Your Viewpoint
Letters to the Editor

Propositions try to get around control

I can't for the life of me understand why people continue to run down the city when I think real positive changes are being made.

When I was a kid growing up here, Jasper was wonderful and growing. After 40 plus years of graft and neglect we have bad streets and brown water.

Where were these voices when the infrastructure was rotting? I know they lived here. Where were they when people in power were spending city dollars for personal gain? I don't live in the city anymore, but it seems to me that this bunch in charge now are at least trying to get things fixed.

Maybe they make some mistakes, but why in the world would people disrespect and run them down? Jasper will not grow until the city is fixed and home town boys stop using it for their own gain.

I know of two businesses, one small, but the other one rather large, who looked to com to Jasper two years ago. The reason both decided not to come were county taxes and school taxes.

They are some of the highest in the state and provide some of the worst services. The school system speaks for itself, but when I did live in the city I sorely resented paying county taxes because the county provided no services for city residents.

They don't fix streets, they don't provide water or sewer, they don't provide trash service, law enforcement or help contribute to the fire hall or equipment. I think it's called taxation without representation.

In fact, it's the city police who have to show up at Holmwood or Ryall Acres or when a liquor store is robbed. I guess the county can't be bothered with law enforcement when they have to attend to their personal salaries and insurance. I think you actually have people at city hall who are trying to do things by the book for unselfish reasons.

That sure is new and different for any government entity in Jasper. Some of these loud voices need to stop being part of the problem, the same problem Jasper has had for 40 plus years, so this town can grow and thrive.

Close the borders, close the banks too

Closing our borders is like closing the bank. I do not believe it will ever happen.

I have just found out Bush (our government) has borrowed money from Mexico.

We are giving free healthcare to their citizens, while lending money they should spend at home.

Bush is saying he will find the money for our children's healthcare.

Where is he looking; Mexico, China, Arabia, India, Afganistan, Japan?

Every country that has money, and some that don't, have already lent us money.

I think we are in over our heads with all this debt.

Does anyone know the country's debt when Clinton left office?

What do we owe today?

At 30 million a day just to keep the war going, it must be trillions.

Criteria set for letters to editor

The Jasper Newsboy would like to publish your thoughts and concerns about issues that are important to you.

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The Jasper Newsboy

P.O. Box 1419 Jasper, Texas

75951-1419 or e-mail to: jgalvan@jaspernewsboy. com