Letters

Letters to the editor

Highlands Today
Published: May 26, 2012

Buy American

The comment by your reader Mr. Parks gives me the opportunity to say a little more about my "buy American" crusade.

All of the items listed can be found manufactured by American firms. It may take a lot of digging, but they are there.

Now let me make a couple of comments on why we are in this fix in the first place. The reason for the influx of foreign products is our fault. When I was a teenager, I went to work to help support our household. I went to work in 1936 at a job paying 45 cents an hour. This was a starting wage at the time. I kicked in half my pay for family help and still was able to buy a used car, have a girlfriend and buy my own clothes. Bread at this time was 5 cents a loaf. Hamburger was about 20 cents a pound.

This was about the time that labor unions appeared on the scene to replace the old guild system that brought new talent to the workforce and started the climb in periodic wage increases, and then price increases to keep the profit level where the companies could operate. There was no control on wages so the spiral continues till the companies discover that, by having their products produced in labor-poor countries and bringing them back home and selling them, that at going prices, they could keep operating.

This will keep on until someone gets wise and reinstitutes wage and price controls in the country. I still say shop around and you will find places that sell American products. You will pay more for the product as mentioned before. Count it as your investment in America.

Woodrow Jackson

Sebring

Stolen packages

I've lost my faith in humanity.

I recently was to have three packages delivered to my home, all of which were shipped May 14. I sat on the porch during mail delivery everyday. I checked the tracking numbers and it read that all three were delivered May 18. They weren't!

I contacted the post office told them my situation. I let them know that I was at home May 18, watched our mail man just put a flyer in the box and was asked very rudely, "Are you sure he didn't just set in on your porch or in the bushes?"

I went to the Ridgewood Drive post office. My husband and I spoke with the supervisor. She said she would investigate and talk to the driver. She called us late in the afternoon and said the driver hadn't located the packages because not everyone was home on Lakeview Drive.

She said we had a substitute and he was unfamiliar with the route. I cannot believe this driver could read the small print for our address but couldn't read our address on large packages. I can't believe that someone in this neighborhood would not just bring them to my house.

I have since painted, in very large print and bright vermilion color, the house numbers. I have been waiting for someone to do the right thing and bring them to my home. Two of the packages I can replace. However, the third I cannot as it was from my mother and contained three books and artist stretcher frames for the stretching of canvas which happen to be my grandmother's.

Maybe someone will do the right thing and bring them over. I wish I could offer an award for their return, but I'm an unemployed person. If the shoe was on the other foot and I received something that wasn't mine I would look at the address and take it to that person. That is what humanity and human kindness is all about. If you are afraid to bring them to me, then ask someone else to do it for you.

Stefanie Nellett

Sebring