Letters

Letters to the editor

Highlands Today
Published: October 26, 2012

Election is almost here

Well, election time is upon us and the Obama administration is hoping you forget the last four years and give them four more years.

They've managed to spend our children's money; however, they're not satisfied at stopping there. They want to spend our grandchildren's money as well.

Twenty-three million unemployed workers, 48 million people on food stamps, $16 trillion in debt, $1 trillion-plus deficits every year, $4 billion new debt every day, $10 billion interest on our debt every week and they're not satisfied — they want four more years.

All the lies, cover-ups, deceit and division driving this great country of ours further apart, and let's not forget Obamacare. We are learning now that companies with 50 or more employees will be laying off employees to get under the 50 number. Why? Because under 50 employees and you don't have to provide health care.

If it's not logical to operate with fewer than 50 employees, they will then become part-time employees. Why? Because you don't have to provide health care to part-time employees. The employee will be required to obtain his own health care and if he/she doesn't obtain health care, a penalty will be imposed. Wow, less income, more expense. Obamacare: The gift that keeps on giving, or should I say taking.

Companies such as McDonalds, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Longhorns and 3M are just a few of the many that have stated "we are waiting until after the election to see if we must implement the plan."

Folks, there's an old saying I'm sure you've heard: "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." You've already been fooled once with the "hope and change" Obamaloney.

Don't be fooled twice or the shame will be yours!

Karl Woda

Lake Placid

A painful time for a hurting family

Sunday, Oct. 28 is going to be a difficult day for my family. It would have been my son, Matty's, eighth birthday.

Matty began to talk about his birthday months and months ago. He had big plans for his party, which we would've had on Saturday followed by a night of trick-or-treating. He really wanted a scooter this year.

On March 18, Matty was struck and killed by a car in our neighborhood. The driver was the older brother of some girls who Matty was playing with that day. In fact, he was on his way back over to their house when their brother hit him and then left the scene.

I'll never know what happened. Was he texting? Was he high on drugs? Does he feel remorse? To this day, he has never told us he is sorry for the tragedy of Matty's death. He has not even been charged with any official crime.

The only punishment he may receive is to have his license revoked for one year, but he's taken the time and financial resources to hire an attorney from Miami to fight even that "slap on the wrist."

When I leave my house each day, I can see his driveway. The vehicle that struck and killed my son now sits there with the damage still present on the right front end, a constant reminder of exactly what happened to my precious angel.

Is it wrong to want something from the man who did this? An explanation? Just a few words saying he didn't mean to do this to my son and my family? It is hard to begin taking the steps to forgiving him when he won't even look at us in court.

To all you drivers out there, slow down. Put your phones down. Look at the road. Don't put someone through the hell I live each day.

Thank you.

Mandy Fisher

Avon Park