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OpinionFebruary 10, 2008

Contributing to society; Better jobs are key; Phones off limits; Begging for troopers; Isn't it broken?; Shoveling snow; Glad to pay; Expensive test; Double standard; Chaffee speed trap; Thanks for help

Contributing to society

MY MOTHER-in-law gets by on Social Security. It's kind of no fault of her own that her husband died at an early age. She did a beautiful job of raising children who contribute to society and don't get into any trouble with the law. They work and pay their taxes and contribute to the community.

Better jobs are key

IT GETS so disgusting listening to politicians talking about making sure low-income people get more money. Where's that money going to come from? From taxpayers. What's going to happen then? Everything everybody buys goes up in price. The people the politicians are trying to help will be hurt, because the higher prices will take away the extra money. This is a no-win proposition. The message politicians ought to be preaching is people from low-income families should prepare themselves for better jobs.

Phones off limits

I AM elderly, and it is hard for me to answer the phone for fear of falling. Is there any way to stop all these political calls? I don't see how they help. If they use the phones for their political gain, I will not vote for them. I believe our home phones should be off limits to politicians and left for private use.

Begging for troopers

I AM calling to discuss the solicitations I get on my telephone from the Missouri State Troopers Association. This has continued for several months. In the past week, I've received three telephone calls asking for donations from the Missouri State Troopers Association. I'm trying to get to the bottom of this. I want them to stop calling me. I've asked them to stop, and I've called the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which is not associated with this organization -- but it sure sounds like it.

Isn't it broken?

SENATORS AND representatives who are campaigning should have to give up their pay until they go back to their legislative jobs. They are taking advantage of a system that they keep telling us is broken.

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Shoveling snow

I WOULD like to thank whoever shoveled snow and ice off my driveway on Masters Drive. It was very considerate of you. Thank you.

Glad to pay

IT SEEMS that at least once or twice a week I read in Speak Out about someone complaining about the people who draw Social Security and how it costs them so much out of their pocket. Don't these people understand that the money paid into Social Security is invested and reinvested? I'll never be able to draw Social Security, but I've paid into it for at least 35 years. Counting the interest, dividends and so forth, I'll never live long enough to draw it all out. If people aren't smart enough to figure this out, I wonder how they would be able to control their own retirement investment plan. Social Security was never meant to provide people for all their needs after retirement. I'm sick and tired of the people complaining. We're happy to pay into Social Security for the benefit of other people that need it.

Expensive test

I WAS concerned what I read in the paper about the chip-and-seal the county's wanting to put down at an average cost of $30,000 a mile to see if it's going to work. The paper said the county is planning approximately 11 3/4 miles for chip and seal bids. At $30,000 a mile, that's almost $350,000 just to see if it's going to work. Isn't that quite a bit of taxpayers' money thrown away?

Double standard

IF PASTORS are prohibited from speaking about politics from the pulpit or encouraging people how to vote on an issue or who to vote for in an election, how can some of our presidential candidates go to churches on Sunday in order to campaign and ask the congregations for their votes? Should these churches lose their tax-exempt status? There seems to be a double standard.

Chaffee speed trap

THE FIRST thing Chaffee should do is revise it's speed limits. Police have always written tickets because someone is going over the 20-mph speed limit. It has always been a speed trap.

Thanks for help

I'D LIKE to thank all the people who stopped to help me on Route W when my car went in a ditch. Thank you.

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