The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/924485
The Press-Dispatch Opinion Wednesday, Januar y 10, 2018 A- 7 Right." My co-author Doug Wilson and I wrote that, if followed, "it could well be- come the bypass operation that restores Washington's failing political heart to normal functioning." The questions we should ask of any policy prescription: • Is it the government's business? Relatively few things really need feder- al intervention. Many can and should be handled at the state and local lev- el, where accountability, knowledge and oversight is naturally better. • Does it promote self- reliance? Liberal policy proposals usually promote dependence on govern- ment, but nothing could be more un-American. We should, for example, mea- sure a welfare program's success not by how many people are signed up for it, but by how many who are on it have managed to find work. • Is it responsible? Should we spend more than take in? Should we tolerate waste, fraud and abuse? Of course not. • Does it make America more prosperous? That's a key question to pose when it comes to trade barriers and business regulations. Yet we seldom do. • Does it make us safer? The way we've been under- funding the military, to the point where current read- iness levels are seriously compromised, suggests that we need to ask this more often. • Does it unify us? We used to welcome immi- grants as new Americans. Yet our current policies encourage balkanization. This needs to change — and soon. We should certainly be optimistic about 2018. We have the tools we need to make things better. The question is, will we have the courage to act? Ed Feulner is founder of The Heritage Foundation (www.heritage.org). Court Report Letter to the Editor CRIMINAL Pike Circuit Court Brandon G. Sollman charged with count I dealing in methamphetamine, a level 2 felony, count II possession of methamphetamine, count III dealing in marijuana and count IV operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Jackson Tanner Atkins charged with count I criminal confinement, a level 3 felony, count II domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon and count III intimidation. Ashley Arnold aka Ashleigh Arnold charged with neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony. Joshua A. Brames charged with count I operating a vehicle while in- toxicated, a level 6 felony, and count II operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Tessa Rogers charged with count I domestic battery, a level 6 felony, and count II resisting law enforcement. CIVIL Pike Circuit Court Heritage Federal Credit Union sues Shirley Bell on complaint. Jacob A. Hardin sues Jamie L. Har- din for dissolution of marriage. TRAFFIC AND MISDEMEANOR Pike Circuit Court Kylie C. Hammock charged with possession of marijuana. Janell C. Jenkins charged with leav- ing the scene of an accident. Jason T. Hammock charged with possession of marijuana. Aaron M. Easton charged with pos- session of marijuana. SMALL CLAIMS Pike Circuit Court Hoosier Accounts Service sues Be- linda S. Jones on complaint. Hoosier Accounts sues Brandon K. Miller on complaint. Hoosier Accounts sues Laura J. Leighty on complaint. Hoosier Accounts sues Michael A. Keller on complaint. Hoosier Accounts Service sues Con- nie Ward on complaint. Hoosier Accounts sues Brandi J. Riehle on complaint. Hoosier Accounts sues Andrew H. Richardson on complaint. Hoosier Accounts sues Ronnie A. Travis on complaint. Kenny R. Humbert sues Trent Car- ie on complaint. Capital One Bank sues John O. Lane on complaint. Second Round LP sues Amy Bolin on complaint. CitiBank NA sues Gary W. Pancake on complaint. INFRACTIONS Pike Circuit Court Derek West charged with disregard- ing stop sign. Fedis Callejas Murillo charged with speeding, 72 mph in a 55 zone. Marie Lucente charged with speed- ing, 76 mph in a 55 zone. Brittany Query charged with speed- ing, 75 mph in a 55 zone. Alannah Saylor charged with driving while suspended. Jonathan Alfonso charged with oper- ating with expired plates. Kevin Evans charged with speeding, 79 mph in a 55 zone. Jeffrey Jochim charged with speed- ing, 67 mph in a 55 zone. Eric Johnson charged with seatbelt violation. Kevin Keach charged with speeding, 85 mph in a 70 zone. Zachary Montz charged with speed- ing, 78 mph in a 55 zone. Lawan Rollins charged with speed- ing, 90 mph in a 70 zone. Peyton Sorgius charged with speed- ing, 75 mph in a 55 zone. Quintin Childress charged with speeding, 97 mph in a 70 zone. Trenton Covington charged with speeding, 90 mph in a 70 zone. Joseph Morning charged with driv- ing while suspended. Charles Northener charged with speeding, 85 mph in a 70 zone. Sarah Robertson charged with speed- ing, 87 mph in a 70 zone. Angel Roldan charged with speeding, 88 mph in a 70 zone. We have been here before as a na- tion. Becoming gassed on alcohol has been practiced since Noah. Most drunkards before the development of distilled spirits had to sustain his/her cravings with wine. Nevertheless, all societies recog- nize that alcoholism is a threat to an orderly society. Prohibition in Ameri- ca was an attempt to regulate behavior by fiat, which will always fail. Wheth- er one is intoxicated or high on drugs will produce the same effect on the in- dividual and society. For this reason, cultures enacted mores' and laws as a means to contain the effects. That is why you would be hard pressed to find any civilization that al- lowed unfettered use of hallucinogens for the good of group. Few recovered [or recovering] alco- holics or drug addicts will testify ad- diction was the solution to their issues and problems. It may have started out that way but soon the occasional use became an addiction with cataclysmic consequences. As a nation, we know these facts, so why are we having a discussion about recreational use of marijuana [and all drugs as a whole]? No law or penalty regardless how pu- nitive they are will stop addiction com- pletely. So how can we as a nation put a dent in this predicament? Under our present system of laws and values, there is no solution to this crisis. That is not to say that draconi- an measures should be enacted, but the solution lies within the individual. Whether the person seeks profession- al help or not, the impulse to become high or intoxicated remains intrinsic. No outside force compels the consump- tion of mind altering substances. Groups within Indiana want to legal- ize the recreational use of marijuana. We know the end results before any de- bate occurs. And we know the essence of the debate. As I write, the Trump Administra- tion announced it will roll back the use of marijuana for medical and recre- ational use. I suggest this may a move to get Congress to act at least on the medical use of cannabis. Regardless, the issue remains. Why does a sizable minority of the popu- lation want to live in a drug induced haze? The end result of addiction is the loss of hope. Nevertheless, there is hope for all of us. The apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Rome, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Think about it, and pray for those who are addicted to all substances. Continued from page 6 HEALTH Continued from page 6 NEWS some segments of the population stay anchored in the snow belts year after year? There is no easy answer to this. I think factors like jobs, family ties, tra- ditions, sometimes love for snow, own- ership of properties for generations tend to make people stay in certain areas. Also, when fine weather across the nation occurs during the spring, summer and fall months, the thought of very cold weather and snow do not enter into the minds of many. Having lived a third of my life in the tropics and two thirds of my life in the North American continent, I have tast- ed both worlds with bewilderment. I have resolved in my mind, it is best to think of the great enjoyment of out- doors during warm weather, and ac- cept the cold weather during certain months of the year. It is all a matter of attitude. I know sunshine is in one's heart. • • • Let me share some of the experi- ences living in the tropics. In Ma- nila where I grew up, all year round- temperatures hover between highs of 100s and lows of 60s during different months. Snow is of course unheard of. Light clothing are always worn for comfort. Access to the beaches is not difficult. One does not hear of slippery roads from snow or ice. On the other hand it is the tropical storms and floods that we get incon- venienced with. Many a times floods I saw and experienced left me with P TSD. Now fast forward to 1973 when I transplanted myself to our neighbor up north-Canada. I was fascinated by my first experi- ence with snow in the month of Novem- ber. I thought those white flakes com- ing from heaven was a gorgeous sight to behold. Until after a month of snow, I began to think this is slightly differ- ent from the tropics I had lived with. Then the reality of long winter weath- er hit me. I'll never forget what my sister had advised me when I first arrived in that country, she said don't forget to bun- dle up or you'll be sorry. Stubborn me, I did not know what she was talking about, but once I experienced near frost bite, I never dared to go outdoors unless I have extra layers on me. She knew what she was talking about. Of course there were pluses to the experience of winter. Like ice skating, skiing, ice fishing, etc. Not counting car skating when you hit ice on the road. Ah, as one grows older, the com- fort of a warm house is the best place to be. And this is when one is able to enjoy reading books, watching televi- sion, catching up with social media , and napping on a warm bed. • • • It is good to be reminded that during this winter, we have to make sure our vehicles are properly tuned up. Tires should be in good shape. It is always smart to carry an emergency bag or kit in one's vehicle just in case one en- counters real bad weather or hopeful- ly not an accident. Adjustments in one's manner of driv- ing must be observed because roads now become more slippery and treach- erous. In case of bad weather, we real- ly need to pay attention to weather ad- visories. We can always postpone trips that may not be that necessary. Winter is when we seem to see a high incidence of accidents and illness because of the stress of cold weather and our tendency to stay in confined warm places. So brace up everybody. It won't be long before we again enjoy spring and months of nice warm and also hot weather. And the cycle of life goes on. Continued from page 6 COLD WEEK Continued from page 6 TEST such as broadcast media and telecommunications — have been transformed by the internet, or at least diminished in importance. Fortunately, it's being chal- lenged by the new FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, who has announced he will repeal the FCC's heavy-handed 2015 internet regulations. The United States has been the world leader in the development of internet technology precisely be- cause it has been relatively unfettered by federal and state regulation. The best thing that the U.S. Con- gress can do for internet entrepreneurs and inter- net consumers is to send the FCC out to pasture as it did with the Civil Aero- nautics Board, which reg- ulated the airline industry, and the Interstate Com- merce Commission, which regulated the trucking in- dustry. When we got rid of those regulatory agencies, we saw a greater number of competitors, and consum- ers paid lower prices. Giv- ing the FCC the same med- icine would allow our high- tech industry to maintain its world leadership posi- tion. Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. Continued from page 6 CONTROL Dear Editor: A couple of weeks ago, the State Di- rector of the Department of Child Ser- vices wrote a resignation letter to Gov- ernor Holcomb stating that if current budget policies continued that "chil- dren will die." I agree, and I disagree. If Judge Bonaventura meant that stopping In- diana's traditional policies of paying subsidies for abusers will lead to the deaths of children, then I disagree. When you reward wrongdoers for bad behavior, they will continue do- ing wrong. However, if Director Bonaventura meant that continuing to pay low wag- es to DCS attorneys and caseworkers, failing to staff essential positions and failing to support good foster and adop- tive families will lead to deaths of chil- dren: then, I agree. The truth is that right now in our community far too many children live in deplorable conditions. Try to imag- ine a sea of cockroaches flowing from your refrigerator, trash piled up in ev- ery corner of your house with clouds of gnats and flies, feces smeared on the walls, babies confined to their cribs in soaked-through diapers for days on end; lice, flea bites and bed bugs. Imagine living in a home with constant screaming, beatings, and drug and al- cohol abuse - mom and dad shooting up with a needle right next to your bed. Now imagine that the people causing things were supposed to love you, and you have no control and nowhere to go. The Indiana family court system, with the laudable purpose of protect- ing the identity of children, operates under a veil of secrecy. A negative con- sequence is that there are few checks on the welfare system. Unless a child neglect case is filed in adult criminal court or you personally know a frus- trated foster or adoptive parent or ed- ucator, the details never hit the light of day. The taxpayers fund this system, but the public is not entitled to know what they are getting for their invest- ment. Modern psychology tells us that love and nurture are critical to early stag- es of child development. This in turn promotes intelligence and healthy per- sonality traits. Studies of brain imag- ing comparing babies from nurturing homes to those left in dark rooms unat- tended in orphanages in Eastern bloc nations show extreme differences in brain growth and development. This comparison is obvious to the untrained naked eye. Additionally, anyone who has worked with severely abused and neglected children for a prolonged pe- riod of time can tell you tragic stories of young people struggling with the ef- fects of neglect and abuse long after ex- periencing the abuse. Some kids over- come it; far too many succumb to it. When re-unification drags on long af- ter it is apparent that the abusers will not change, kids suffer harm. When we wait too long, sometimes harm is permanent. Government cannot make abusers care about their kids by giving the wrongdoer things and coaching them up. However, government should be able to make the people sworn and paid to protect kids do their jobs. As a taxpayer, I expect my taxes to pay for quality advocacy and representa- tion for these kids. I do not expect my taxes to reward abusers. I expect our government to distinguish between the public servants who are invested in keeping children safe and those who are simply going through the motions. Child welfare cases, which linger on for years while cases are filed, re-filed and dismissed, with lawyers and staff being routinely switched in and out, are unacceptable. In fact, these cases are their own forms of abuse and ne- glect. Children are the most precious resource that we have. We should treat them like it. Recently, I received a legislative sur- vey which listed the number one leg- islative issue as "whether to allow al- cohol sales on Sundays? " This survey was no doubt directed at opinions of the silent majority of law-abiding tax- payers who take care of their kids. As a law-abiding taxpayer who takes care of my kids, I really don't care wheth- er people buy beer on Sunday or Sat- urday night; however, I do care about abused and neglected kids. The outgo- ing State Director of the Department of Child Services just told us that our present course will "all but ensure chil- dren will die." I worry that they already have. One child is too many. Darrin McDonald, as a private cit- izen protected by the First Amend- ment. ists, like most of my col- leagues, with their eyes fixed on larger newspapers in big Gannett cities like Cincinnati, Honolulu and Detroit. But I was already a fami- ly guy, with four kids, then five. We lived near my par- ents, and didn't really want to leave. I was good at my job, I enjoyed my job, and I wished I could prosper right there where I was. But I couldn't. Gannett wasn't great for our community. Its busi- ness strategy was to cob- ble together a string of mo- nopolies by buying out lo- cal owners of newspapers in small-to-medium cit- ies. Once a monopoly was airtight, Gannett briskly raised advertising rates on local merchants. We esti- mated that they extracted $4 million per year from our community, despite a circulation under 20,000. Those profits were sent across several time zones to Gannett headquarters in suburban Washington DC. Revenues weren't the only thing we sent back to the beltway. Our newsroom was understaffed by one in order to provide staff to the national newspaper that Gannett was launch- ing, USA TODAY. I think every Gannett newsroom in America was required to provide one paid staff posi- tion to USA TODAY. That was then; this is now. Gannett annual reve- nues are in the multiple bil- lions now. In 2016, Gannett fol- lowed us back to our home town and bought the news- paper. You have to admit Gannett has a way with graphics. The paper looks better. But the content is anorexic. They're steadi- ly shrinking the newspa- per down until they can drown it in the bath tub. Once they get to an entire- ly online version, it'll be even easier to standard- ize it and substitute con- tent from elsewhere in the Gannett organization. Longtime local colum- nists have been dismissed, not because of any scandal but because Gannett's pol- icy is to use less local con- tent, even if it's free. It's inefficient, you see, for a newspaper to reflect its community's values and interests. Now we wait two days for high school sport reports, if they ever appear in the newspaper at all. We read columns and analysis in our newspaper by unfa- miliar Indianapolis writ- ers who probably are bid- ing their time until Gan- nett calls them up to even bigger leagues. The Gannett metastasis has had an unfortunate ef- fect on our surviving local journalists, too. They see the handwriting on the wall. I see on his LinkedIn profile that our most prom- inent remaining local col- umnist is "looking for re- warding work in the fields of journalism, publishing or public relations." Thus we get harangues and sly insults from him that are indistinguishable from Gannett editorials and columns being written all over the country. They're fungible—interchange- able—like corn, soybeans and U.S. currency. And they're predictably Liber- al. They had better be. His take on race in In- diana: "The KKK may not openly stroll the streets in robes and hoods anymore, but Indiana is still riddled with racism and bigotry." He bemoans the fact that Indiana is one of five states that has not enacted hate crimes legislation. School massacres? We don't really care, he charg- es, because we are preoc- cupied with our interpreta- tion of the Second Amend- ment. He is oblivious to the massacres that have befall- en entire populations that permitted others to disarm them. Separation of Church and State: We don't have it in Indiana, because high school football coaches pray with their players at the stadium. He'll do well in Gannett. Too many children live in deplorable conditions SUBSCRIBE TODAY! We're not afraid to shed some light on the truth. 812-354-8500