PRINT PUBLICATION DATE

PRINT PUBLICATION DATE: January 29, 2005

THE READERS WRITE

The most remarkable thing about writing this column is getting responses from readers. I’ve received numerous e-mails and other contacts from people who have read the Neff Zone and had a comment. I can honestly say that everyone has been polite and gracious, even those who totally disagree with something I’ve written. For the most part, though, the messages have been very supportive, informative, and in some cases downright entertaining.

From Tim and Sheri Hillman: "We always enjoy your column and appreciate you bringing good points to the table on important issues. It is so refreshing to get some factual information in the era of smoke and mirrors." Thanks, Tim and Sheri, I’ve always believed smoking is bad for your mental as well as physical health.

From Wes Westmaas, a former McBainite who now resides in St. Louis, MO and reads the column online, sent me a letter to the editor that appeared in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. A gentleman named Jack Seyler wrote: "Since President Bush has taken office he’s fixed the economy, fixed the budget surplus, fixed taxes for 1% of Americans, fixed Iraq, fixed Afghanistan, and fixed the environment. Now he wants to fix Social Security. Anyone else a little concerned?" Relax Wes, with the way health care has been fixed you’ll be dead long before you’ll need Social Security.

From Harry Yonkman, who may be in telepathic communication with Westmaas, I received a tongue-in-cheek warning: "Be careful about speaking ill of things like trickle down economics, term limits, the Contract with America, WMD’s in Iraq, and tax cuts for the rich. Some people may call you an evil liberal." Well, Harry, I’m already old, bald and short, and if I follow the average life expectancy of the men in my family I have around four years to live. Being called a liberal is the least of my problems.

From Tom Hoffman about my column about what makes Cadillac a cool place: "You left several things out, like: the White Pine Trail, the Clam River Walkway, Kenwood Beach, the brick sidewalks downtown, CASA Fields, the Carl T. Johnson Center, and the colors of fall." Great observations, Tom. I grew up in Flint, which has become a wonderful place to be FROM. I thank my lucky stars that I landed in Cadillac.

From Don Johnson, legendary Cadillac High School basketball coach who now winters in Arizona, I received a newspaper clipping from the Arizona Daily. "Show this to Big Rob," he noted, "because you can’t make up stuff like this." The clipping showed a man brushing a few snowflakes off his car and the caption read: "Ralph T. sweeps the snow off his car where citizens reported snow DRIFTS of 3 to 4 inches." Hey, DJ, I’ll bet these people never had to travel on a schoolbus over to Manistee in a white out for a Tuesday night grudge match with the hated Chippewas.

From Lon Romanski I received several items he thought I might find informative. It turns out that Lon and I are both avid newspaper and magazine readers and like to uncover little know facts. For example, did you know that the Federal Reserve is neither federal nor a reserve. It’s no more a government agency than if you had opened a jelly factory and called it Federal Preserves. It’s actually a private entity directed by the presidents of major banks. Though the Fed director is chosen by the President of the United States, his term of office does not coincide with the President’s, so Fed directors often serve through different regimes. Its meetings are held in secret and, get this, since it was founded in 1913 the Fed has never undergone an outside audit. Yo Lon, why do I get this vision of a wolf guarding a chicken coop? You too?

From Stephanie Labumbard I received some forwards of e-mails and pictures from her son, Matt, serving on the naval ship Abraham Lincoln, which is assisting in the tsunami relief efforts. Matt writes about the children he’s seeing: "The sad thing is most of these kids are orphans now and have been wandering around since the tsunami hit, their mothers and fathers dead. It would be hard for me to have a smile on my face but I am sure they are glad to see us. What is even worse, some of these children are being exploited and kidnapped and forced into slavery. Just goes to show the evil that men do even as others try to do good." Matt, you are a true hero and each child you help is a testament to that. Bravo to you and your shipmates. You are all enduring examples of the best that Americans can be.

Jim Neff is a local columnist. Comments to neffzone@yahoo.com . Read the columns online at http://www.neffzone.com/cadillacnews .