VIEWPOINTS
A6
Community Journal
January 26, 2011
EDITORIALS
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LETTERS
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COLUMNS
Editor Theresa Herron | therron@communitypress.com | 248-7128
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CH@TROOM
communitypress.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Time for tuition
It is so sad that the state of Ohio is cutting schools 10 to 20 percent. It is also sad Duke Energy doesn’t care about kid’s education also. But it is time for West Clermont to become financially solvent and not at the expense of property or business owners. We have already paid too much. Schools are no different that any other business. Simply charge a student tuition based on parental income like parochial schools do. In today’s economy nobody has a right to free anything – not even school. It is time the renters in the area help with their own kids. Lee Eyerman Pierce Township
Live within your means
At a time when Clermont County residents are still struggling as a result of plant closings, government is urging lenders to work with homeowners to avoid foreclosure and seniors are struggling to stay in their homes, West Clermont school district has decided to add to their misery. Just 11 months ago, the school district chose to circumvent voters by moving milage, certainly legal but absolutely unethical, which resulted in a tax increase without voter approval. Now they’ve decided they need even more money and are proposing a 7.9mill levy in May, which would increase property taxes even more. I would suggest the school district do what every homeowner
CH@TROOM Do you think political rhetoric caused the deadly shootings in Tucson, Ariz.? Why or why not? “I think there are unstable people in our world now and in the past. They will find any excuse to take down some one or show up armed in some school etc ... They are bipartisan idiots. Granted the political climate and economy have been rampant with problems, but life is rarely easy and for some it appears to be impossible to handle. The main problem with their wielding a gun is they are pointing it in the wrong direction. Go figure!” T.D.T. “I don’t think the rhetoric contributed directly to this particular incident, but the overall tone of guns and targets as a way to settle differences, incites emotions and puts ideas into the heads of unstable radicals. There were three assault arrests made of people who said they were influenced by Glenn Beck. We have to reconsider civility, compromise and a kinder and gentler nation. Agree to disagree as adults, not thugs.” A.T. “This an easy answer for anyone who has paid attention to what happened. The young man’s action suggests he was insane by whatever definition you want to use. His writings, from what I have heard, were not political. He apparently believed that the government was trying to control him through ‘grammar.’ This had nothing to do with today’s political rhetoric, as despicable as it is. D.S. “Vicious partisan rhetoric can create an atmosphere of hatred that makes violence more acceptable to some. It is easier to attack someone you have been led to believe is your enemy. I think it’s
shameful that some politicians and broadcasters will use their national forum to fan the flames of political, cultural or religious hatred, enriching themselves by teaching listeners and viewers to despise other Anerucans who hold opposing beliefs. How sad that Gabrielle Gibbons, who had the courage to speak out against this sort of toxic rhetoric, became the victim of a hater’s gun. D.B. “Movies and books by the ‘America-hating left’ on how to assassinate President Bush were just “artistic views,” while Republican talk on merely enforcing laws on illegal immigration, terrorism and other prominent issues is viewed as “hate speech.” The left is merely using this event for their own, selfish political gain. Thank God we now have a Republican Congress to stop the left’s next move, the first of which would be gun control.” C.J.H. “I do not believe the political rhetoric caused the deadly shootings. The shooter caused the shooting. Not the gun, not the politics, just the shooter. As a society we either refuse to or can’t accept that any one person can be so evil. Rather than put the blame where it belongs, we look for excuses. No excuses. My heart goes out to everyone involved, except the shooter. I simply do not feel sorry for him. “ D.U. “No! This is a case of a maniac needing professional medical intervention. Classmates and teachers could have been more cognizant to his problems and reported him to the authorities. There is nothing political about it. Summary: this guy is a nut; a time bomb waiting to go off.” J.E.T.
Next questions Which roads in your community are most in need of repair? What grade would you give President Barack Obama for his first two years in office? Do you plan to vote for him in 2012? Every week The Community Journal asks readers a questions that they can reply to via email. Send your answers to clermont@community press.com with “chatroom” in the subject line.
has had to do ... make do with less. Hopefully, the voters will agree. Dawn Harsley Union Township
Stop spending, start cutting
Just when I was worried that the residents of West Clermont would follow behind the banner of Jo Ann Beamer again, I was relieved to read the responses of area residents in last week’s paper. I am so tired of being subject to the conniving of Jo Ann Beamer and other members of the school board. I am ecstatic that Doug Young did his job representing the residents of this school district and rejecting this levy. Just where exactly do the other members of the school board think
the residents of West Clermont are going to get the money for this asinine levy? Even more so, the fact that, without so much as a public vote, the board moved millage so that they could compensate their woeful use of money. Well, the taxpayers notice things like their mortgage payments going up, Ms. Beamer. And other residents of the district notice when their property tax statements show a higher balance. Stop spending and start cutting. And if this is a sign that you and other members of the school board are willing to do neither, then you will not be re-elected. That’s what really moving forward is all about. Chelsea Moeller Amelia
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About letters & columns
We welcome your comments on editorials, columns, stories or other topics. Include your name, address, cell and home phone numbers so we may verify your letter or guest column. Letters may be no more than 200 words and columns must be 400 to 500 words. Please include a color headshot with guest columns. All submissions will be edited for length, accuracy and clarity. Deadline is noon Friday. E-mail: clermont@community press.com. Fax: 248-1938. U.S. mail: The Community Journal, 394 Wards Corner Road, Suite 170, Loveland, Ohio 45140. Letters, columns and articles submitted to The Community Journal may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
Police fund meant to last at least 10 years Mr. Hartman’s recent editorial attacked the Pierce Township Police Department budget. However, he neglected to provide the history behind the figures. In 2007, the police fund was nearly broke; without tax levy funds, police services would have to be slashed and eventually eliminated. I gave my word to the citizens of Pierce Township that I would make this levy last a minimum of 10 years. The difference is, when I give my word, I actually intend to keep that pledge. I prepared a workable 10year budget – and this was before the real estate bubble burst and the stock market crashed, contributing to nationwide fiscal emergencies in local governments. Mr. Hartman’s short-sighted, “budget-for-today” mentality fails to consider the fiscal uncertainties of tomorrow, compounded by an unstable economy. A skilled manager adopts a philosophy of fiscal conservation for long-term viability, particularly during tough economic times. I reduced spending wherever I could responsibly do so, resulting in a budget surplus. Inconsistent with his attack on my policy of fiscal conservation is Mr. Hartman quoting Ronald Reagan’s, “Government does not tax to get the money it needs; govern-
ment always finds a need for the money it gets.” I cannot be accused of manufacturing ways to spend tax dollars; on the contrary, I Pierce have come in Township under budget Police Chief four consecutive James Smith years with the purpose to delay Community asking citizens Press guest for additional columnist tax funds. Unfortunately, this is the same Mr. Hartman that has been investigated by the Pierce Township Police Department and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Is it any wonder he is on the attack? Mr. Hartman paints himself as the taxpayer advocate and savior, but fails to mention repeatedly suing me and the township. He has filed at least 10 lawsuits in the last several years and made over 50 public records requests. Currently, he seeks approximately $250,000 of Pierce Township tax dollars in a lawsuit against me and the police department. Were he truly interested in saving taxpayers’ monies, he
should refrain from causing a constant drain on township resources in his unyielding mission to seek attorney fees. In closing, yes, the Pierce Township police fund is in very good condition, enabling the township to continue providing the excellent police protection residents expect. I have obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, which offset the use of tax dollars. Unfortunately, dark economic days lie ahead; tax revenue derived from Duke Energy will be dramatically reduced. Unlike Mr. Hartman, I have foreseen these issues and planned ahead. I predict Mr. Hartman’s next scheme will be to propose outsourcing the Pierce Township Police Department under the pretext of fiscal necessity. It makes absolutely no sense to outsource a fiscally-responsible department, accused of the crime of having a surplus, in order to save money. Ultimately, this latest failed attempt to discredit me is actually a compliment to my fiscal management. Imagine the audacity to come in under budget four consecutive years, thereby saving the taxpayers money. James Smith is the Pierce Township police chief.
Schmidt becoming a Tea Party favorite The Tea Party Movement has been careful about openly praising elected officials. You see, conservative values run deep in the Tea Party. Those values can be seen in the movement’s three core principles: Limited Government, Fiscal Responsibility and Free Markets. Our movement wants Reaganstyle conservatives in office. There aren’t many of those out there, so there hasn’t been much praise from us. Tea Party members are also careful about giving praise because we’ve been burned by socalled Conservative Republicans before. To quote Ronald Reagan, we will, “Trust, but verify.” We’ll trust an office holder to a point, but you better believe we’ll verify your claim to be conservative by watching you closely. We won’t get burned again. So, it’s a big deal to hear praise coming from the Tea Party ranks. I just wanted to make that clear before continuing on to commend Congresswoman Jean Schmidt for her votes in December. She consistently voted conservative in the face of a liberal agenda during the Lame Duck Session of the 111th Congress. We in the Tea Party want to say thanks, and keep it up. Schmidt voted “No” on the
Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which effectively ended the ban for gays serving in the military. Those opposed to this bill stated that openly Bob Turner serving gays Community would create a Press guest morale problem the military columnist in services, and work against unit cohesion, which is vitally important in the armed forces. On issues that would grow federal power, she voted “no” on the Seniors Protection Act, the Mine Safety Act, the DREAM Act, and the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. On spending issues, Jean voted “no” on the 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, the Amending the Estate Tax Bill, the Employment, Infrastructure and Transportation Appropriations Bill, Aiding Those Facing Foreclosure Act, the Continuing Appropriations Bill, the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and the Temporary Extension of Tax Relief. The extension of the Bush tax cuts for two years, while extend-
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ing unemployment insurance for 13 months, must have proved especially difficult. On the surface, a vote to continue those cuts sounded like a good idea, and a popular choice. However, the fact that the tax cuts were not permanent caused 36 Republicans to vote “no” on principle, Schmidt among them. These same Republicans were also concerned that the unemployment extensions were unpaid, and would simply add to the deficit. Another difficult vote was the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. This bill was designed to provide free medical treatment and compensation to first responders of the 9/11 attacks. It sounds nice, but those opposed cited the $4.2 billion price tag as a staggering amount of money allocated for such a limited number of people. While the liberal agenda during the Lame Duck Session was productive for Liberals, I’m proud to say that Conservatives held their ground, and voted based on Conservative principles. That our Congresswoman Jean Schmidt was among them should be something in which we all take pride. Robert Turner has been a resident of Miami Township since 1998, and is also a local Tea Party leader.
s WORLD OF
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