Jobs are nation’s greatest need
What is going on in our country?! Mr. President, we need jobs, not government-run health care! Our company is struggling and has permanently laid off about 40 percent of our colleagues and friends. The rest of us are working less than 40-hour weeks, and some are working half time or less. Why aren’t we focusing on jobs? If we focus on repairing our economy, that will mean growth in jobs and prosperity for all Americans. Then we can work on health-care costs.
Of course, our entire health-care system needs to be reformed. But it sure seems like you are more interested in this “public option” than you are in actually reducing costs. Work on the root costs of health care, not pushing the government to “fix it.”
Mr. President, you had said no employer will be forced to change coverage to join the government plan, but if the government offers a cheaper plan, my employer may switch to it. And then what happens? We will have to pay for this government insurance through higher taxes! What is going on? We don’t need higher taxes, we need lower taxes and lower health-care costs! The only way to do that is with economic growth that will grow jobs.
Please, Mr. President, let’s get our priorities straight ó jobs and the economy first, and then we can work on lowering the cost of health care.
ó Dyke Messinger
Salisbury
Editor’s note: Messinger is the CEO of Power Curbers, Inc. This letter was also signed by 11 Power Curbers employees.
Veterans Council falls for politics
The Rowan Veterans Council, with its low membership, has shown that it prefers politicial favors to doing what is right for the veterans by electing veteran service officer Elaine Howle as Service Officer of the Year. By the way, she is the only service officer Rowan has as a county employee.
After numerous complaints by veterans were filed against her, I and another veteran met with county leaders to address the complaints. All we got was typical bull. Three members of the Veterans Council are the only ones allowed to vote. The president of the Veterans Council and one of the voters were allowed to speak at a recent county commission meeting and spoke on behalf of Howle. Veterans against Howle were not allowed to speak.
Now, in an effort to not embarrass county leaders who have not taken a stand to help Rowan veterans, Howle gets this little award. Can anyone imagine who suggested that Howle be honored? I surely can, and I know the 12,000 veterans of Rowan also know how this happened. If I have to receive an award as a result of politics and not for what I have actually achieved, I don’t want the award.
I work for the veterans for free. Howle is a paid county employee. There is a difference.
ó Rodney Cress
Salisbury
Another view on inequality
Regarding the Nov. 9 article “NAACP urged to recapture its spiritual beginnings”:
Bishop Joseph Johnson spoke at Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church and said, “If you don’t do anything, then you’re a participant in your own inequality.”
I’m somewhat offended by this statement. Where do you find inequality in our society, Bishop Johnson? Everyone’s vote counts as one. Even illegal aliens can vote if they know how to get around the rules. What part of the word “illegal” do we not understand here?
Maybe we’re being more than amiable when it comes to allowing and providing a way for everyone who lives here to have a part in controlling our government. Maybe we’ve given American equality to those who are not true-blue Americans. I’m an experienced construction worker and a good job in my field is very difficult to land now. My situation is becoming desperate, and I see illegal immigrants working for money that I am entitled to earn. I know that quite a few of these immigrants are not legal citizens, but they will be getting a paycheck, and I’ll be applying for good stamps.
Bishop Johnson, I know that African-Americans have every bit as much of an opportunity to achieve social success as Mexican-Americans, Chinese-Americans and English-German Americans. So I don’t want to hear the word “inequality,” and you won’t hear it from me. I’ll just keep my head up and work harder and smarter. That’s the American way.
Bishop Johnson, what makes you think President Obama will show some patriotic resolve and stand up for our country? When is President Obama going to live up to his word and bring our country back from near destruction? The United States of America has been the shining light of freedom for the world for 200 years, and we will continue to shine.
ó Michael Wilson
Salisbury
Search heart, pray for lifeRecently there was a woman on the news explaining why she quit her managerial position with Planned Parenthood and chose to become a pro-life advocate. The turning point for her was the day she was asked to assist with an ultrasound-assisted abortion. She described seeing the tiny life on the screen, arms and legs flailing, trying to fend off the attack. Suddenly, the baby collapsed, lifeless. It had lost the fight.
She went on to reveal how Planned Parenthood had stressed to all of their employees to never use the word “baby” when dealing with their clients. Abortion was to be encouraged at all times. It is, after all, a very lucrative business. I continue to pray for the lawmakers and their following who have been deceived into believing that women should have the “right” to end the lives of their unborn. Their hearts have been hardened and their eyes have been veiled.
I encourage anyone who is pro-choice to look deep into the eyes of their own child, a grandchild, or any child near and dear to their heart. Had that child been aborted, would it mean it was never a person to begin with? Was it not a real life that had been intentionally and prematurely ended? The truth has become so distorted and hearts have become callous, but it does not have to be a lost cause.
With God, all things are possible.
ó Elizabeth Landry
Salisbury
Hookahs are health risk, too
Why would people smoke a water pipe? Hookahs are a type of water pipe, basically a hose and a water bowl, that have been used in the Middle East and Asia to smoke tobacco. There’s a myth that hookah smoking is safer than smoking cigarettes. Hookah smokers actually inhale more tobacco than cigarette smokers. In addition, users share the pipe with others, increasing the risk of tuberculosis, herpes, hepititas and other illnesses. In an hourlong hookah smoking session, a smoker inhales more than 100-200 times the amount of smoke compared to smoking a single cigarette.
Many believe that the water filters out all the “bad stuff” in tobacco smoke, but that’s not true. The smoke produced by hookahs contains high levels of toxic chemicals. Its smoke contains poisons that are known to cause lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses.
Who wants to smoke a water pipe and possibly catch an illness? Be aware of hookah bars opening up around or near college campuses. This is a new spin on a type of tobacco product that is out there.
I’m a member of Southeast Patriots Against Tobacco and want you to be 100 percent tobacco free.
Make a difference; join the many other N.C. teens who have pledged to be tobacco free at www.realityunfiltered.com.
ó Daniel Brady
Salisbury
Lower fuel tax
The North Carolina state fuel tax is too high and needs to be lower. State government should reduce the fuel tax.
ó Carl Massie
Salisbury