Rocking & Raking
Dear Editor
On behalf of the Edna Burton Senior Center I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the adults and teens that volunteered for the annual Teens & Seniors Rocking & Raking. This program is truly a blessing to the seniors that get their yards cleaned by the volunteers.
I would also like to thank the following businesses and individuals that donated goods and services for this program: The Citizen newspaper, ACE Hardware, Papa Bella’s Pizza, Hungry Howies Pizza, Little Caesers Pizza, Bullfrogs Restaurant, O’Malley’s Restaurant, Maxine Stockley, Bueche’s Food World, Bedrock Express, Chesnutt Outdoor Services, TS Lawn Care, Bob Marshall, Wendy LaCroix, Royanne Hassinger, Jennifer Burke, and the Ed Gromek family. Once again, thank you so much to everyone for supporting this worthwhile program.
Faye Bindig, Edna Burton Senior Center Coordinator
(In response to Yup, I will pay for that, a letter by Bonnie Beltramo,The Citizen, April 23, page 7)
Terrible direction
Dear Editor,
Bonnie Beltramo sings the praises of Socialism. I felt similarly when I, too, was an idealistic but naive high school sophomore.
Well, Socialism generally is communal (governmental) ownership of the means of production; and government distribution of the products of production. The government can own the means of production outright, or it can own it in essence, through confiscatory taxation and control followed by distribution of proceeds “for the common good“.
That’s conceptually honorable. The old “give according to your ability and take according to your need” platitude. Sounds great on paper, but it’s an utter failure when the rubber meets the road. Using common funds (i.e., taxes) is great for providing a common benefit, such as a military defense, a system of roads, and other large scale projects that can’t be accomplished efficiently by individuals or groups. But, when common funds are used to provide direct private benefits to individuals, the system rewards slothful behavior and irresponsible lifestyles, while discouraging hard work and contribution to our civilization and society. Further, it leads to reasonable resentment of freeloaders by producers; the so-called class warfare that empowers the Democratic Party.
So, advocating for the government to furnish direct benefits to intentional non-producers in the form of food, housing, medical care, &c, particularly when those benefits are better than what producers are able to provide for themselves and their families, is highly detrimental to our country. “Forgiveness” of college loans is one more step in a terrible direction. Frank Porretta
(In response to “Yep, I will pay for that,” a letter by Bonnie Beltramo, The Citizen, April 23, 2022.)
All I see is hiring signs
The government programs you refer to (and agree to pay for) were inspired and developed by elected politicians. People who choose to go to college are private citizens. Why should anyone but themselves pay for their choice? What about the student who worked 2-3 jobs to pay for their college or the parents who sacrificed to put their kids through college.
Many kids were pushed to go to college (it’s not for everyone) instead of skilled trades, because that’s what they thought they were supposed to do. The only point I agree with you is on the rising cost of tuition and should be addressed on every level. Mr. Poretta is right “voteism with our moneyism”. If they can’t find a job these days they aren’t looking hard enough because all I see is hiring signs!!! Lisa Ksiazek

Tootsie Roll drive

Dear Editor,
On April 8-10 the Knights of Columbus Council #6824, St. Anne Parish, 825 S. Ortonville Road, Ortonville held their annual MI-Drive fundraiser.
The MI-Drive fundraiser is one of the most popular and successful programs conducted by Knights of Columbus state and local councils, for the benefit of people with intellectual disabilities. The councils collect donations outside local businesses and at intersections within their respective communities. The high visibility of this program has led to the campaign being referred to as the “Tootsie Roll Drive.”
For those who came into contact with one of the many MI-Drive volunteers wearing the bright yellow vests and made a contribution to this program…..please accept a heartfelt….. Thank You!
The beneficiaries of your record setting donations from this year’s program include: Club Create Northern Oakland County-Art & Social Class for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Brandon Schools Special Education-Teaching special education students SCAMP-Summer camp for those with intellectual disabilities
Knight Gary Putt, coordinator of this program for Council #6824 stated….”as the result of those in our community who allowed us to use their businesses as collection sites and the overwhelming generosity of those who contributed, we raised $6,000 that will be distributed to local organizations in support of our common mission.”
Once more, Council #6824 thanks the community for their ongoing support in making the MI-Drive fundraiser the success that it is.
Sincerely, Jim Russell Grand Knight, K of C Council #6824