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Hernando Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 17, 2008

County Government Offers

No Sympathy, Common Sense
Re: Hernando County budget.

I think the county better rethink who the taxpayers are who are going to pay all of those county wants, such as the judicial monument of about $45 million.

Honestly, the taxpayers who can afford to pay the taxes are only the county government employees.

So I think the budget director should figure how he, the commissioners, county administrator, the sheriff, the fire chief, county clerk, county assessor are going to personally foot the bill of their uncontrolled, undisciplined spending.

If they cannot personally afford it, why should the other residents who are unemployed, on Social Security, on food stamps, disabled individuals stay here to support their insatiable behavior?

I love it when the government employees compare their salaries to what other counties are paying. It is like the sympathy play acting of deprived children.

The employees want the taxpayers, or rather themselves as the only taxpayers, to give them those higher wages. They always threaten us with the refrain that we could lose employees to other counties.

Let them leave and let them make the commute to those higher paying jobs. They should get paid what they can afford to pay themselves from their own taxes, not ours.

I am sorry to feel heartless here, but I do see not any sympathy or common sense offered by the county or its employees.

Fred Peters

Brooksville
Something Stinks
This is my understanding, or take, on the article written about the finance director of the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, Emily Vernon.

Her truck was driving itself down the road, swerving, causing cars to leave the road to avoid being hit. It crashed into a sign.

The truck must have consumed some of the alcohol found in it. This would explain its erratic behavior.

A "witness" got control of the keys. I assume this was so the truck could not start driving again, causing more mayhem. Shame on the "witness." In doing so, he or she probably committed some kind of felony.

I was impressed by the judgment and logic of Officer Mulverhill and her boss, St. Lillibridge. Reminded me of our five "esteemed" county commissioners.

No further investigation of this matter is needed. It would be a waste of taxpayers' money, and God knows we are all broke.

Hernando Today erred here also. Placement of the article should have been in the comics section instead of the front page.

Does anyone else smell a rat here?

Fred Blackburn

Spring Lake

Wishful Thinking

Re: Domenick Maglio's column, "Condemn And Remove Congressman Murtha," in the July 11 edition of Hernando Today.

I'd be remiss in not commending you, and agreeing with your column's every word of wishful thinking, suggesting that Congressman Murtha be removed from office. That'll never happen! I'm somewhat amazed that you didn't mention his military background as his "Murtha on Haditha," Iraq, ruined the careers of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani and numerous Marine Corps comrades from Murtha's accusation that they "shot 24 Iraqis in cold blood." As you advised, after three years of investigation, charges against Chessani and his troops were dismissed.

As you didn't remind us, maybe so as not to further embarrass Marines, Murtha is a retired colonel from the USMC Reserves. Wikipedia says he was an Eagle Scout, enlisted in the Corps, rose to Drill Sergeant at Parris Island, went to Officer Candidate School, served as an officer in Vietnam 1966-67, earning the Bronze Star Medal (for valor) and the Purple Heart twice for combat wounds.

Soon after, he was discharged from active duty and continued in the reserves until retiring in 1990 as a colonel, with the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Of course, since 1974, he's been a Pennsylvania Democratic congressman, among the leading liberals and "Top Porker of the year in 2007," says Citizens Against Waste, the Congress watchdog network. Getting Congress to spend big bucks in legislation add-ons for his Pennsylvania district is why he's stayed there 34 years. Displeasing most veterans and members of the Armed Forces, he now leads the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.

The next day, July 12, columnists Colonel Don Myers and John Nash wrote about the "good old days," and Dr. Maglio always pleads to parents to get involved in their kids' education. Don't think it's going to get better in our lifetime, Maglio, Myers and Nash - certainly not if we support the likes of Colonel Mufta!

Michael Cockill

Brooksville

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