Letters: Why put halfway house here?

Jodi McFarland | By Jodi McFarland | The Saginaw News
on June 21, 2008 at 10:00 PM, updated June 21, 2008 at 10:11 PM

Editor, The News:

There are unanswered questions, and we need answers: Why put a halfway house in our neighborhood and not inform us first? Why choose our neighborhood in preference to all the vacant land available? We pay our taxes expecting to enjoy peace and contentment in our neighborhood. We get the opposite.

Recalling past experiences from a negative approach (drive-by shootings, attempted rape, strange visitors prowling around), it is highly probable that our schoolchildren or other personnel would be in jeopardy. Arthur Eddy Academy is one block away. Do we need criminals right in the middle of our neighborhood? It is bewildering to look out the window, and there you see federal prison walls being erected. Why this?

Adjacent to this construction is the park where neighbors gather for fun, picnics, children play or whatever they choose. Neighbors need this outlet for families and not intrusions.

Our neighborhood needs more freedom, not confinement.

B.L. and Loubertha Little

Fiscal responsibility

Editor, The News:

Our nation's economy is in troubled times. Whether we call it a recession or not, it's significant to our future.

Those of us in Middle America hope this election will produce the leadership to turn the economy around. We are cutting back and trying to live within our means. For many families, a devalued dollar makes this impossible.

I wonder why our government doesn't practice living within its means, such as mandating a balanced budget without stealing from our benefit programs. I'm curious how candidates proposing more government-run programs intend paying for these programs without adding to our national debt.

The national debt contributes to devaluing our dollar and creates imbalances in import purchases price control. Does anyone believe adding more government programs will result in better budget management? It hasn't happened with Social Security, Medicare or border management.

My budget is based on outgo not exceeding income. Our government needs to more closely follow that premise. Politicians need to remove pork from their diets and taste the fruits of a balanced budget.

Of primary fiscal importance is to get the value of our dollar up. That is the primary way to import any goods at a rational cost.

I doubt if all the current campaign promises and proposed programs will accomplish a higher-value dollar. Only a government that cuts waste, spends responsibly and budgets within its means will make progress toward a stronger dollar.

During this pivotal election year we need to select a fiscally responsible leader. I'm praying that one of the candidates fits the bill.

William Denzer
Saginaw Township