Opinion

Don’t be surprised if sooner rather than later a candidate for fiscal court or judge-executive shows up at your door, begging for your vote in next May’s primary.

Each will probably offer the usual servings of political oatmeal about “saving money” and “taking a close look at the budget.”

Those are OK, but not one should leave your doorstep until he or she answers the following question: What specifically will you do to bring industry and jobs to Anderson County?

Last month, we celebrated a time of giving thanks. This month, we move into a time of, well, giving.

Unfortunately, “giving” is a lot more difficult for 12.5 percent of the county’s population this year.

As you may have read earlier on in this issue, Anderson County’s unemployment rate was at 12.5 percent in the month of October — up from 10.9 percent the month before.

As the economy continues to take its toll on our community and make the holidays a lot less happy for some, there is at least one speck of light in all the darkness.

Fox/Beck/Limbaugh/Hannity talking points not enough

To the editor:

Karen Richardson’s lengthy letter to the editor [Obama’s strategy must be stopped] in last week’s paper consisted of 18 paragraphs of statements and opinions without referencing one specific supportable fact.

The Cloward-Piven Strategy to which she refers is a document written in the mid-1960s (50 years old, folks) that has absolutely no bearing or factual basis linking it to events occurring today.

There is a remarkable difference between those who hunt and those who are hunters.

Hunters are those who respect the tradition, follow the rules and harvest animals the right way and for the right reasons.

Those who hunt are, at their worst, morons who swill beer or smoke dope (or both) while blasting away at whatever is unfortunate enough to walk in front of them.

Too broad a brush? Too bad.

Those who hunt are giving hunters a bad name, and I’m sick of it.

Take, for instance, the morons who dump deer carcasses along our back roads.

Climb aboard ‘industrial bandwagon’

To the editor:

I am ecstatic to see that Harley-Davidson is looking into moving its current York, Pa., facility to our great state.

Hopefully, our current county and city leaders will not be content with just “grabbing our share” of the move if it happens.

Why not do whatever it takes to grab the whole pie?

Anderson County High School has made plenty of history and has a lot about which to brag.

From academics to sports, the high school is great.

This year we’ll add another to that list, and this time it’s the marching band making history.

Our band made school history by placing eighth in the state semifinals in its class, its highest finish ever. It jumped eight spots from last year, which is a huge improvement.

Opportunity is likely to knock fairly soon on Anderson County’s door. It will be interesting to see if we, as a community, are willing to let it in.

By now most of you know that Harley-Davidson is considering moving its manufacturing operations from York, Pa., to Shelbyville. That move would create a reported 2,000 jobs there and give Shelbyville one heck of a shot in the arm.

Ground was broken Monday night, and not just for a new skateboard park.

Those who achieved what appeared for years to be an impossible dream did more than turn over a ceremonial shovel of dirt. They also provided a blueprint for those who carp and whine incessantly about things they want but have no motivation to get.

Nary a day goes by that someone or some group doesn’t complain about the lack of amenities in Anderson County, most notably a swimming facility.

Thanks for continuing hunting photos

To the editor:

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for continuing to post the hunting pictures in The Anderson News, even after someone writes a letter to the editor regarding the elk hunting trip that made the front page.

I realize that hunting may not be everyone’s “cup of tea” and I thought it was in poor taste that the author of that letter chose to write regarding a youth hunting adventure.