LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Half A Loaf

Housing slump?

If you bought a new house in the 1950s, the mortgage was for 30 years. The house cost $9,000 to $18,000 in Levittown, Pa. Today, houses go for around $200,000. A 30-year mortgage, 58 years later?

Sixty-year mortgages, I think, would help the so-called slump. Half a loaf is better than none.

Frank Barney

Spring Hill

Cut Waste, Not Services

It's a shame our county commissioners decided to cut library hours. Saturday was a day that students and workers could use the library.

Yes, Hernando residents read and use the library for video material, reference information, computers; and here are statistics on how many are affected:

Total circulation: 609,278.

Daily average: 2,696.

Patron counts: 512,232.

Total reference: 279,029.

Total card holders: 82,872.

Main, West, East, Spring Hill, Istachatta and Rock Cannery.

It's a shame; but it's easier to make a point by cutting services instead of streamlining departments or investigating misuse, as our new administrator is doing.

I hope the 82,872 all vote in the next election.

Arthur R. Croci

Past president and member

Hernando County

Library Advisory Committee

Spring Hill

More Facts Less Inference

I read with interest, though some reserve, the articles recently by Frances Earl, Ted Rall and Garret Hood. There seems to be a lot of fear in the air. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to sort out much in the way of honest, easy-to-grasp facts.

Frances' insinuation that McCain picked a VP strictly for candy is crass at best; I do, however, understand that Frances is in politics. The fact that Sarah Palin's mother-in-law may or may not be voting for her has nothing to do with it. Very few of us know her mother-in-law and have no way to gauge any relevance with regard to her choice. I have children I wouldn't vote for; they're good people, just not what I'm looking for in a leader. Frances had plenty of suggestions and purports to know what Palin does or does not support, but I didn't see anything to back up her allegations.

Ted's article rightly suggested that no one in this race has any real experience. That being said, experience in even a small position of control is more experience than none. His suggestion that Barack Obama has historical and legal learning is theoretical at best. Simply having gone to school and classes does not ensure learning.

His suggestion that the president needs legal knowledge does not impress me. The legal profession has morphed into a "National League of Semantics." Justice has become a sidebar. I would prefer to see fewer lawyers and more justice.

That being said, we are still back to the subject of experience. The inference that Palin would be taking over shortly due to a national average is cute, but disingenuous. Regardless of who wins, there will be little if any experience in the Oval Office. If McCain wins, there will be precious little more in the White House, but it will be more.

As for Garrett's article, I simply want to say "Shame on you!" The implication that our veterans would lie about being tortured is inexcusable. I don't know if McCain can run this country the way I want him to, but I do know that you can never speak for me.

In the future, I would like to see some references that I can refer to. Sloppy inference by those looking to impress me leads to my indifference about their opinion. I would much rather listen to some knowledge that you may have, thereby allowing me to come to a final decision. That takes time to look up; time I don't always have. A good journalist would allow me the chance to prove or disprove their acclamations.

Clyde Hady

Brooksville