Blame management for insurance costs
In the mid 1970s, I was on the union pay raise committee for the Huntington Professional Fire Fighters. It was a good committee from different ranks of the service, and we went for a two-year contract. We were hoping after hours of dealing with City Manager Barry Evans and Finance Director Garry Black we would get 7 1/2 percent the first year and 7 percent the second year. We got very little, unlike Charleston and other cities and Huntington Industrial employees, but we did get a $35 boost when the city agreed to pay our Blue Cross/Blue shield Insurance policy each month.
No one really thought this was a deal until here of late, and since we got this instead of money, that put us way behind other employees at that time, even in the profession.
People are claiming our city heroes should ease up on the city. If it was money or even health insurance at your place of employment, would you ease up and take a cut in pay or benefits? The first two mayors since the middle 1980s chose not to pay premiums into the police and fire pension fund, and that's what put the city behind the eight ball.
Don't blame our police and fire people because they are fighting to keep their pay and benefits. Blame it on lack of management.
C.J. "Jack" Rickman
Huntington
Study history; all races have suffered
I am writing in answer to a letter about the history wasn't right and how other races have suffered. I have seen the suffering they endured. Has the letter writer really done his homework?
You need to do your study on them, and then I hope you understand just how lucky you and Barack Obama and all of the races are. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright gave us all a good message on what Sen. Obama and his family really believe. You don't stay in a church for 20 years and not agree with the messages the reverend preached. I am a Christian and study the Bible, and I have never heard any messages such as that. God loves us all, not just some of the people.
So please remember the people in West Virginia, Kentucky and in this part of the USA vote and are good, honest people. Sen. Hillary Clinton knows and has the experience to lead our country -- the poor and rich -- as did President Bill Clinton while he was in office, and they don't check to see what color race you are.
So just remember that and that we all vote, and I hope this will help you understand how all have suffered at some time of their lives.
Just remember, America today is made the nation it is by many races from many countries.
I hope you will do more research on our history, especially the American Indians.
Helen Perdue
Proctorville, Ohio
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