Letters: Hoping for bipartisanship in Washington

Whether you like President Donald Trump or not, it's evident that he, along with Congress, have accomplished undeniable positive policy enactments for the betterment of individuals and the United States.

Examples include: a growing economy, higher GDP numbers, tax cuts, lower unemployment, deregulation of burdensome mandates, a stronger military, better foreign relationships with U.S. foes and fighting for fairer trade internationally, to name a few.

The loss of the U.S. House of Representatives to Democrats will probably usher in a mindset of revenge in lieu of bipartisanship and making policy beneficial to our nation.

Instead of working with Trump to keep our economy roaring along and addressing issues like immigration laws, and fair trade, I believe that the House will not be bipartisan. The House will cause gridlock and continue the tantrums that they've been displaying for the past two years. I believe that the Democrats in the House have no intention of working to keep the improvements Trump and Congress have accomplished for America. 

They will attempt to burden most American's with higher taxes and higher health costs through government involvement; resend Trump's deregulation of bad policies; try to rewrite or eliminate the Second Amendment; and focus on impeachment. 

However, I'm holding out with reserved hope that the Democrats really do work with the president and keep our nation growing economically and militarily strong. I also hope that the Democrats stay out of our lives.

Michael Holsclaw

Indianapolis

Canal playground a dangerous mistake

I went to the Colts Canal Playspace opening ceremony Thursday while walking my dog. 
Police officers were present and I expressed my concerns to them about the dangers of this playground. It seems they don’t have the manpower to police this area. 

This playground is a huge and dangerous mistake. There is no fence — as required by Indianapolis Public Schools or the state of Indiana for childcare businesses — to protect kids from the water, from falling off the stone walkways and bashing their heads, or from the traffic on Walnut, Senate and St Clair streets. 

Indianapolis decided to bet on children’s lives by building on an inherently dangerous site with ducks and water, things that will attract children. Why did city officials go through with this when they knew full well it was a dangerous location and had many dangerous features. And who is going to end up paying when kids get hurt or killed?

I’ve raised three kids. The most serious injuries in their lives were on playgrounds with their dad right there with them. All of those playgrounds had fences around them. Logic says more and worse will happen here. Parents can look away one second and their child could fall into the canal. 

What about the severe increase crime at night? Two nights ago there were a group of teenagers drinking in the dark and climbing all over the playscape. They left their discarded booze bottles, which someone cleaned up before the opening ceremony.

This should never have been built. It needs a 4-foot locking fence for daytime safety and to prevent even more crime and danger at night. It also needs cameras that can be monitored by police. 

Kall Land

Indianapolis

'America needs your service; Indiana needs your service'

Millions of veterans have served in America's wars, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Thousands of active and reserve troops currently serve in war on terrorism, and many more have served during times of peace and in non-combat roles all over the world. Their service and sacrifice is fundamental to securing the freedoms we all enjoy.

But the sobering fact is, fewer than 10 percent of Americans have served, and less than one percent are currently serving. That statistic should be a wake-up call in every community: America needs your service; Indiana needs your service.

Members of the Indiana National Guard don't just serve in combat missions or exercises overseas. Our women and men serve part-time in every ZIP code. We provide the capacity and expertise to respond to emergencies whenever Gov. Eric Holcomb calls. We are the teachers, lawyers, auto mechanics, marketing executives and first responders you meet at the grocery store or coaching your child's soccer team. We're the ones clearing the heavily damaged roads and delivering food during natural disasters.

The Indiana National Guard is able to respond quickly to emergencies because we are dispersed all over the state. Our presence in your communities, and our network of bases, airfields, training facilities and armories across Indiana, also means we have a tremendous impact on the state's economy. We employ 13,550 guardsmen — one of the largest memberships in the nation — because Hoosiers are proud to serve. These jobs, plus the additional jobs we create, employ a total of 17,270 Hoosiers. But we can't be complacent. Our combined state and federal missions mean we have a constant and growing need for patriots to join our ranks.

A recent economic impact study, available on our website at https://www.in.ng.mil/Portals/0/Final-INNG-2017-Impact-Study.pdf, shows both our job creation statistics and that the Indiana National Guard was responsible for over half a billion dollars of economic impact in Indiana. Every dollar we spend spurs an additional $0.76 in economic activity for other businesses in the state. And because of the amount of federal funding we bring to Indiana, every dollar of state funding we receive translates into around $42 in economic activity. The report shows our activities created an estimated $27.5 million in state and local government revenues, an additional $46.1 million in federal tax revenue and $440 million in employee compensation.

Veterans will not be surprised that readiness remains our top priority. If the Indiana National Guard is to be prepared to meet our domestic mission while standing ready to deploy, fight and win across the entire spectrum of conflict as part of the U.S. Joint Force, we have to invest in our greatest asset: our people. This means continuing to emphasize our health, wellness and resiliency programs for current members and veterans. It means modernizing and expanding education and professional development in cyber and other high-skilled occupations. It also means maximizing our potential by embracing a 21st century approach to managing the talent of our soldiers, airmen and civilians — an approach that recognizes individual knowledge, skills and behaviors such as leadership and discipline that can be useful in our citizen-soldiers' military and civilian careers.

On this Veterans Day and during this 100th anniversary of World War I, I encourage you all to follow the hashtag #KnowYourMil. You may be surprised by what you learn about the brave heroes right here in Indiana-those who are working for you every day, and those whose days of service have passed. And finally, please thank a veteran today for all they have done to protect community and country.

Maj. Gen. Courtney P. Carr

Adjutant General of Indiana

Midterm election offers proof of America's satisfaction with Trump

The left wants to call this midterm election a referendum on President Trump; for once, I completely agree with them.

In his first midterm election, President Obama lost 63 seats in the House of Representatives, which is double the historical average; in his first midterm election, Trump will lose about half that, or about the historical average.

In Obama’s first midterm election, Democrats lost six seats in the Senate; in Trump’s first midterm election, Republicans will gain somewhere between two and six seats in the Senate, depending on how a few still-too-close-to-call Senate races turn out.

By actually gaining seats in the Senate, Trump will be able to nominate even more judges who will try and steer this country back toward being governed by the rule of law, back toward being a Constitutional Republic.

Lastly, Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh for a Supreme Court seat. Four red-state Democrats voted against that nomination, and all four were thrown out of office.

So yes, in this instance, I agree with the left; this midterm election most definitely was a referendum on Trump. And it sure looks the country is a lot happier with Trump in 2018 than it was with Obama in 2010.

Ray Walton

Indianapolis

Congress must push for Trump collusion investigation

I'm very concerned about the resignation of Jeff Sessions and the resulting installment of Matthew Whitaker. Given his past statements, I believe that it would be appropriate for him to recuse himself from supervision over the Robert Muller investigation. The American people deserve to know whether or not our elected officials were involved in collusion with a foreign government. If there was no collusion, the current administration shouldn't fear an impartial, bipartisan investigation. I urge our members of Congress to speak publicly about supporting an unhindered, unbiased investigation into the details of this particular matter, not only as your constituent, but as a person who upholds the values of our founding fathers and the dreams they had for our then new country. Regardless of party, regardless of personal beliefs, members of Congress are mandated by office to uphold these sacred beliefs. Please don't let me and millions of those you represent down by turning a blind eye. 

Marti Brown

Indianapolis

Political leaders refuse to take stand against gun violence

The one thing that was tragically missing from this past election was the failure of politicians of both parties to note that we live in a war zone from sea to shining sea. Jewish people are gunned down in a synagogue in Pittsburgh while multiple young people are shot to death in a popular bar in California. It all involves killers having unlimited access to firearms and yet we do nothing. 

Every day we wake up here in Marion County and listen to the news of how many Hoosiers were shot last night. While the NRA and its devoted followers tell us that we need guns for our personal protection, there have been several incidences in the past year in surrounding counties involving spousal murder and suicide. 

Ironically, while our president and his admirers issue repeated warnings about the dangers related to immigration, it is Americans who are killing Americans. Firearms are the functional equivalent of a plague killing tens of thousands of Americans each year yet our political leaders bury their heads in the sand. 

The Second Amendment was written to protect the right to own muzzle loaders and Flintlock rifles. Every other firearm invented since then is subject to meaningful regulation.

How many more decent people have to be sent to their graves before we have the courage to act?

Robert W. Hammerle

Indianapolis

Violent video games contribute to mass shootings

It's been said that President Trump's words and tone causes some to act out violently. That was said after the mass shooting in Pittsburgh and the letter bombs sent to prominent Democrats.

Can it be said then, that violence and mayhem coming out of Hollywood and the video game industry can cause a person in Thousand Oaks, Calif. to rampage and murder 11 human beings? These acts of violence occur often in too many of the products being offered for sale to who knows how many mentally ill people who may harbor the ability to kill without remorse or inhibition. 

Michael Holsclaw

Indianapolis

Is Indiana truly a red state?

How red a state would Indiana be if gerrymandering were eliminated and redistricting reform adopted? Add to those reforms a limit on large, anonymous amounts of money given by self-interested persons to political candidates and elected politicians and the question becomes more deeply engaging.  Since the super majority of Republicans and its leadership in Indiana’s General Assembly have refused to enable reforms which produce fair maps and fair elections, it appears as though Indiana citizens will have to wait for a ruling from the Supreme Court to see what color our state truly is.

Ann M. Stack

Indianapolis