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Highlands Today

July 20 Letters To The Editor

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Highlands Today

Published: July 21, 2008

Gas Solution
Yes, we all have our opinions and the most talked about and discussed subject is the high cost of gas, the higher price of food, and many other things our deliveries must bring into our stores.

But the middle class working group, who is trying to get to work and is cancelling all vacations and pleasure trips, it cannot do anything to solve this problem. This must come from our political leaders.

Some say we have our supply of oil here in the United States, others say we must not use our supply of oil and our resources and we should use other methods to supply our needs. There is such confusion concerning this critical situation, but I do know that something must be done and very soon.

Whichever way we must go, it will take a long time to get our problem solved. We must have the unity and consideration among our political leaders.

One solution to our gas shortage here in Sebring would be to have our transportation department use some mini-buses to travel to downtown Sebring. This would help all the residents save on gas.

I am sure the buses would be loaded as so many senior citizens are in desperate need of transportation. Maybe, someone might come up with an electric or battery operated vehicle?

I don't know exactly what can be done, but we certainly must try and do something for this critical situation. I am sure most of the residents here in Highlands County feel the same as I do.

Mary Ellen Czarnecki
Sebring

Plan For Success
A recent letter writer called for our politicians to do more brainstorming in order to solve major problems facing the country. He was probably alluding to strategic planning, and he was right on. The strategic planning process includes a freewheeling exchange of ideas, the brainstorming phase. That taps into people's creativity and is often a catalyst for major improvements as the ideas are fine-tuned into realistic strategies. Without formal planning, we face a hodgepodge of disjointed actions and a lack of progress. Also, the approved strategic plan makes our leaders less prone to politically expedient moves that hurt us in the long run.

I was impressed on learning at the Highlands Today Candidate Forum that both the sheriff's departments and the county commission's major actions are strongly guided by strategic plans. Sheriff Benton is managing a carefully choreographed move to a more CSI-like operation while the county commission uses its formal plan to navigate from a ranching and agricultural economy to one that's a little less country.

From the pessimistic tones of recent letters to the editor, many seem to think that America is in decline. Still, one senses the stereotypical American conviction that we will bounce back to being the perennial number one. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a formal plan to do just that?

John Dyce
Lorida

Unsafe Practice
I have discovered in the past few months a practice that is taking place at some local eating establishments here in Highlands County that could result in a very bad situation. Upon completing the meal and going to the register to pay with a credit card, the receipt I get is the one with only the last four numbers of the account number. The restaurant keeps the receipt with the entire account number on it.

When I realize that this is their business practice, I ink out all but the last four numbers. There is no reason whatsoever for the business to keep the receipt with the entire account number. This is called reverse receipting.

Although I'm sure the employees are aboveboard and honest, you don't know who is standing in line behind you to pay next and what opportunity he/she may take if they have a chance to see the whole account number. In addition, with the economy the way it is, some people will do things that they may not normally do. In this day and age of identity theft, you can't be too careful. It only takes one time to ruin your credit for the next six months to two years before the whole mess can be straightened out.

I'm not going to name the restaurants by name but, it happened at four locations.Two in Avon Park and two in Sebring. When I asked the managers why their system was set up to reverse receipts, the only answer I could get was either that's the system we have or like one manager in a Sebring eatery told me "That's just the way it is."

That was the wrong answer as far as I'm concerned. I don't think I'll be passing through their door again for quite a long time. Some of you are thinking, ....why doesn't this guy pay cash if the credit card situation bothers him.? Because I choose to use my card. It's just a matter of choice.

So Highlands County. Next time you go out to eat and you use your credit card or debit card (yes the same thing happens with a debit card), double check your receipt and if it happens to you, contact the manager and inform him/her that this is not a safe business practice.

Maybe, if enough folks show an interest in this subject, we can get it changed to the proper, safe and agreeable way of conducting business in our local community.

Paul Johnson
Sebring

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