Gratiot County Herald

To the Editor:

I received a packet of information from our local Home Builders Association. They regularly host a variety of seminars on topics like marketing to “green” building. But this last packet of seminars demonstrates more than ever how invasive government is getting. One of the seminars is titled: “Continuing Education REQUIREMENTS TO RENEW & MAINTAIN YOUR LICENSE.”

The seminar consists of “1 hour of codes, 1 hour of safety, and 1 hour of legal.” It struck me as a little odd that there was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING required about being a good builder! Or even learning new & better ways of making good homes! It is a tortured exercise in learning about all the rules that a burgeoning bureaucracy imposes in order to justify their bureaucratic positions! The cost of the seminar is $177 and is required to KEEP YOUR LICENSE! I’m sure that doesn’t include the cost of any government fees to renew your license.

It reminds me of the time I sat for six hours in a seminar on getting another driver’s license letter endorsement for school bus drivers. Nothing new was presented about actual bus driving issues. When the presenter asked for questions at the end, I asked if, beyond generating revenue for government, was there any reason for this endorsement? The presenter said, “Not that I can think of…”

It is not a mystery why our economy is floundering. There are too many unproductive people drinking at the well (some would say trough) of public largess, sitting in judgment over productive people (who actually understand – unlike the bureaucrats – the goods and/or services they provide) and creating a quagmire of regulations and fees to make our lives more complicated and costly. Time to vote the bums out! And put in place fiscally conservative, good moral people who honor and defend the constitution. Competent, gracious people who restore the concept of “servant” in public service!

Charlie Lyon
Ithaca

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To the Editor:

With Ithaca’s aging schools, comes needed repairs. Therefore it is imperative that the 1.25 mill bond proposal for 11 years be approved come August 3, 2010. It is noted that this proposal will run concurrently with the existing bond originally passed in 1994.

I found it interesting that Ithaca’s 2010 millage rate would compare lower, considerably lower to other districts within the RESD, with Ithaca standing at 2.54 mills. St Louis being the highest at 8.52 mills.

The Ithaca Community Schools Newsletter (Communicator) gave a very good over view of the Renovation Bond Proposal facts, and it was noted that the proposal was for building improvements aimed at enhancing energy savings and updating Science labs.

Please vote “Yes” on the ballot for the Renovation Bond Proposal, August 3, 2010.

Sincerely
Rex Coleman
Ithaca