Reader: Wilder comes across hypocritical in trash can fiasco
I have known Larry Wilder since he started practicing law in Jeffersonville. I may have given him his character and fitness interview when he applied to take the Indiana bar examination.
Larry is a good lawyer, but his antics keep him from being a great lawyer, or as we say in the trade, a lawyer’s lawyer. His most recent antics remind me of a comment that Mr. Bennett made about his first son-in-law in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” “He is as fine a fellow as ever I saw. He simpers, and smirks, and makes love to us all.”
I can only speculate how Larry wound up in the infamous trash can. I am surprised that the trash can and its strewn contents are not for sale on Craigslist or e-Bay. Being the most famous trash can in the United States last week, maybe it should be displayed in the new Clark County Museum.
Larry criticized his critics last week for taking delight in his mistake. However, many lawyers capitalize on the mistakes of others and that is how they earn their fees. Another one of Mr. Bennett’s famous quotations in “Pride and Prejudice” is “For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn.”
Larry, isn’t that life?
The biggest question remains how Larry wound up in the garbage can? Circumstantial evidence leads me believe that when friends were returning him to his home in the wee hours of the morning, they spied the can and someone said, “Let’s put Larry in the trash can.” It was sitting conveniently near the curb on his neighbor’s property. Was this a practical joke gone awry?
That is the best evidence we have now. I would be worried about what had been in that can before he was inserted into it.
— William “Bill” Smith, New Albany
Knobs reader ‘hates Gov. Daniels’ guts’
The following session of the 2009 Indiana General Assembly has been a futile joke. For one thing, the lawmakers have spent way too much time deciding what portions of the budget needed to be cut — and what did not in this state. For another, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels spent way too much time on property taxes.
Education — covering grades K-12 — would be best left alone without being the sacrificial lamb. Poorer school districts have been given the raw deal because of property tax caps and budgetary constraints. Richer school districts have functioned well by stealing needed revenue from poorer districts. A victim of the numbers game. Indiana would deserve a better fate.
Lawmakers in the Indiana General Assembly — in 2010 — would be smart to allocate all lottery funds and revenue directly to the “common school fund” as a means of consistency and continuity. The reason: Poorer school districts like those in Gary and in Indianapolis would obtain the bigger share of lottery funding revenues or an annual lottery revenues for the school districts. In doing so, lawmakers would not be working more time deciding how funding would support public education. Illinois, Missouri, New York, Florida, Ohio, Michigan and Georgia have used lottery funds to support public education — Indiana would best follow this procedure.
After all, Daniels has been a second generation Robert D. Orr. He has wrecked this state’s budget into oblivion. Moreover, the public has been fed up with his obscene tactics for the last five years. He would be right into leading Indiana to prosperity — even if it would mean some give-and-take on his part — and on his part from the lawmakers. After all, some of the people hate your guts as Indiana governor. And I am one of the many people in Indiana that hates your guts. Thank you ! I am not on the sauce — I am dead dog serious, people!
— Eric L. Ellis, Floyds Knobs
Giants in the Faith seeks nominees
Our community will have the opportunity to gather once again for the third annual “Giants in the Faith” celebration of those Christians, often unsung, whose lives and faith have had a significant influence on our own faith.
Under the auspices of Interfaith Community Council, the event drew more than 300 attendees and 34 honorees the first year and 400 attendees and 42 honorees last year. We are pleased that it continues to touch lives and inspire the watching community to encourage each other even more.
Responding to suggestions from attendees last year, Interfaith is limiting the number of honorees to the first 36 this year. While the program gave glory to God and still honored such special people within the two-hour time frame the first two years, the limit will ensure that each honoree receives the appropriate recognition during the family-centered afternoon.
Honoree positions still remain, so please consider submitting a person or a couple of any age (who live or worship in Floyd County) before the deadline of Tuesday, July 7. The luncheon event is at Huber’s Country Picnic Building (behind the restaurant) on Sunday, Aug. 30, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Honoree forms are available at The Tribune (33 Scribner Drive), at Interfaith (702 East Market St.) and its Web site at interfaithinc.org, or at area churches.
Once all honorees have been submitted, a reservation form listing all honorees will be available at all those sources starting in mid-July, so you can plan to attend in support of those Giants in the Faith. Or come just to experience the joy of Christians of all denominations gathering to celebrate those all around us. Hope to see you on the hill!
— Jim Kanning, “Giants in the Faith” Co-Chair, Interfaith Board Member
