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Hernando Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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Hernando Today

Published: August 28, 2008

Updated: 08/28/2008 10:15 am

Landfill Impact

I want to know how Hernando County justifies why they stopped taking glass at the recycle centers. Do they have any idea of the impact at the landfills?

Stephen Smith

Brooksville

Queen Anna The Sour Puss

Last week's "Feedback" started by saying "Zydenbos, Adkins Endorsements Sour P&Z Chairwoman." It should have read "Sour Puss R&Z Chairwoman Did Not Like Choices."

This woman has no right to criticize any person running for office, especially the way she runs the planning and zoning board. After watching her run the meetings, so called engineers tell their fabricated side with little or no proof, she then allows public input. The public has three whole minutes (wow) to address their side, while being ridiculed and humiliated by Queen Anna. Then the so-called experts get to speak again and the public cannot.

So, after a tedious 10 to 15 minutes of hard work, she calls for a break. Then the experts and engineers all have a chit-chat with the queen and discuss matters over coffee or whatever. Talk about the good-old-boy system.

The biggest miscarriage of justice would be if Queen Anna gets reappointed to the P&Z board.

William Levesque

Brooksville

Would They Seek

Office Without Pay?

Re: Endorsements, Our Opinion, in the Aug. 20 edition of Hernando Today.

Hernando Today recommends three candidates for the board of county commissioners. Readers unable to think for themselves will appreciate the newspaper's kindness. All candidates should be asked whether they would seek the job if voluntary.

James A. Willan

Brooksville

Ph.D. Money Well Spent

A county commissioner should be proud of a county administrator seeking a Ph.D. in his/her field to improve Hernando County. Since it was negotiated in his contract to pursue a Ph.D. at $3,000 per year, he has a right to use the benefit. Four and a half years times $3,000 equals a cost to the county of $13,500.

Mr. Hamilton turned down a 5 percent raise he was scheduled to receive after six months on the job. His $135,000 salary times 5 percent equals $6,750 per year times four and a half equals $30,375. Simple math shows a savings to the county taxpayers on his salary minus the education allowance of $16,875 over the next four and a half years of his contract. This figure does not include any future raises, for which I feel positive the commissioners will approve over the next four years.

Mr. Hamilton is the most knowledgeable, responsive, professional employee I have dealt with in the 10 years I have owned property here.

Maybe our commissioners and other well-paid department heads should decline 5 percent of their salaries over the next four and a half years, and I mean declining it instead of taking it and donating it to their favorite charity. Donations get them a tax write-off and still cost the taxpayers the raise money.

Commissioners, please appreciate the caliber of the professional you hired and let him help Hernando County.

Commissioner Rose Rocco, please do some simple math before you speak out. Are you jealous elected official aren't reimbursed for their continuing education? Even though Commissioner Chris Kingsley paid his tuition back, I'm sure he resented it.

Tom Barton

Brooksville

Social Security: Don't

Worry, Be Happy

Mr. Dunlap, I must point out your misrepresentation of what I wrote regarding the 1980 Social Security tax rate. Here's an excerpt ("Earth to Mr. Dunlap" in the Aug. 21 edition of Hernando Today) of exactly what I wrote. "A 1980 retiree contributed an average (operative word) of 5.15 percent of their gross annual wages to the Social Security trust fund;" therefore enjoyed a 7.25 percent advantage over today's workers who pay 12.4 percent. Regarding where the 12.4 percent comes from; it comes as a result of wages earned, and the fact that average working Americans only see a tax deduction of 6.2 percent from their paychecks while actual contributions are 12.4 percent only serves to demonstrate one more deceptive component of the entire Social Security structure.

Another deception gives birth to the false argument you put forth comparing an individual purchase of a U.S. savings bond to the government creating IOUs with taxpayer monies. U.S. savings bonds are marketable instruments having real intrinsic value; the $2.3 trillion in Social Security IOUs are not marketable instruments. However, if you're willing to accept IOUs in place of your Social Security check, I would support doubling the amount you receive.

Personally, I thank one teacher, two Wal-Mart associates, two McDonald's hamburger flippers, and one plumber every time I receive a Social Security check. My monthly Social Security check is their obligation until the day I die. Mr. Dunlap, I can't speak for you, but I can speak for me. I haven't been a good steward of my government, and acknowledging the fact that a portion of my Social Security tax contributions were used to create the $2.3 trillion of IOUs on my children and grandchildren is the first step for me on the road to rehab.

Don't you see, if we are only going to create IOUs with surplus Social Security tax contributions, what's the point of overpaying in the first place? Wouldn't you agree that this deceitful practice diverts billions of dollars from millions of average working American's, whose savings rates are the lowest ever?

The IOUSA documentary made its debut last week. David Walker, former head of the Governments Accountability Office (nation's financial auditor) documents the perilous state of our nation's financial affairs. Current debt stands at $9.6 trillion and unfunded future liabilities (Social Security/Medicare) exceed $55 trillion. Warren Buffet, the world's richest person, revealed in the forum following the film that taxes take a smaller percent of his income than his cleaning lady, and he pays no Social Security or Medicare taxes. He said he has never had it so good. That's a consequence of this devious taxing system that Mr. Dunlap seems to be supporting.

As a current retiree, I've had my day in the sun. Over my working lifetime the stock market went from 300 to over 14,000, average home prices went from $18,000 to $295,000. I've come to the conclusion, it's not about me. It's about future generations, the teacher, the plumber, the Wal-Mart associate, and the hamburger flipper who are obligated to pay the debt due to our collective lack of stewardship; a vigil of silence if you will.

Mr. Dunlap, we're talking about real money and real people, and I for one reject the "fairy tale - don't worry, be happy" scenarios painted by those like yourself who are unwilling to accept Social Security for what it has become; a weapon of monetary destruction (WMD).

To learn about a 35-year intergenerational solution to Social Security, contact Jim at jg@americaretoday.com.

James Gries

Weeki Wachee

Editor's note: And to that end, we end the Mr. Gries/Mr. Dunlap debate in Hernando Today.

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