Viewpoints

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

To the Editor:
It used to be you could leave your house unlocked and everything on your property. Nowadays you better have everything locked up, nailed down or spiked in.
The reason I say this is because Thursday, December 10 there was a star shower light stolen from the yard at South Ridge. It was put there so the residents could enjoy them.
Needless to say, someone stole it! It is terrible that elderly people have to go without just because some people haven’t anything else to do to satisfy their minds. We hope your are proud of yourselves for what you did, because we surely aren’t proud of you.
Oh, by the way, this is not the only thing stolen through the years we have lived here.
Sincerely,

D.L. Beisker, Waukon

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

To the Editor:
Do you have lots of questions about our country? We now have Republicans in both houses, what are they doing?
There are many things that should be voted on, such as English only in our schools. This is America and English is the language of our country. If you want to learn another language, you are free to do so, but at your expense, not the taxpayers.
Other issues that should be voted on:
Introducing legislation getting rid of taxpayer-funded perks, like first class flights and luxury car leases. Politicians shouldn’t live like royalty at the taxpayer’s expense.
Authoring a bill to permanently ban members of Congress from ever becoming lobbyists. Elected officials shouldn’t be able to cash in on their public service.
Forming the new bipartisan Term Limits Caucus and backing legislation to put term limits on the House and Senate. Serving in office should be a part-time sacrifice, not a career.

To the Editor:
This is a summary of some of the facts about Climate Change presented by Matt Ridley and Benny Peiser in the Wall Street Journal, on p. 28, November 28-29, 2015. Ridley is a columnist for the Times (UK), and Peiser is the director of the Global Warming Policy forum.

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

I have been contemplating this letter for several years now. I park up at the Junior High daily, I make sure to get there in plenty of time to get an actual parking spot. This is hard to do some days when you get people taking up two parking spots.
Now I know some of you will say in winter time it's hard to see the lines and that may be so, but if you look they are still visible. Not only are people taking up two parking spots daily, but there are people parking in no parking zones as well as blocking driveways.

To the Editor:
Once again, we’d like to recognize Dr. Perkins, Dr. Schwartz, Brad Krambeer and Chris Dahlstrom for all your hard work and volunteering your time to the Waukon High School football team. We are so lucky to have all of you men at every ballgame. We know from experience how wonderful they all are, and the support goes on.
Once again, we had a great football season. Another good group of guys played hard, fought hard and still had to think they were pretty tough. And you were!
Once again, helmets off to you, you had a great season. To Coach Beermann and all assistant coaches, great job.
And to our nephew, Haden Hammel, #17, great job. You made us very proud. Great season for you, too.
So, next time you see one of these special men, let them know how much we appreciate them.
Happy Holidays!

Robert and Kristi Campbell
Waukon

P.S. Go Indians! Go Hawks!

Editor’s Note: The following opinion was authored by Dr. Ed Gogek, MD, an addiction psychiatrist who spent 30 years treating addicts and alcoholics in jails, prisons, homeless clinics and many treatment programs. This piece originally appeared in The Gazette newspaper in Cedar Rapids, and was submitted to The Standard by Helping Services for Northeast Iowa.

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus