Seniors don't need another tax bite

Regarding the city of Salisbury's proposed budget (May 7 article):

Please, City Manager David Treme and City Council — don't take another bite from the arms of us fixed-income seniors. We've been bitten up to the elbow already. I understand some of your reasonings, but not in regard to water-sewer-recycling services. I (one-person household) now pay more for one month of service than my parents (seven-person household) did for three months' service. And, with five children, there was a lot of laundry and baths. Have our water sources dried up and moved away? God is still supplying us with precious water, isn't He? Thank you, Lord!

I don't have a dishwasher, don't wash my car and won't water my lawn. However, I do laundry once a week, flush when necessary and bathe as needed. I am a true believer in conservation and am a big fan of recyling. It really fires me up to see trash containers of my neighbors overflowing each week with Corona bottles, cans, etc. Why do they not use the "blue boxes?" Some of us are paying the price of this neglect. It's not surprising our landfill is rapidly filling.

It's nice that some city employees will get raises and health benefits. Most of them probably need and deserve it. But what about us fixed-income seniors? We're not getting raises, and many of us don't have health insurance because we can't stretch our checks that far. The proposed increase in our utility bills may seem small to you, but to us it means a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread and, just maybe, a half gallon of gas.

Please reconsider this increase if the needs can be met some other way. Thank you for your attention and concern. Now I must go apply another dressing to my arm.

— Margaret T. Shumate

Salisbury

Only one choice

I am not an expert in politics, but anyone over 20 years old remembers the Clinton administration. We certainly don't need a draft dodger's wife running the show. As for Mr. Obama, if his ties to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright don't make you think twice, try this quote from his book "The Audacity of Hope": "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

Think it over carefully. There is only one choice. John McCain is a fellow veteran who was prepared to give, and almost did, give his life for his country. God bless our troops.

— Jack Cornatzer

Salisbury

Editor's note:The full quotation from the book (page 261) refers to U.S. citizens who were treated with suspicion or mistrust after the terrorist attacks: "In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific reassurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

Classy soccer fans

There was a great soccer game played Saturday night in Salisbury, two teams fighting out for the right to advance in the state playoffs. I am proud to say that my daughter's team from East Davidson won. However, I am more proud to say that I have witnessed what truly first-class fans are. After the game, on our way out of the stadium, we had to walk past the parents from Salisbury. Instead of the talk I expected to hear of how we lucked up or endless excuses for why they lost, we were greeted with "your team played a great game," "make our conference proud" and "we will be pulling for you guys." Salisbury's parents and team showed then why they are a great school and athletic program.

As a parent of a senior at East Davidson, I thought I had already experienced my daughter's last high school game. ( We got into the playoffs as a wild card). Even given that this was probably the case for some of the Salisbury parents, they chose to show good sportsmanship, and what a first-class group of people live in Salisbury. I will probably never have the chance to attend another game at Salisbury High School, but I will forever remember last Saturday night and what has to be some of the best fans in the state.

To the fans and athletes at Salisbury High, good luck. I will always be pulling for you, and on Saturday night you made our conference truly proud.

— Jeff McGee

Thomasville

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