Reason for season easily gets lost
It’s that time of year again.
When you see the angel trees, hear the ringing of the Salvation Army bells. Those fill a stocking for the less fortunate children.
Lots are filled with cut evergreens, wreaths and boughs to decorate. Lights in an array of colors are in stores, on houses, trees and yard decorations, even on vehicles!
You get up before dawn on “Black Friday” to find yourself fighting the crowds, standing in lines and in traffic jams to get those “super deals” advertised for the past month.
There are travel plans to make, parties, family dinners (where you cooked for days) ó to give and receive those “super deals” you wrapped in pretty paper.
You tell the children lies about who will be coming tonight. Then there’s the money you spent or high-interest credit card you used. For what purpose, and what did you accomplish?
I used to be one of these people, but no more!
In this economy, all this makes no sense. People need help throughout the year, not only this time of year. Do the stores think they can make up sales for the year in a couple of months or less? Does it not make sense to offer these “super deals” throughout the year? People then could afford the things they need and maybe things they really could get by without. But it’s a numbers game nowadays anyway, right?
So when you see the “Merry Xmas” and “Happy Xmas” banners, don’t think, “Oh, they left Christ out,” or “They shouldn’t have left Christ out.” Not for a moment. You already did that with all this foolishness and mayhem you put yourselves in at this time of year.
As a true Christian, I know Christ does not want his name associated with this pagan holiday.
ó Debbie Pate
Rockwell
Why no answer?
Telemarketers. I purposely picked the phone up to see what would happen. No one answers. Are they cheating their company? This can happen maybe between 15 to 20 times a day; no one answers you. They must be cheating their company by saying they made calls and didn’t talk. This is every day.
Can’t anything be done about it? I called the number to have them stop two times, and it didn’t do any good. If they use cell phones you can’t trace them, and I thought they could.
ó Sterling Weaver
Salisbury
Where’s the help?
I wrote to President Obama and received a letter back seven months later. I was told in the letter the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorizes the Small Business Administration to temporarily reduce or eliminate loan fees for borrowers in the 7(a) Guaranty Loan Program and raises the loan guarantee from the current levels to 90 percent. Under the 7(a) program, private sector lenders such as a bank and other financial institutions, make the loan with a SBA guaranty.
I have collateral, but my bank is afraid for me. What does that tell you?
I just took $400 out of my SSI to pay October rent of $600. I’ve worked hard, and the two hair stylists here and I won’t have a job in 2010. Business has dropped off that bad for me, because of a foot injury this past summer.
When I go to the bank and ask for help, it’s one excuse after another as to why I cannot get help.
If this is why we are fighting a war, shame on the USA.
I come to work at 68 years of age and work cleaning several days a week and pray for new customers at my Joyce’s Whistle Stop Salon in Spencer. Where are you?
It’s all paid for in five short years. We should all be sitting pretty, but the stress of sitting here and one or two haircuts coming in ó it’s very hard to make it on that.
The banks are given free money to kick over their business, but when it comes down to us, the small business person, it’s another story. When do we really get help?ó Joyce Orphanoudakis
Spencer