Published: July 31, 2009 12:35 am      

Letters to the editor - Friday, July 31, 2009

Public trust is best tool in kit

One of the discouraging aspects of our economic times is that it seems to give officialdom license to treat us as if we were children.

Despite being spared budget cuts in a tight financial year, the trustees of Indiana universities approved an increase in tuition. Their explanation was as specious as it was condescending, in effect: “We keep the price down by giving out more student loans, which is why the price keeps going up.”

And now comes the governor to tell us that he isn’t really going on a September junket to China. It’s a “trade mission.”

Spare us the stack of documentation claiming to show the number of jobs to be “created” by the trip. We’ve filled out that kind of report ourselves. Only a child believes that international commerce yields to a planeload of Hoosier politicians.

The governor would do better to spend the week at the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation headquarters in scenic Springfield, Va. The states that allow individual workers to decide for themselves whether they want to join a union are the states that are winning jobs, trips to China or not.

If a board of trustees isn’t doing its job, let’s name a new one. If a governor wants a vacation, or needs to pad his foreign experience for a run at U.S. senator or president, he had better just tell us.

For public trust will be the most important tool in Indiana government’s kit this year. What we don’t need is another demonstration of political machination or spin.

And best of all, our trust comes free — a good thing in times like these.

Craig Ladwig

Fort Wayne

Youth triumph over their fears

“I had no idea.” A man I overheard in Kokomo said he went to the Peru Amateur Circus and was extremely impressed and said he “had no idea.”

“No idea” it was that good. “No idea” the event he was well aware of was so rich with thrilling entertainment.

Even more so due to the fact that the circus performers were “just kids.”

“Just kids” with incredible character and talent. “Just kids” who learned to overcome fears. “Just kids” who have attained character and a can-do attitude that can catapult them into their young lives ahead of the rest of the pack.

Peru is the extraordinary small town. With plenty of volunteers who train and give a portion of their own character to the circus performers.

I could go on and on. But the point is this: You know the circus is there. You know it is great. You know you should go. So shout it out!

Your personal recommendations have more influence than thousands of dollars of advertisement.

Remember, the Peru Amateur Circus is not just a thrilling entertainment event before your eyes. Yes, of course you are witnessing the rewarding results of months and years of practice and dedication. But mostly, you are witnessing the triumph of youth over fear and peer pressures – the select few with the superior character who will live a rewarding life high above those who are not so inclined. High, high above all rings.

Patrick E. Harvey

Peru