Letters
Letters to the editor
TBO.com
Published: March 15, 2012
Feel my painPublished: March 15, 2012
It just kills me when the Speaker of the House or the president say that they "feel our pain" when it comes to the financial crunch that we are all going through right now.
Let me get this straight. The Speaker makes about $212,100 a year and my Social Security and pension equals about $2,400 a year; about 88.5 times as much as I make.
So when you go to the grocery store and purchase a gallon of milk and pay $279.65 for it, you will feel my pain. I pay $3.89 right now.
When you take your kids to the movie and pay $531 a ticket, you will feel my pain. I pay $6.
When you stop by McDonald's for lunch and pay $380 for a value meal, you'll feel my pain. I pay $4.29.
My water bill was $16 last month; did you pay $1,416 for your water? If so, then you feel my pain.
I spend about $80 a week on groceries. Do you pay $7,080? If so, then you feel my pain.
I got rid of my landline and only use a cell phone so it's cheaper for me. I pay about $50 per month. Do you pay $4,425 per month for your cell phone? He might, but taxpayers are probably paying for that. If so, then you feel my pain.
I am tired of hearing it. How about you?
I wonder what he pays for gas? Oops, I bet I pay for that too.
Norman Turcuit
Avon Park
Denise Grimsley
As State Rep. Denise Grimsley ends her term in the Florida House of Representatives, the Healthy Start Coalition of Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties, Inc. would like to recognize her work to protect the pregnant women and newborns across the state of Florida.
Early in her tenure, Rep. Grimsley worked to expand Healthy Start services, recognizing the positive impact of promoting healthy births and access to care, as well as cost savings to the state.
As House appropriations chair, Rep. Grimsley agreed to partial restoration of a previous Healthy Start funding cut, again protecting Florida's newest citizens.
On behalf of the 32 Healthy Start Coalitions across the state of Florida, we extend our deepest appreciation to Rep. Grimsley for her vision, leadership and commitment to our state.
Mary Jo Plews
Executive director
Healthy Start Coalition of Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties, Inc.
U.S. 27 problems
In recent weeks, I have read letters to the editor about the "dangers of U.S. 27." I think that there is a major problem, much more then speeding.
I have noticed that over 50 percent of the drivers, not only winter visitors, but Florida residents, don't use their turn signals and ride in the left, "fast lane," driving 5 to 10 mph under the speed limit.
Traffic would move a whole lot better if all drivers would use their turn signals. Many times it causes drivers to make a quick move to avoid the ones not using their turn signals.
Driving under the speed limit also may cause drivers to make decisions that may be dangerous. Those are the things that I have noticed, not only on U.S. 27 but all over, and not as much speeding.
Douglas Oswald
Sebring