Letters 04-25-2016

April 22, 2016

Taking Our Trees

Seconds ago this pine tree was alive. Well, Mr. Cook – our County Road Commission head –and Peninsula Township government "¦ by not weighing in (I guess it’s not your problem or responsibility to communicate with residents), you allowed the County Road Commission to bulldoze down huge swaths of lakeside trees in order to increase the bike lane. This can’t be happening. I have no clue why they would cut trees down that help block snow from creating drifts on Peninsula Drive and help keep the beach area intact. Plus, they are not increasing the width of the road when they repave. I just don’t get it. This is amateur hour at county and township government.

I would actually benefit from an improved road in front of our house but there are so many other roads that need improvements – much more than Peninsula Drive. This was total waste of our/your tax money. Shame on Grand Traverse County and Peninsula Township government. Seriously!

Oh, and I must add that the people I feel so badly for are the homeowners of a house a bit north of Gray Road. Their house is on the water and is extremely close to the road. Well, yesterday the road commission cut down all but one or two trees that shielded them from the road. Shame on the County Road Commission. Mr. Cook, you (I can’t say what I really want to here) screwed up so badly. Please resign.

Curt Peterson, Traverse City

Government Service Unrewarded

I served the federal government for XX years with the [agency], [doing XX]. I also worked in the private sector, [doing XX].

When I retired, I was surprised to learn my Social Security benefit would be $XXX less per month than my colleagues and neighbors who had never worked for the federal government. This is all because of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) under the Social Security law.

Throughout my government career, I held myself to a high standard of fairness and equity. But now, in retirement, I’m subject to a law that is anything but fair and equitable from my point of view. This provision unfairly reduces my Social Security benefits for no other reason than that I worked for the government.

Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-TX, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, would reform the WEP. The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, H.R. 711, recognizes the work I’ve done and the contributions I’ve made, and would adjust my Social Security benefits accordingly. Plus it would do so without costing taxpayers a nickel. Support fairness and equity now.

Greg Shy, Fife Lake

Which Greased Palm

Now that "Chicago values" have utterly corrupted the executive and judicial branches of our federal government, this November We the Plebeians shall either vote to right the governing integrity of the United States constitution’s twin pillars of limited government and separation of powers or turn and step collectively onto the blood soaked road to serfdom.

Outside of one apparently anachronistic Republican candidate, the remaining choices are nothing less then dreadful! On the one greased palm, News Corp has proffered a stunningly incompetent, gilded haired 19th century robber baron espousing 17th century Mercantilism. On the other greasy palm, the alphabet channels have reanimated the corpse of Karl Marx and rehydrated an admixture of impeccable personal corruption and treasonous disloyalty to our venerable republic. Ladies and gentlemen, what shall it be? "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! " or "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."

Steve Redder, Petoskey

The Political Mess And Challenge

As citizens we are faced with a real challenge. The media and the political candidates have taken over a year to attack those whom they are opposing. The unfavorable ratings of those who may be nominated are above 50 percent. That should be no surprise, considering the length of time given to bloodying one another with opinions that have little relationship to truth. The polling companies, which confess they are not reliable, make everything a game of winning. Every night we are being reminded who is winning or who may win. The real winners become all those who profit from all the campaign spending. The sadness is that a nation such as ours cannot develop a better process for finding the ones to lead us. The challenge for voters is to be able to cut through the craziness of politics in order to be clear about the policies we trust will make our nation healthy and hopeful and economically viable for all. What we vote for is what will matter.

Bob McQuilkin, Frankfort

CORRECTIONS

In last week’s issue we had photos with the incorrect stories on page five. The dance photo should have accompanied the story about grants to nonprofits. The image of Crooked Tree Arts Center Petoskey should have accompanied the story about the ArtPrize exhibit at CTAC.

We also reported the incorrect day for the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City. The correct date is Sat., May 28.

We apologize for these errors.