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OPINIONS
Voice of the people
Poor students are picking up the tab
Why is it many people who have plenty of money and living comfortably want more when so many of their fellow citizens are without jobs and even lost their homes in this time of hardship?
Two of our leading citizens received sizable raises, the one an educator and the other a politician whose raise was even before he took office. Guess who?
If these raises were not refused, they should have been.
Once again, the poor student at Marshall University has picked up the standard and bore the increase in tuition.
John S. Meadows
Huntington
Seniors' lives depend on Social Security
So we have been told there may not be a cost-of-living increase in Social Security for two years. What a shame. Seniors can barely make it now, and some don't.
We have worked for the money in Social Security all our life. Now instead of helping, they are taking it away. Cost-of-living has gone up in everything: food, medicine, housing, utilities, you name it. Those big bugs in Washington don't have to worry; they have it made.
Seniors have gotten Social Security raises in the past, but then they turn around and take it back by raising Medicare. What help is that? None at all.
We need to live, and why should we support those Congressmen who don't help anyone but themselves? They know who they are.
I'd be ashamed to take a raise knowing that there are people who sincerely need the help. The stimulus check was OK, but how far did it go for the seniors -- one trip to the doctor, one prescription maybe?
I hope that when our representatives read this, they will stand up for us as we need it now, not two years from now. We could be dead at that time from lack of cost-of-living raises to keep us going. Just remember, it is better to give than receive. We're still trying to figure out what we will do without a raise for two years.
C.H. Martin
Proctorville
Sen. Byrd deserves all the recognition
Some people have been critical of Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia and the projects for which he has appropriated money and the fact his name is inscribed on his projects. The so-called pork has been very benevolent to West Virginia, such as the $14.4 million acquired for building the Marshall University labs.
Why would someone want to slap a gift horse on the face and deny him recognition?
In view of the fact West Virginia is 49th and 50th in all categories, compared with the other states, West Virginia deserves all of the financial funds it can acquire. The fat cats in Washington are grabbing all of the money for their states, like the bridge to nowhere.
After the good senator is gone, all these moneys will dry up for West Virginia. Thank you, Senator, for all you have accomplished for West Virginia.
Jack Wetherall
Huntington
