What are they thinking?

Dear editor,

On Nov. 7, 2009, the House of Representatives passed HR3962, the Health Care Bill. According to several reputable public opinion polls, mostly done by cable news outlets and one large newspaper corporation, McClatchy, the people of this country do not support the piece of legislation. These showed at the very minimum, the people that opposed this legislation had an 8 percentage point lead over those that approved this bill.

Congress isn’t working for the American people. I know this question is getting very old, but just who is it working for? This is easy to answer generally, but that is no longer good enough for me. I want names of those walking into offices that come from K Street lobbyists.

AARP, the single largest lobbying group in the United States, was a good thing when it first began. Much like many other groups that were formed to stand up and represent the people of the United States in Washington, D.C., AARP chose to endorse HR3962 without any formal survey among its paid membership base.

I have only one question for Congress. If it isn’t the American people that you’re working for, who is it you’re working for? Miss Granger has been notified by me, and I’m sure several dozen others, that we want names and the tactics they use. Is it bribery? Blackmail? Contempt?

I’m out of patience. This is not because I’m ready to give up, but I’m tired of what is going on in this country, and it might take two or three complete Congressional voting cycles to accomplish.

Will you join me in this lofty, yet sincere request? It doesn’t cost anything to voice our mind, but I want to preserve that right to voice our mind.

Micky Baker,

Weatherford



Recycling after hours

Dear editor,

Linda Bannister isn’t the only one who believes that Parker County needs more locations with convenient hours of drop-off to encourage recycling of plastic and aluminum.

It takes extra effort to keep all of those empty milk jugs and containers out of the landfill.

In East Parker County, Waste Management operates a citizen’s recycling center that is open weekdays until 8 p.m. for plastic, paper and aluminum at Interstate 30 and Linkcrest Drive. Waste Management, 3500 Linkcrest, Aledo, Texas 76008. Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kathy Chruscielski,

Parker County



Obama’s private army

Dear editor,

President Obama says he needs a large Civilian National Security Force. Who is the security force? Could it be made up of members of the Black Panthers, Farakhan’s private guards (militias) and primarily disadvantaged youths from the inner cities?

He wants to pay them with federal funds — our tax money. He stated they would be funded and equipped better that the military.

Tanks, planes, bombs, missiles?

Will this new army swear allegiance to the Constitution to protect the United States from all enemies, both foreign and domestic; or will they swear allegiance only to Obama?

Who is this security force going to fight; or what are they protecting us from? Maybe all those radicals who don’t agree with Obama’s administration (Czars and advisors) and his policies and edicts.

How are they going to do this? Do they plan to just break into homes and haul citizens off to reindoctrination camps? (By the way, there are a number of these fenced camps constructed, or under construction across our nation. The administration says these camps are for illegal immigrants.) Do you believe this?

I was under the impression that is why we have the National Guard located within various states. If we need to be protected from internal or external radicals and terrorists, we can quickly mobilize the Guard. They already are trained and equipped. This assumes they haven’t been called to active duty and sent overseas.

Tell President Obama, “No Way!”

Robert M. Lee,

Willow Park



Why opposing the health care bill

Dear editor,

I am opposing the health care bill of President Obama for several reasons.

First, I doubt it is within the constitution that the government forces me to sign for a public health care program and taking away my constitutional right to choose.

Second, because of my strong conviction that every man/woman should get the service they pay for, and not a minority of the people pay for the majorities right to have a non-paid extravagant service.

Third, I want to have the right to choose my doctor and don’t see the governments right to tell me what doctor I have to attend.

Finally, it is not financiable — and that is the main reason.

I grew up in Europe where they have public health care and the truth of the matter is, this service is only financiable with hidden taxes on all goods of living (food, gas etc.), which are wrongfully used to pay for the health care and social system, as well as so called “income-side-payments” provided by the employers. That means every employer has to pay 110 percent of the employees net income to the government for the very same health insurance, unemployment and social assistance, which increases the cost for daily living by 200 percent.

The public health care in and all over Europe is still bankrupt and requires raise in taxes every year. Therefore the entire public health care bill is a fake and fraudulent and not payable.

I strongly oppose this bill.

Tom Lehner,

Weatherford



Recycling in the county

Dear editor,

I just wanted to let you know how disgusted I am with Weatherford’s new recycling program.

I am an avid recycler and live outside the city limits where the “new” program is not offered. The only other receptacles are for paper only. So what about the plastic?

When I called the city to complain, they said I could contact the Precinct in which I live. When I called, they said they were open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The only problem is, I work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are occasionally open on a Saturday, so I guess let my plastics pile up in my garage until I can take them on a Saturday?

To me, this is a step back. And why would they only offer it to residents inside city limits? I have garbage pick up service.

Deleigh Philson,

Parker County



Veterans Day

Dear editor,

On the Saturday before Veterans Day we went to the parade in Weatherford honoring the veterans. We went before the parade and talked to the people waiting for the parade about Mike Brasovan, and we knocked hundreds of doors all afternoon letting people know about Mike Brasovan and his campaign to be our U.S. Representative for District 12.

We enjoyed the interaction with the people and encouraging people to take an active roll in our government, but the best parts of the day had nothing to do with campaigning. The best parts of the day was the morning at the parade where we meet a hero, a veteran from WWII, and listened to a couple of his stories he told us of swimming ashore with only his swim suit and a knife to engage the enemy.

I was encouraged to stand there with my son, Stephen, who is almost 9, and listen to the stories of soldiers who put their lives on the line for our freedom.

During the parade, tears welled up in my husband’s eyes and rolled down my checks as we watched the veterans salute the flags that they faithfully defended as the color guard marched by posting the colors. We were honored to stand there and observe as the veterans saw floats go by representing their branch of the military or the war that they fought in.

The emotion in their faces told many, many stories. Stories some are eager to share and others hold close to their hearts. Stories that tell of the courageous young men who have for centuries served our country, bought our freedom.

Thank you Weatherford for hosting the Veterans Day parade this year and for honoring those who have given so much and yet are too often forgotten.

Darrel and LeAnn Russell,

Weatherford



Donations needed

Dear editor,

There have been some who have asked recently if Manna Storehouse has a Food Bank and needs donations of food items. The answers to these questions is a resounding “Yes,” more than ever.

Manna has provided help with groceries to Parker County’s needy since 1985, and now provides groceries to an average of more than 350 families each month.

Every day people come to Manna saying, “This is the first time I’ve ever needed to ask for help,” and we want to be able to help them.

In addition to the regular grocery help, Manna provides to the community’s needy supplies for Thanksgiving dinner, the only outlet in Parker County to do this.

Manna teams with the Center of Hope — with Manna providing for Thanksgiving and the Center of Hope providing for Christmas. Manna’s and the Center of Hope’s partnership allows for more efficient holiday help for our mutual clients.

Food drives for Manna are needed and appreciated from businesses, schools and churches at any time. Many in Parker County need our help.

Ann Stevens, President

Manna Storehouse



Signs on roadways

Dear editor,

Here we go again. Another whining newcomer. Any person less than 30-plus years in this area is a newcomer in my book.

Start off with this area is NO longer the country. Tranquility left a VERY long time ago. It is a suburb. Along with that the problems came.

In my childhood days we didn’t have gated communities here. Fences were there to keep the livestock in, NOT people out. When was the last time you saw kids riding bicycles on FM 5?

During my day I did and parents didn’t worry. Why? Because it was safe. Very little traffic.

My personal comment to this person is, “Get a life!” This area now has lots more problems to be concerned with than signs along the roadway. Not everyone in this area has more money than what they know what to do with. For some, times are tough.

If this person would think back, signs didn’t really start showing up until times really got tough around here. People selling things they don’t need any more. Businesses trying to get business the cheapest way possible just to survive.

Now as for driving on the shoulder of the road, I agree with this person. It would be nice if this person would spend their time and energy on real problems of the area.

For example, getting some kind of warning system at the intersection of FM 5 and Bankhead to cut down on all the accidents so not as many people get hurt.

I haven’t seen a garage sale or for that matter any other type of sign cause an accident.

Howard Story,

Aledo