Letters to the Editor

Don’t forget vets on Veterans Day

To the Editor:

Downtown merchants, while you are making every attempt to recover from our poor economic state of affairs, don’t lose sight of the real reason you had an opportunity to have a “sale” on Veterans Day. I heard commercials on the radio for several days concerning the big “holiday sale” but no mention of Veterans Day or even a thanks to them.

Bad form.

It was most likely an oversight or an attempt to be politically correct for whatever reason, but when people really have to work at giving thanks to others, are we really saying what we feel, or just performing because we have to? Veterans have always been a thankless lot, and it goes along with the old saying: “Old soldiers never die; we just fade away. …”

I believe in that statement, and when I gave my country 20 years of my life, I did it not for recognition but for patriotism, because I believed in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I don’t think we’re really that way any more.

Tech. Sgt. Rick Velin, USAF Retired, 1st Combat Evaluation Group, SAC, Mitchell

IRS isn’t mortal enemy, but a friend

To the Editor:

To listen to the TV ads from the people that want to settle your account with the IRS, they make it sound like the IRS is your mortal enemy. They are not; they are your friend.

It is up to them to collect the money to run the government, build your roads, educate your children, supply our military and whatever other benefits you get from the government.

How many people do you think would pay their share of the income tax if there was nobody to check up on them? The IRS has a big job. If you pay your taxes on time and the right amount, they won’t give you any trouble. Sure they can and do make mistakes once in a while, but if you have good records and paid your taxes, you shouldn’t have any trouble correcting any mistakes.

If your money is being wasted by the government, that is not the fault of the IRS, that is the responsibility of your legislators. If you cheat on your taxes you are cheating your neighbors. The taxes you don’t pay, they will have to pay.

John Zilverberg, Highmore

Banks shouldn’t charge for service

To the Editor:

Let’s say there is someone in this community who does not have any cash; however, does have a small amount of change that they would like to take to any bank to cash in. In this scenario, this person does not have a checking account because: A. they don’t have the money to open a checking account; B. they are here in Mitchell seeking help for themselves; C. they are in the community visiting someone who is getting help, whether that be at the wonderful hospital we have here in town, or maybe visiting a sick parent at the nursing home, or finally, D. they are a member of the community who has just been experiencing money-flow difficulties.

Now, let’s add to the scenario that this person goes to numerous banks in the community to ask if they could swap their change for cash.

In asking for this bag of change to be cashed in at numerous banks in Mitchell, this person is told that there is a fee to get this done. They are told if they are not a member of that particular bank, they will be charged 1 percent of the amount cashed out or $5, whichever is greater. Or, at one bank they are given a flat-out “no.”

To add to the scenario, this person does not have any other money than the bag of change he or she needs cashed in, so the person has to accept this fee. This person who is bringing in this change may be counting on every single penny in this bag to help them or their loved ones. So why in this day and age when someone brings in change to a bank, which in my experience, has not taken the teller anymore than three minutes at the max to do, does the bank get to take 1 percent, or $5, of that money? Since when has a bag full of change cost $5 to get cashed in?

We all wonder why the economy is down right now. I think we just may have gotten one more answer.

Amber Johnson, Mitchell

Be safe this holiday weekend

To the Editor:

This Thanksgiving weekend, I’m sure you are thinking about family gatherings and turkey dinners. I’m asking you to make seat belts and highway safety part of your holiday planning.

Five people died in highway accidents in South Dakota last year during the Thanksgiving weekend. The year before, seven people were killed in car wrecks in our state during the holiday. That was the deadliest Thanksgiving on record. Nearly all of those deaths could have been prevented if people had followed basic highway safety practices.

It’s up to you to keep highway crashes, injuries and deaths from marring the Thanksgiving holiday. If you have been drinking, please don’t drive. When you travel, allow extra time for holiday traffic. And always buckle up — every trip, every time. Be responsible for making sure others in your vehicle do the same thing. Seat belts are the best tool you have for keeping you and your family safe on the road.

Have a safe and pleasant Thanksgiving.

James Carpenter, Director, South Dakota Office of Highway Safety, Pierre

Administration is a sinister one

To the Editor:

With great appreciation, I read the letter written by Sandie Rice in the Nov. 3 edition of The Daily Republic about Obamacare. She’s obviously a person of understanding who isn’t afraid to be a watchman on the wall and proclaim the truth of a clear and present danger that now threatens America (Ezekiel 33).

The Obama administration is a very sinister one. Their intent is to push things through so rapidly that the American people have little chance, if any, at stopping them. It is a socialistic, communistic, globalist agenda. I put nothing past them.

While campaigning, Barack Obama claimed to be a Christian. This was simply a smokescreen with the intent to garner as many votes as possible from America’s Christian sector. The truth is that he hates Christianity and refers to biblical teachings as “old, worn-out ideas.” Recently, he shunned the National Day of Prayer but celebrated Ramadan in the White House. This man has red flags popping up all over the place.

Whether or not America can be called a Christian nation is debated even among Christians. But one thing is certain, America was founded on biblical principles and our founders at least knew what God they believed in and aspired to serve. And it wasn’t Allah or any of the other alleged deities that we have in our world today. The Bible says: “I am the Lord. That is my name, and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8). And “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus Christ said to his disciples: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).

All power would also mean complete authority. He has loved and blessed America and made her great. Without Him we are nothing (Isaiah 40:17).

Kip Speckles, Sioux Falls

Tags: letters to the editor, obama administration, rick velin, john zilverberg, amber johnson, james carpenter, kip speckles, opinion, veterans, irs, banks, safety