Mourdock criticism based on bad info

In a recent letter to the editor, a writer scolds state Treasurer and Senate candidate Richard Mourdock for purchasing Chrysler bonds with state funds in an effort “to make a quick killing.” The letter writer goes on to reprimand Mourdock for “playing ‘Bond Market Speculator’” before chiding, “Isn’t the expected standard for government treasurers that they make only safe investments protecting our tax dollars?” What nonsense.

The letter writer’s main problem is that his entire argument hinges upon the interpretation of Mourdock’s actions offered by the Kokomo Tribune’s perilously liberal “Public Eye” column – a weekly feature that allows space for Scott Smith and Ken de la Bastide to regularly shill for Democratic candidates and causes. It was Smith and de la Bastide who used the phrase “make a quick killing,” not Mourdock. In other words, the credibility of the entire rant is contingent upon the accuracy of the Public Eye. Talk about thin ice.

If the letter writer is really wanting to offer a meaningful critique and explain to the people of Howard County why he thinks investing in Chrysler and its workers was such a foolish and ignorant proposition, he should set aside left-wing political columns and consider that Indiana’s portfolio managers all felt at the time the Chrysler investment was a safe one. In fact, as it turned out, the only thing that imperiled the investment was the Obama administration’s decision to abandon 200 years of debtor law, illegally repaying unsecured creditors (like his union buddies in the UAW) before secured creditors (like the Indiana investments). And the letter writer might note such cronyism had the full-throated endorsement from Mourdock’s Senate opponent, Joe Donnelly.

Though the letter writer impugns Mr. Mourdock’s decision making, the real scrutiny should be focused on Mr. Donnelly’s shameful opportunism. Do we really want a senator who so willingly subverts the rule of law when he sees a political benefit in doing so?

Peter Heck, Kokomo

Privatized lottery: ‘FSSA fiasco’ redux

One would assume the state of Indiana would’ve learned its lesson when it comes to privatization. It was only a few short years ago that the state privatized the welfare system, taking a system that was working well, resulting in what came to be known as the “FSSA fiasco.”

Over the years I’ve been an infrequent participant in the lottery. Infrequent, but a participant nonetheless. That will no longer be true if the Hoosier Lottery privatizes. I do not need the headaches that will most certainly follow if the state fails to come to its senses by going ahead and privatizing the lottery. If that does happen it will be the FSSA all over again.

Kenneth Crockett, Kokomo

‘We need leaders to work together’

If you have been watching “Dancing with the Stars,” “Survivor,” etc., you are what we call a low-information voter. You probably thought Mitt Romney won the first debate.

But that’s not the Mitt Romney we have watched for the last six years. This man will say or do anything to have the power of the White House.

He has accepted most of Paul Ryan’s budget as his own. He considers most of us moochers, dependent upon disability, unemployment, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which most of our elderly have when they are in nursing homes.

Then we have Mike Pence, an extreme, right-wing candidate for governor. It hasn’t been that long since he stood with the tea party in Washington, yelling, “Shut it down! Shut this government down!”

We need leaders to work together to keep this country on the right track.

Pence is ready to advocate for charter schools. These schools are for-profit schools. Our kids are becoming cash cows for the rich. George Bush’s brother has invested his own money in a charter school. Even Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox News, said just last week he is ready to invest in this cash cow.

We need to invest in public schools, the great equalizer, and support our teachers.

Pence is ready to turn women’s health back decades, where women become second-class citizens. Republicans like Pence need to stay out of our personal lives and our bedrooms.

Republicans are using what they call the “Southern strategy.” We might as well be in Mississippi or Alabama, where the jobs are low-wage, where the rich are becoming school owners, where women are to stay barefoot, pregnant and keep their mouths shut.

We are better than that. We don’t need these people in office.

Clara Biddle, Greentown