LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

What Will Mr. And

Mrs. Candidate Do?

Many know about town hall meetings where the questions are polite but no definitive answers are received. So let me ask these persons who profess they can make change, and some who claim they already are, just what they would do with these issues?

1.) Foreclosures: Take a drive down any street in Hernando County and you see for sale and rent signs. Staggering to say the least. However, what you do not see is your neighbor slipping, the vacated rental property with no sign on the lawn and the extent of this destruction of the average family in this community. We know that those in office will say they passed foreclosure legislation, but what they never tell you is the "rest of the story" as Paul Harvey says. That the majority of that bill takes care of people who can "afford" to buy and are "credit worthy," not those in need.

Yet they have billions for private investors, yes billions. Don't they have a crumb for these families? Of course, they will tell you the bill provides for that and, yes, some families do get help who have not as yet slipped over the edge, but many in need are no longer credit worthy. Just ask the banks. These families in need? Go to any local school and see the impact. Go to the sheriff who is busy serving papers and putting people out. All will say, "Hey, I'm just doing my job." Well, during the French Revolution, they had a saying "Let them eat cake." This time around it is "There are plenty of cardboard boxes for all."

2.) Buyers: There are plenty with money ready to make money off of someone else's hardships and blood, and many right here in this area. "Hey, if I don't who will?" The same bunch that started this mess is at it again, and each will make more money. Nothing like making money off of those in need; it is the perfect opportunity. And guess who is buying? In many cases, foreign investors and Green Card holders who have the good jobs and American cash. Also those in government positions who earn good salaries and, of course, the retired, who have the cash. Young, first-time buyers, are you for real? Find one around here who is making more than $50,000 a year combined income and is credit worthy and any single person making $20,000 who is not in health care or government work, please. Only those who have need apply. Well, let me ask if your child isn't going into one of these homes, just who do you think has enough money and credit to rent one? If so many have, why so many empty? In my opinion, not many in Hernando.

3.) Now about insurance for homeowners and their automobiles that is literally driving many into doing without only to be charged excessive fees for dropping their policies. As for auto insurance and, even though the state only requires no fault to drive, the Florida Department of Transportation requires comprehensive coverage. This pushes many over the edge. Two agencies regulating one aspect, and they talk about waste and confusion and redundancy.

4.) Credit cards: Loan sharks were kinder and yet not one official of either party addresses it as immoral. Not one condemns it, not even at church and no one does anything about it but talk and talk and talk. In my opinion, it is a major moral blight on this nation. Profit yes, but what is exorbitant and immoral? They dance around it every time. "We are introducing, we are working on it," but the fruit of it all never seems to come about. Why? This is a major issue pushing people and families over the edge each day. Get this, they were making the payment and on time until they raised it to 24.9 percent or 34.9 percent. That and fuel prices pushed them to where they are.

5.) Taxes: Our friendly local banker freezes your homeowner's equity line when you need it most, even when you are paying on time. Why, because they will tell you "your home isn't worth much now." Yet your insurance company is allowed to charge you replacement costs much higher than the real value of your home as defined by the banks. You can also bet that your tax rate just might not change at all. Next year is going to be even worse, and there is no way to cut the loaf, my friends.

6.) Jobs: Someone said look at all the commercial building going up around here. How many local companies get to build them? Who is on the job site? And it all indicates this is a rich community. However, you wouldn't know it by the shoppers, would you? Stores giving 75 percent off and another 10 percent on top. Does that speak to excessive profits? As one candidate stated, they are gone and they are not coming back, and he couldn't have said it any clearer. No job, no pay, no buy, no credit, not worthy!

Many of those in office will say these are just scare tactics, defeatist, stirring the pot, negative. That's why they are politicians. Look at the signs they will say, gas prices falling, home sales increasing, economy still strong. Are they for real, and are you believing that? OK, I'll sum it up in one word: Election. I say look at reality. That is if people can do that any longer. Like our president said, to paraphrase him, America has no problems. His America and the America of those like him, the haves, and they will speak out and say "love it or leave it." Speaks a lot to their ability to understand reality.

So Mr. and Mrs. Candidate, why should I and others vote for you and what will you do, by fact, not just rhetoric, to change all this and/or perhaps continue all this. Just why should we vote for you?

Robert Melaccio Sr.

Spring Hill