Opinion
Letters to the editor
Highlands Today
Published: October 6, 2012
Creating jobsPublished: October 6, 2012
Politicians are saying we need to cut taxes for big and small businesses so they can create jobs. Other people have blamed unions for our mess.
I believe the mess started when Nixon opened up trade to China, then the Carter administration started deregulating the financial institutions, and Reagan accelerated the deregulations.
Does anyone remember the savings and loan bailout during the Reagan administration?
What about NAFTA, which started during the first Bush presidency and finished during Clinton? We know what businesses did. They left the country in droves for cheap labor and more profits at the expense of American jobs.
Then we come to Bush No. 2. We spent the surplus left by Clinton, got into two wars, bailed out the banks, Wall Street, insurance companies, airlines, the housing market collapse and the worst recession since the Great Depression.
One airline went bankrupt twice in two years. After doing this they rewarded the ones at the top of these big businesses with bonuses. Next came the auto bailout, started during last part of 2008 and finished during the Obama administration.
I can remember those politicians acting like it was terrible to help them out. The unions were going to have give up something, which they did, for the government to give them some help. It saved thousands of jobs.
Mr. Romney wanted them to go bankrupt, only his plan would have closed their doors. Has anyone heard him mention about letting Wall Street firms or the banks go bankrupt? He wants to deregulate them more. Then he talks about the 47 percent of the population as freeloaders.
Unemployment is high, politicians are still saying, "cut taxes and businesses will create jobs." When are they going to create these jobs, during the next bailout? With Bush cutting their taxes, along with NAFTA, we started bleeding jobs, almost to the tune of 700,000-plus a month during the last part of his administration. Now they want to balance the budget on the middle- and low-income people.
If you want jobs in this country quit sending money to other countries. Have pride in your country. Stop blaming the workers for this mess; put the blame where it belongs. Be American Buy American
Steve Klutey
Sebring
Rebecca Fleck is best
Though I am no longer a resident of Highlands County, I feel compelled to respond to things I have read recently. I continue to follow the news and happenings in Sebring and the surrounding areas because I feel a strong connection to the area and am grateful to the people and community for helping my husband and I mold our three children during their formative years there in Highlands County.
Currently, I am a school administrator in Houston, Texas, and I owe my career in education that has spanned two decades to people such as Rebecca Fleck, who have provided me with guidance since my first days in the classroom at Sebring Middle School.
Her hearing impairment and the techniques she utilizes to compensate for this handicap should in no way be misinterpreted as disrespectful or indifferent. My personal interactions with Mrs. Fleck over the years have proven to be exactly the opposite.
She has always been an approachable, caring, resourceful, hard-working individual with a genuine desire to work collaboratively with others to positively affect and enrich the lives of the students whom she serves. She has been tireless in her efforts to bring technology into the forefront of classrooms throughout Highlands County and she began this journey many years ago as the principal of Lake Placid Middle School. Mrs. Fleck is a natural leader and integral part of the team of administrators currently serving Highlands County Schools.
Rebecca Fleck is, and will continue to be, a phenomenal leader and advocate for the children, teachers and educational system of Highlands County. My recommendation of Rebecca Fleck as the next Superintendent of Highlands County is heartfelt and sincere. I truly believe she is, and will continue to be, an asset to the people of Highlands County.
Marcette Kilgore
Houston, Texas