Published: April 14, 2008 04:35 pm            

In Your View — 04/15/08

Draud is not like David Williams

Interesting commentary about the necessity of leading when one can still make a difference. Too bad it’s only semi-accurate.

I can’t defend Governor Beshear on this one.

I thought I heard in his State of the Commonwealth speech the beginnings of an outline for a new tax structure based first on efficiency, and second on opening the state to new sources of revenue from the growing services sector. But I was wrong. It was just language.

Then I thought the governor must have taken the oft-repeated advice former governors give to new governors to “just pick one or two things” and stick to them. He chose a (failed) casino gambling effort, as he said he would, and as a result, arrived too late to the dance. But, maybe I’m just making excuses.

What I can’t understand, however, is why Education Commissioner Jon Draud is being lumped in with Beshear on this issue?

Draud — even as a northern Kentucky Republican representative to the House — said early and often that Kentucky’s schools were underfunded. His former legislative colleagues understood very well his support for so-called “sin taxes” which he repeatedly called a no-brainer. When the first spat broke out this term over raising revenues, Draud stuck to his guns and asked the legislature to quit playing politics with funding for Kentucky’s school children. They didn’t.

I know Draud has that big “R” on his chest, but his record on school funding is clear, consistent and unequivocal.

Let’s not misidentify the real enemies of public schooling in Kentucky. There is a world of difference between the position of Draud and, say, Senate President David Williams.

Dr. Richard E. Day, Lexington



Want cheaper gas? Drill for oil here

We claim to be intelligent and civilized, but are very stupid people.

Election after election they tell us how downtrodden we are and how the only way we will ever get ahead is to elect them. They make the companies that provide our living the worst devils, and they are our only salvation. They tax the rich, give us everything free and make our lives wonderful.

I’ve been around many years and hear the same every election. I haven’t seen results and, if honest, neither have you.

Raise rich companies’ taxes. Everything you buy will go up to cover the tax. The only people who gain are politicians who waste more money. What happens? Overtaxed companies will move out of the country, which costs jobs.

Guess who increased the cost of diesel fuel to $4 a gallon. Not the oil companies. Our politicians, in collusion with the environmentalists, decided it wasn’t clean enough, increasing cost of diesel fuel and everything we buy. We pay more for food because our politicians have mandated we must make fuel with corn. They reach inside our homes, telling us we have to buy expensive, dangerous light bulbs.

Government doesn’t have the right to take our freedom, but does so every day. Of course, if big government liberal socialists have their way, we won’t have to worry about making decisions. Politicians will control every aspect of our life.

Most people know little about socialist government, but you’ll soon know as we lose more of our freedoms. Vote for the people who will give you everything free, but consider the cost in loss of choice, freedom.

Want cheaper gas? Drill for oil here, build refineries, lift restrictions, see if politicians will agree to any of this “for the little man.”

Cecil Hall, Raceland



Keep the disputed rock in Ohio

The rock that Kentucky lawmakers are quibbling over should stay in Ohio.

Kentucky could have retrieved the rock decades ago when people were defacing it.

I’m a native Kentuckian whose ancestors there date back to the 1700s.

Louise Hoag Denny, Granville, Ohio



It’s time to get rid of McConnell

The time is long past due to get rid of Mitch McConnell. It’s clear that he’s representing interests other than those of the people of Kentucky and the U.S. He’s supported the erosion of our civil liberties, given more latitude to big oil and other high pollution industries, and continues to support a war where Americans are dying for no apparent reason. He’s not supported any efforts to expand health care availability, to provide meaningful steps to economic recovery, or to provide any improvement in economic opportunities for Kentuckians.

We have a choice. Bruce Lunsford’s agenda includes universal health care, tax relief for the middle class, affordable education, and ending the war. His work history shows a man who is capable of achieving goals.

In 24 years in the Senate, I can’t think of one thing Mitch has done to benefit the state or nation.

Martin Johnson, Covington



Catlettsburg class planning reunion

Members of the Catlettsburg High School class of 1968 are urged to attend a meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, April 21, at the Russell E. Compton Civic Center (old depot) to assist in planning for the class’ 40-year reunion. Class members are asked to tell other members of the class about the meeting.

For more information, call Stephen Spears at (606) 739-4470.

Stephen Spears, Catlettsburg

        

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