backTalk for Friday, Jan. 30, 2009

Gravy train exclusive

Can you imagine trying to find a good job if you are not a professional, where you can earn hundreds more for meetings attended, having medical insurance for yourself and your family forever? Now you know why the mayor of Calumet City and the council do not allow others to run for office. The mayor was city clerk when she ran for mayor without first resigning. People of Calumet City, wake up.-- Calumet City

Competent until jail

Marcus Schrenker was competent enough to con and steal from his investors. Nice try, Bozo. If you want to kill yourself, why did you parachute out? -- Schererville

Clear your walkways

I don't know which is more disgusting: residents who don't shovel or those who shovel their drives and leave the walks alone. Why should we have to walk in the streets because so many are too rude and lazy to clean their property? If you can't handle the responsibilities of home ownership, move to an apartment. -- Munster

Charges boost bill

NIPSCO already has had rate increases. For example, my gas usage was up 11 percent last year. But my total cost increased nearly 35 percent. Here's why: Delivery costs were up 22 percent. The gas commodity charge rose 29 percent and transportation and storage charges were up 129 percent. My average cost per therm used was up 22 percent. It's obvious that NIPSCO has already had a hefty rate increase. -- Griffith

Lose term limits

In response to "No need for limitation" regarding the repeal of the 22nd Amendment: H.J. Res. 5 reads "Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as president." This resolution is sponsored by Rep. Serrano, of New York, and was introduced Jan. 6. Visit www.govtrack.us. -- Highland

Admit flooding mistake

Is the Munster Town Council seriously blaming a bridge for the flooding? Munster flooded because they did not take action until it was too late. Hammond was proactive and their city was fine. Munster was reactive and the town flooded. Munster's Town Council failed to take a proactive approach, and now they are desperate to find anyone or anything to blame but themselves. Why won't they admit they made a mistake? -- Munster

Class size misstated?

Check your Catholic schools. They say the ratio is 15 to 1. But in reality it is more like 29 to 1. Especially at the high school level. When the numbers get 15 to 1, the school usually is shut down. -- Hammond

Monitor pet cruelty

Hats off to Betty Clayton, director of the Northwest Indiana Humane Society in Miller, for her humane efforts to remove a dog, frozen to the ground at a home in Gary. Pet owners who think that only humans get cold and freeze to death should think again. Those who believe this should spend a subzero night outside. -- Highland

Another war in offing?

I hope the Obamatrons are paying attention to what their great leader is doing. He appoints Timmy the tax cheat to be secretary of the Treasury. He funds foreign abortions with U.S. taxpayer money. Change we can believe in? I predict his solution to the economic problems facing this country will be to involve the U.S. in a war just as FDR did. -- Schererville

Limit child support

When you do your taxes, the government allows you $3,500 per exemption (child). I figure child support received or paid per year should be also be limited to that amount. -- Hebron

Disputing union history

I am tired of hearing all of these great things done by unions for us common working people. They say they prevent us all from working in sweatshops and have given us 40-hour weeks and workmans' comp and a bunch of other hooey. Maybe 80 years ago, they did some good, but 80 years ago people rode horses to work, hunted with bow, etc. This is now -- they are driving our economy into the ground. -- Whiting

Pressed from all sides

Recently, I was laid off from my job at the railroad. You hear and see everywhere that the economy is going to get worse before it gets better. Apparently, NIPSCO feels the same way. My bill for last month tripled from its normal $250/month to over $700/month. Between NIPSCO and the greedy oil companies, it's a race to see who'll put me in foreclosure first. Greed is a beautiful thing. -- Schererville

Fix light's timing

Would the town of Munster please change the timing of the stoplight by Fitness Pointe on Calumet Avenue? Every night traffic on Calumet Avenue backs up in both directions while the light for Columbia Avenue stays interminably green, despite no traffic even being visible on Columbia. Coordinating the timing of this light would greatly help eliminate the congestion frequently seen on Calumet. -- Schererville

Paying for union tab?

Want to know why people hate unions? Look at Tuesday's paper where the USW refinery workers now decide they want more money and more relaxed work rules. Just as the economy is on the brink of disaster, they threaten to strike if their conditions are not met. If they win, then we all pay more for gas and more people go out of work. If they go on strike, the price of gas will skyrocket. -- Griffith

NIPSCO relief needed

Shame on NIPSCO for wanting to increase its rates with so many people out of work and more to come. With people wondering how to keep their house, how are they going to buy food for their family and how they are going to keep their family warm with already ungodly high rates? Why don't the bigwigs at NIPSCO consider taking a pay cut? Just an idea since they have jobs and it would be the humane thing to do. -- Crown Point