Agreeing with Obama

Call me an elitist if you will, but I must agree with Obama that the gas tax plan Clinton is backing is no plan at all. It is nothing more than a cheap trick to get votes from those who are not familiar with the economic forces that set gas prices. Gas supply is somewhat fixed right now, and if we lower the price of gas, people will buy more gas. Since there isn’t any more available to sell, the price will go back up. The tax break will disappear and then, after three months, the tax will reapply, making it even higher than before. Sound good? I have been reluctant to tell anyone which candidate to support so far, but I must point out blatant dirty tactics and lies. This is utter desperation on Clinton’s part and it lets me see her true colors under pressure.

Tommy Burnett

St. Joseph

It was a great parade

My ninth parade, it sure doesn’t seem like it, even though I do admit it gets easier every year. This year, though, the weather had us a little worried, yet the day ended up being beautiful. We still get goosebumps when the first unit pulls out at Noyes and Frederick, but nothing beats riding the parade route and seeing the thousands of kids of all ages who line the streets to watch. It is definitely worth the stress we go through in the final two weeks.

My biggest thank-you goes out to all the parade entrants; this was the smoothest parade we have ever lined up. There are always a few minor misunderstandings, but based on all the comments from our staff, you all couldn’t have been nicer to work with.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank those people who were involved with the 2008 Apple Blossom Parade. First of all, I would like to thank the committee: Ken Rosenauer, Becky Boerkircher, Jerry Sporhase, Sharon Kosek, Duane Foster and Shanda Parrish. Thanks to those who helped us stage the parade that morning: Casey Patton, Steve Wolfe, Morgan Wyble and David Wyble. Thanks to the Missouri Western sorority girls who helped marshal along the parade route.

Certainly, I want to thank the city of St. Joseph for all the support and cooperation. Thanks to the St. Joseph Police Department — you are the best!

A very special thanks to Rep. Martin Rucker and the entire Rucker family. For years I called Martin about getting Mike back for the parade, and finally it worked out. We couldn’t have had a more fitting theme to go along with the Rucker Family Grand Marshals than “A Tribute to St. Joe Families: The Heart of Our City.” No doubt, this family is a true role model for the St. Joseph community.

Thanks to my employer, Bartlett & West Engineers, for allowing me the time to be involved in this great community event.

Thanks to KQ2, Eagle Radio and the St. Joseph News-Press for great coverage and promos.

A great big thanks to all the judges of the parade and the pageant.

Thanks to Ken Rosenauer, president of the Apple Blossom Festival; he never seems to get stressed like the rest of us, and we are never going to let him retire. Thank you to my husband and son, Steve and Brian. They are finally getting used to the April madness.

If anyone is interested in serving on the committee, please call me and I will get you the information. This isn’t my parade. This is St. Joseph’s parade, and you certainly are welcome to take part in planning it.

We all look forward to May 2, 2010, for the next and best Apple Blossom ever.

Michelle Wolfe, executive director

Apple Blossom Festival Association

On church and state

Congress is bound by the Constitution to follow and protect its contents, as written by our founders. This said, and referring to Article One of the Bill of Rights, that states they shall make no law respecting establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: How then has “separation of church and state,” which is nothing more than a theory, been allowed to appear as a law?

The general rule is, an unconstitutional statute is in reality no law. Unconstitutionality dates from the time of its enactment, and not merely from the date of its discovery. There are numerous cases in law dating back to 1803 whereby this statement is true.

Why are individuals and minority groups allowed to get court and judicial approval using “separation of church and state” as the basis for their complaints against God, his name and the grounds this country was founded on?

Have we no individuals within our Congress who fail to see this travesty of injustice to the majority of our citizens, little less to the intentions of the founders, of whom I find no instances where outright opposition was rampant?

I do not necessarily oppose separation of church and state, I oppose the way in which it is used. I consider “separation of church and state” as a much misused quote, theory and idea that serves the minority and has no legal footing now or ever before.

Legal mumbo jumbo and rogue judges will no doubt try to dissolve my beliefs, but if someone, somewhere, sometime, doesn’t correct this misadventure, then America, as it once was, will continue on its present path to dissolve into a country with no morals, no goals with the promises of the future our framers had in mind.

Gerald L Thompson (USMC), retired

Atchison, Kan.