell them "no" on tax-funded abortions.
For more shock and dismay, go to Youtube.com and do a search on abortion. (Statistics are from a search of Google and Answers.com.)
Pauline Alley
Interlochen
Five Wishes does it
In a recent column, senior issues columnist Fred Goldenberg cited the advantages of pre-planning for seniors and their families, all very well and helpful, except that he stated that final wishes on such matters had to be handled by an attorney.
That is not so. One's designated medical power of attorney, a family member or other, so designated, can execute the final wishes of the patient. The Five Wishes program works to do that. The booklet is available at hospitals and doctor's offices, here in Traverse City and elsewhere, and has legal stature in Michigan, as well as other states.
Discussion with family members about the contents of the Five Wishes program can ease the reluctance of loved ones to talk about the future treatment ot their loved one when the necessity arises.
Mercedes Kimling
Traverse City
Majority appears proud
One need only glance down the lists of corporate/big money contributors to political campaigns and then check the congressional record to discover what they get in return: coveted legislation! The greed and corruption of this tiny minority brought about a world-wide crisis.
Our voting majority of caring and civil adults got fed up with the political corruption and corporate/big money crime and voted against more of it.
Now the shills for the corporate/big money minority bombard us with the wrath of immature losers.
"Take back America! The presidency was stolen! Obama's not American! Obama's the anti-Christ! Obama will take away your guns! Obama's health care reform will kill your grandmas! Obama had the audacity to win a Nobel Peace Prize!"
All this while the multi-party, multi-faith majority of grownups struggles with ideas and actions to recreate living-wage jobs, improve health care and relieve the education crisis. They want a government of, by and for the people, not one of, by and for a tiny super-rich minority.
The majority appears proud to have another U.S. president awarded a Nobel.
Joni Kobernik
Honor
Our tax dollars at work
A few weeks ago County Road 633 south of Grawn was tarred and chipped. Cracks were never filled before this was done. Two days later it rained; all the cracks and holes filled with water. Frost will make them worse.
On Oct. 8 there was a county truck with five men; one was driving the truck, one was flagging traffic, two men were grinding off the little yellow plastic chips that had been placed in the wrong places for yellow center lines and another man was blowing chip pieces away with a blower.
On Oct. 13 another truck was sent with men to mark the lines on the road again.
Then, on Oct. 21 more men were sent to take more chips off the road between Grawn and Monroe Center.
According to a recent article in the Record-Eagle, road commission Manager Mary Gillis, doesn't want commissioner Dave Taylor to tell the men what to do. She wants to give all the orders. Maybe Dave Taylor should be our road commission manager. He made his living for years repairing, tarring and chipping roads. Did Mary Gillis ever work on a road?
Donna Weber
Buckley
Preserve technology
The recently approved cuts to the state's education budget are like a dagger through the heart of those of us on the front lines in public education. It cannot be an easy decision for our legislators, who have yet to vote on the budget.
We sincerely hope the Legislature refrains from further cuts to the portion of the budget that might impact education-related technology. Funding for resources like access to computers and other technologies must be a priority, even in the most difficult of times. The ability to use the right technology tools will help ensure that students are receiving a quality education for success in the 21st Century.
For a first-hand look at how technology is being used in the classroom, we urge citizens to visit the ninth annual Student Technology Showcase at the Capitol Building in Lansing on Wednesday. The day-long event attracts students statewide who set up impressive displays, all to demonstrate how they're using technology to learn.
Continued financial support for technology in the classroom is critical. Our children deserve a top-notch education -- one that harnesses the power of technology and prepares them to effectively compete for top grades and ultimately, for the best jobs.
Ric Wiltse
Lansing
The writer is executive director of the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning.
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