Nursing homes, notorious places for voter fraud, need greater guidance on how to help residents vote, senators and voter advocates said Thursday. ...more

February 1, 2008

There might come a day in the not-so-distant future when the Lightning's ongoing evaluation of Karri Ramo's potential to become a No. 1 goalie in the NHL will begin to mean more than the team's position in the Southeast Division standings. ...more

January 22, 2008

The cause-and-effect cliche is well known. As for exorbitant gasoline and related prices, we should reverse to effect, cause, who? Effect: Incredibly costly gasoline and thousands of other things directly and indirectly related to the cost of petroleum products, and hostage to foreign oil, which is the primary supporter of global terrorism. Cause: Legislation which forbids drilling for oil in Alaska, off shore, and many other areas of our country; establishing impossible hurdles to building oil refineries, (none in about the last 30 years,) nearly impossible hurdles to building nuclear and coal fueled power plants. Blasted powdered coal emits little pollution. Trees and other vegetation need carbons to survive and emit oxygen, which all animals need. ...more

January 21, 2008

We have been subjected to the ads of presidential candidates for almost a year. To think that this will continue, on an increased basis, for almost another year once the primary elections are over, is enough to drive one mad. At this writing, the supposed "front runners" are sitting Congressional senators. To me this means that nothing will change in Washington if either one wins the office. Of course, they harp on the fact that they are knowledgeable, as they have been in the Senate so many years and know what is going on. They will be making all kinds of statements of what they will do for "you." I only think of what they have been doing for "us" these past many years. Such as taking $1.96 trillion from the Social Security Fund since 1968. From 1968 to 1999, ( a 12-year period), they took $830.8 billion From 2000 to 2006, they have taken $1.14 trillion. ...more

January 14, 2008

Have we lost perspective when we consider the issue of providing $75 per month to Highlands County military personnel on active duty in combat zones? From a moral prospective the idea has merit. When viewed from an ethical point of view it may point to greater problems relating to administration, bookkeeping and opportunity for fraud. ...more

January 4, 2008

After reading "Legacy Is For Later" in the Dec. 20 letter to the editor, I had to stop, fold my hands, bow my head, and thank God that he gave enough of our senators and representatives the wisdom and courage to stop most of the bad bills, (which were against what most Americans wanted,) that the Democrats tried to slip through during the past year. I shudder to think, if as the article requested, there were enough left-wing radicals to pass all of legislation they brought to the floor, they could have legally defeated the United States through a mass invasion without firing a single shot. 1. All illegal aliens would have been rewarded with amnesty and allowed to become citizens of the United States, with voting rights. And they could have brought all of their family into the country to do the same. No limits were set. ...more

December 29, 2007

The Senate on Tuesday night passed a spending bill combining funding for 14 Cabinet departments with $70 billion for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. ...more

December 19, 2007

"The Income Tax Relief Measure Comes at Expense of Debt" article in last Friday's paper, by Jim Abrams, clearly defines the policy and lack of principles of the Senate regarding tax cuts, spending increases and who pays the bills. Further, to have this White House praise the 100 senators' actions opposing the 435 representatives of the House's action, confirms our bankrupt policy. That this action could have closed loopholes to pay for the $50 billion peoples' programs only confirms that it is the working class wage tax that pays the national debt. The Senate and White House strenuously continue to protect the loopholes in the $200,000 range, which is the rule of thumb when big money is involved. It's a double win strategy for the Republicans in a losing year in that, like Sherman's scorched Earth policy, it leaves little in the treasury for the incoming "public servants," which may or may not be a blessing. ...more

December 11, 2007

The Bush administration agreed to delay enforcing a new rule that will let the government charge higher premiums on mortgages it insures for borrowers with poor credit. ...more

December 5, 2007

Many of you probably remember when Nafta began, back when George Bush Sr. was president. The whole picture was not presented, but it has become obvious that this has not benefited the American people. ...more

November 21, 2007