Letters to the editor

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Born and raised on a cotton plantation in Cullman County, Ala. — Cullman, where Hoosiers stop at the All Steak Restaurant right on old U.S. 31 (now I-65) to eat. But I’m not “profoundly confused” about the world of work like Bob Rinearson (June 11). I know at least part of the answer, not to mention change.

In 1970 the Supreme Court in Goldberg v. Kelly opined that welfare recipients have certain constitutional rights with respect to their entitlements, such that the government cannot cut off their benefits without notice and an opportunity for a hearing. It was officially established that welfare is an entitlement. Oh, it’s the Supremes again!

Cullman County, where “help is not wanted,” asked this vital question about the illegal immigrants, aka Mexicans, that Rinearson is concerned about: “What happens when outside agitators (aka Kris Kobach) work with state Republican pols to pass America’s most draconian anti-immigration law yet?” Cullman and Alabama learned the hard way; the Mexicans left overnight. Says who? My niece and her husband who raised thousands of chickens at one time on the farm I-65 splits going up Lacon Mountain just north of Cullman. That’s who.

What did they learn? American whites and blacks won’t do that kind of work. And neither will relatives. Ask them.

Agriculture is a grueling $5 billion industry in Alabama: $3.4 billion comes from poultry — and most of that is in Cullman County. Amid all the chaos, Republicans have offered mea culpas. “We overreached,” Republican Gerald Dial insisted. “It’s done some things we didn’t want to do.” Such as kill the poultry industry in Cullman County.

Rinearson attempted to address “this explosion of entitlements” at the end of his tripe, but somehow he failed to address the corporate welfare Indiana is famous for — or the sports welfare Indiana awarded the Colts and Pacers, not to mention the current effort of Joe Ricketts (via son Tom) to con the people of Chicago out of $150 million in taxpayer dollars to renovate Wrigley Field for his team, the Cubs. Rickets worked the con in Mesa, Ariz., too.

Since Gobekli Tepe, there’s been certain tasks that some people have refused to do. I saw it in the U.K. in the early ’70s, and in Indians, too. The Brits taught the Indian well.

“Sharp as a razor’s edge,” huh? Whose razor, Mr. Rinearson? The oligarchic modern right’s? Realities?

B.J. Paschal

Muncie

How can so-called intelligent councilpersons vote to take a county road (like Bass) and ruin many properties by trying to make another three-lane highway and bike trail? Property owners and concerned citizens attended a hearing on the Bass Road proposal and were very adamantly against the so-called improvements.

If you look at Bass Road (only a mile north of Indiana 14), you’ll see the only necessary improvement for safety is the sufficient burning of the road and the enforcement of the speed limit.

Oh, by the way , the proposed bike trail starts at Hillegas Road west to I-69 E bridge, stops, picks up on the other side of I-69 bridge to Scott Road taking a 10-foot grass buffer between the proposed three-lane road and the bike trail. The trail will switch to the south side of the road at Hadley and take up 60 feet on the south side. But it will take 60 feet from the north side as well with no reason or plans to do anything.

What a deal! Bike trails are available on Indiana 14 and Scott Road and throughout the Aboite area. Use them! Taxpayers are tired of senseless misuse of so-called eminent domain and power by using and taxing everything in sight.

Bass Road will no longer be the tree-lined beautiful country road that we enjoy today. The project will cut down all the trees along its path and put cyclists and pedestrians in our front yards — right up to our porches. This is not an urban area, nor should it be treated as a housing addition or a highway. Does no one have or use common sense anymore? Leave Bass Road alone!

P.S. If the real reason was known for the Bass Road project you would discover it is the 80 percent federal funds that the city and county want to grab ahold of. The only way to get the 80 percent is to take 120-foot swipe from Hillegas to Scott Road.

Catherine E. Mowry

Concerned property owner