Greetings, one and all, and welcome! There are submitted comments to be considered and we’ll go there shortly. First, a quick thought from Your Humble Narrator.

n I visited the home of some old friends Saturday evening, one of many there for a fall social gathering. (My thanks to them for the hospitality.) I ran in to several people I hadn’t seen in years, and it was really good to visit and catch up on where life has taken them. Seeing and talking with one person in particular was a real treat, like a ray of sunshine on a dark and cloudy day. It reminded me of what a lousy job of staying in touch I’ve done. Acquaintances are plentiful, but a real friend is a very rare thing in this life. None of us should take them for granted.

With that said, let’s check the mail and see what’s up with The Roiling Hundreds!

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n You people that do not realize that the standard of living in this country is going down every day, do to the politicians and demise of labor unions, you better wake up. All the jobs that are being outsourced are not union jobs. The very low, slave and child labor wages paid outside the country is the reason. The exorbitant salaries and bonuses paid to executives is outrageous. Some people cannot see where this country is headed. Our future is already in the hands of foreign countries.

n I like dryer noise. I live next door to a laundromat.

n When will people realize there are a lot of ways to get involved in the community besides paid political office? If you want my vote, show me you are interested in this community for something other than a paycheck. I will always vote first for those that involve themselves on a volunteer basis.

n I see all of the comments about how no one will want to move to our community because there aren't any factory jobs. Did you ever consider not everyone wants to work in a factory? What about other businesses? Maybe try motivating them to come to our town. And as far as the school debate goes, I will have children in the school system for many years to come. I have no problem paying a higher tax rate. I do have a problem with building new schools that can't be filled and the position of them. Has anyone answered why not build one north and one south? Or one east and one west? I would really love to know the reasoning for the proposed positioning.

n Who paid for your kids when they were in school? That's right, all the tax payers. I bet some of them didn't have kids at the time. Get over it!

n "Will more programs be cut? What will be cut next: all music programs, summer school, P.E., art?" Are you going to allow three more basketball teams, soccer teams, Math Bowl teams, Spell Bowl teams, etc. to replace the ones that you cut? Will you provide transportation for my children after extracurricular activities? No, I don't believe you would. Rushville deserves all these, but so does Mays, Arlington and Milroy.

n As a friend of Jeff Hufford I would like to thank the Rushville Republican for the wonderful article that appeared on the front page. Jeff would have loved it. Rushville lost a great asset with Jeff’s passing. (As a teacher and a friend Jeff taught me a great deal over the years. I, too, will miss him. kg)

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Don’t forget to remember to write down your rants, raves, and/or random thoughts and to send them to me. You can do so via the U.S. Postal Service (Rushville Republican, Rants and Raves, P.O. Box 189, Rushville, IN 46173), fax (765-932-4358), e-mail (kevin.green@rushvillerepublican.com), through our Web site (www.rushvillerepublican.com – just “add a comment” to any posted story and it’s fair game), or drop your legibly written comments off here at the office (306 N. Main Street, Rushville).

Until the next time, I’ll leave you with this:

“In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. The young they keep out of mischief; to the old they are a comfort and aid in their weakness, and those in the prime of life they incite to noble deeds.” — Aristotle