Your letters for Dec. 27, 2024

By NewsPress Now

Your letters for Dec. 27, 2024

One cent makes no sense

It never ceases to amaze me how our government officials think. I see where our current City Manager Clint Thompson thinks another penny CIP tax at North Mall is no big deal. Let’s put this in perspective. If I make an improvement on my property, the city wants to increase my value for more taxes. If a big business builds a major project, they usually get tax abatement and other incentives to build. When it comes time to maintain the property, they simply ask for a CIP tax to make improvements. What a deal! But remember, it is only one penny but the real cost is about ten cents+ on every dollar spent. It’s kind of like the old cup of coffee that use to cost ten cents but now costs dollars.

I want to thank the city manager for the only one cent cost. Is this a big deal? No, but I am fed up with our city leaders thinking the taxpayers are a bottomless pit for revenue. Here’s an idea for our leaders: How about the people who builds these companies pay for their own improvements? I would also like to ask if I can place my house under the one cent increase. I need to do some improvements to my house.

Richard Sharp

St. Joseph



Truth is not a team sport

Shortly before the election, a reader criticized the paper for endorsing Trump. Their logic, 80% of the media picked the other guy. We had been told for over eight years Trump was a Nazi fascist. Thankfully the paper and the people used their brains and ignored the misinformation and calls to censure.

Winston Churchill once said, “Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it. Ignorance may deride it. Malice may distort it. But there it is.” Truth is not a team sport. Truth is not determined by consensus, nor by fancy titles like expert or doctor. It is discovered by debate and proven by critical analysis of evidence.

Arguments are won by data and logic, not by attacks and censorship. The left has tried to delegitimize and demonize opposing views as dangerous to sway the public. Hence the Russia collusion lie, the Biden laptop coverup, COVID lockdowns work, the “President is fine” coverup, Jan. 6 was a government takeover instead of an out of control riot. The last four years have been a crisis of both incompetence and integrity.

If I ever find myself voting for a candidate because 80% of the media supports them, I will switch sides immediately.

Kennan Brockett

St. Joseph