Gaming the system

Some things are just too funny to not laugh about, like the Big Three automakers wanting taxpayers to keep them afloat again.

They’ve already been given a nice cushion by the Bush administration, but they claim to need more or they’ll just die. Pity that their demise would also ruin people who had no say in their short-sighted, self-centered decisions.

These are managers who spent fortunes to lobby successive Congresses and presidential administrations to forestall efforts to make them competitive by producing cleaner, safer or more fuel-efficient products, and now they’re lobbying for big handout money because they weren’t competitive and are going bust.

You have to hand it to them, though. They definitely know how to game the system at both ends.

Shelby L. Muhl

Prairie Hill

EDITOR’S NOTE: Shelby tells us she drives a Toyota minivan and hasn’t bought an American-made car since the 1970s, when the family Chevy “came apart” a few years after its purchase. She also closely follows the auto rankings listed in Consumer Reports.

For our veterans

Once again, Outback Steakhouse hosted the McLennan County Veterans Association annual fundraiser on Oct. 16. For a donation of $7, you could have an 8-ounce grilled chicken breast, a choice of mashed potatoes or salad, a cup of ice cream and a drink, tea, coffee or soda.

All proceeds were given to MCVA to fund the Memorial Day ceremony at Rosemound Cemetery, the POW/MIA ceremony and the Veterans Day Parade. Outback Steakhouse opened up its restaurant for this event and furnished the food and staff as it has been doing for so many years.

If you love your freedom, thank a veteran and frequent Outback Steakhouse to show your gratitude. And in your daily life, when you see a veteran, walk up and shake his or her hand with thanks for serving us. They’ll be most appreciative.

God bless America, our veterans, our troops and their families.

Bess Tucker

Waco

EDITOR’S NOTE: McLennan County Veterans Service Officer Bill Mahon tells us the Outback Steakhouse dinner raised about $2,250 this year. He, too, paid tribute to the management and staff at Outback for its dedication in helping put on the event.

Sinful voting?

To respond to two letters to the editor [Nov. 9]: H.R. “Red” Vandermeulen says, “Please forgive the Republicans, Lord, for they know not what they do,” which equates the vote against Barack Obama as sinful as crucifying Christ.

I understand President-elect Obama is a lot of things to a lot of people, but putting him on the same level as the real Messiah is a little too much.

As to La Keeda Hamilton’s assertion that I am afraid of electing an African-American as president, nothing could be further from the truth. I can and will vote for an African-American for president. I just could not vote for this particular African-American candidate.

Ms. Hamilton, my conscience just wouldn’t allow me to vote for a candidate who would vote against a state law that offered protection to babies that survived abortion procedures, as Obama did in the Illinois State Legislature.

For me to vote against my conscience would have indeed been sinful.

Terry Timmons

Abbott