Speak Out 09/22/04

Faulty research

WHAT IS the difference? Dan Rather and his media company believed their research was factual. Please explain why this situation is worse than the Bush administration relying on faulty reports about Iraq. Which research did the most damage?

Positive program

FOR THE past couple of months I have continued to read about the DARE officer and his sports car. Unfortunately, the majority of what I have read has been negative. I am disgusted with those people who continue to complain about the DARE officer and his car. The point of the DARE program is not for the DARE officer to make buddies with his students. Those types of relationships develop naturally because of his outstanding interaction with the students. In addition to teaching kids about the risk of using drugs and alcohol, the DARE officer is an officer the kids can admire. The DARE car is used to promote the DARE program, and is a great asset. It is really unfortunate that there is always going to be someone who has to turn something positive into something negative.

Ability to work

THE GOVERNMENT does not owe you a living. Protecting you from corporate corruption that affects your pension is a totally different matter. But welfare for those who can but refuse to work should be completely abolished. It's a drain on society and on our economy.

Outsourcing our future

WORKING MEN and women in this country are in dire need of help. With all of the good-paying jobs leaving the United States, American families find it harder to make ends meet. It takes most Americans two or three jobs to make what they were bringing in with one job in the past. Health-care costs have dramatically increase to the point where millions of Americans do not have coverage. Both Republican and Democratic politicians have sold us out to Mexico, China and India. Our politicians take money from health-care special interest groups to turn the other way on serious health-care issues. The lower and middle classes are in a crisis situation. If we don't get help soon, I hate to think what the future has in store for us.