Maybe if the cowards in Frankfort would buck the tobacco lobby and raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes for the first time in more than 30 years, maybe if they would allow riverboat gambling, we could provide our teachers with a better quality of life.

In the meantime, let's see if Lawrenceburg will loan us the money until we figure it out.

Dave Neely

Fort Wright

---

Student's past not important now

Upon reading the article "Elder students pay respects to classmate" (Sept. 29) I was a little bit put off by the manner the Enquirer addressed the story. I think that it is obligatory for the issues and news surrounding the untimely death of Maurice Kennedy to be presented to the readers, but I think that you must draw into question when it is appropriate to talk about certain details.

Why did you find it necessary when discussing the prayer service at Elder High School to draw into question Kennedy's past mistakes and blemishes on his criminal record? As a Saint Xavier student, I can tell you that the entire Greater Catholic League is in virtual mourning over this horrible act of civil violence.

As the entire city copes with this violence, I think further degrading those involved draws interest away from what the focus of the article should be. Why not talk about what should happen in this city from this point on? My heart goes out to the Kennedy family and the Elder community.

Robert Ausdenmoore

West Chester Township

---

Stop funneling dues to Democrats

The letter "Would Lakota bus students to see Kerry?" (Sept. 30) whined about the Lakota High Schools' bands and a few students being transported for the president's rally.

I have an offer for the writer: You go on record to demand that teachers' union leaders stop funneling millions of dollars of nonpartisan members' dues to the Democratic Party, and that every union member's contract include a promise to isolate their political views from their relationships with students under penalty of job termination. I'll lobby for keeping Lakota school students away from any gatherings involving candidates for political office. How about it?

Don Adick

West Chester Township

---

Bush's attitude blinds him to truth

The headline "Bush derides Kerry, and crowd loves it" (Sept. 28) says it all. President Bush is not a uniter, but a derider. His derisive attitude keeps him from seeing the truth.

Being derisive kept him from understanding the enemy in Iraq, telling them to "bring it on," while a thousand American men and women were dying, and countless others wounded in mind and body.

Deriding one's opponents is no badge of honor. It is a crying shame.

Timothy Leonard

Hyde Park

---

Boycott against P&G is bigotry

I wholeheartedly love the idea of fundamentalist Christian groups boycotting Procter & Gamble because they took a position on Article 12. I think next they should try and work to pass legislation putting pink triangles on all businesses that are owned by homosexuals or have homosexuals as their clientele. Sound familiar, anyone? Study your history. You might just discover that there is growing cause to be alarmed.

Brian Maurer

---

Fisherman caught a new friend

I wanted to write this letter to thank a gentlemen who was kind to me. My mom and I went to Lake Isabella to fish on Wednesday, and my line kept getting tangled. This nice gentleman came over to help and to give me his bait because he was getting ready to leave. My fishing pole was old, and I was having a hard time casting. He talked to us for a few minutes and said he was going home, but instead he went into the store they have at the lake and bought me a brand new fishing pole. When he came out to give it to me, my mom was trying to ask him how much she could pay him for it; and he said he wanted me to have it because I really love to fish.

I was so happy and couldn't believe that someone would be so kind and generous. Thank you so much, it all happened so fast we did not get his name. We just wanted to thank you for your kindness, and to let you know how you made my day.

Spencer Nickum

Terrace Park