Speakout: Feb. 8, 2010

Offenders
I was curious, so I went online and looked up local sexual offenders. I'm in shock! It shows a map of the area with little colored houses representing where these people live. It looks like the measles! It also shows little clear houses with an X that represents the schools. They are loaded. Take a look for yourself. It also shows their pictures and lists their convictions. Scary!

Haitians
Perhaps someone can help me understand the logic here. DHS Secretary Napolitano has granted Temporary Protected Status to as many as 200,000 Haitians who are in our country illegally. Am I the only person who can see this travesty? Instead of asking for American volunteers, why don't we give passage to the Haitians that are here illegally and let them rebuild their own country? I am sure that Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez will be happy to assist them as well.

Prices
I read Speakout this morning regarding the Champlain Price Chopper. I have shopped there since day 1, and I have seen a rack with reduced baked goods. I have seen flowers marked down and plants marked down in shopping carts when you first walk in. They did have their outside stuff marked down. $9 is cheap for wreaths anyway. Keep up the good work, Champlain Price Chopper!

Applicants
An area school recently advertised requesting applicants for a social studies teacher. My son applied and spent money to get his transcript, and to mail it in. More than 20 applicants applied. None were called for an interview or received letters of acknowledgment or a thank-you for applying. The school then hired within. Why advertise if you already have someone picked for the job? My son can't afford to spend money for nothing. I am sure that my son and other applicants also had better qualifications. His two part-time jobs can't pay college loans, neither can I.

Raise
Since Social Security didn't give a cost-of-living raise, how many other organizations followed suit? There are many people working for a small pay and could use a raise in their pay. I bet the company that did not give the raise is doing just fine.

Rehire
In response to the Pfizer comment. I am sure there are frustrated employees and ex-employees however; I need to have faith that decisions are being made with the best intentions for site and community survival. Economic changes are occurring all over the world, and many employees are sent to find new jobs. Revitalization of the RP plant will take time, the site will appear to have great overhead during that time, as that is where the work will be. Rebuild will be slow — but it is very possible that we can rehire in the future.

Bust
Thank you to all the law enforcement agencies involved in the recent marijuana-ring bust. I am sure there are far more law-abiding citizens who truly appreciate your efforts than those who complain about them.

Trapping
Anti-trapping sentiment is "culturally derived;" compassion is a human quality that separates some of us from animals. With regard to the self-serving assertion that trapping is more humane than letting a creature be left to its own devices to combat the forces of nature, how does being caught in a leg trap prevent an animal from starving to death, being ripped apart by a predator, or drowning in a creek before the "great white hunter" arrives to claim its pelt for profit? If surveyed, I think most forest creatures would prefer to take their chances with Mother Nature!

Identity
To the person who wrote about the Social Security office and obtaining a new card. Would you like someone to go in, impersonate you and steal your son's Social Security number? They are only protecting you, your son and your identity. A Social Security number in today's world is your identity. As for the two men who sit and watch, they are paid to keep the other patrons and employees safe. Not everyone who goes there is friendly or respectful of the employees. I think Social Services should have someone like that to keep their clientele under control.

Canadians
This is to the person on Speakout about the new airport. Yes it was built for the Canadians. Are you just realizing this? The county taxpayers are responsible financially for it. Let your county legislators know how you feel. Right now, they only listen to the chamber about how the airport should be run. The Canadians have free run, and the county is left holding the bag. They get free parking so they can spend all their money in Florida. We benefit how? Come on, people, speak up to your legislators before we're solely dependant on the Canadians.

Smoke
I think it is time that we find a way to protect children from secondhand smoke. Adults make the choice to inhale toxins, but children are forced to breathe them in cars and their homes when the adults who love them light up. Exposure to secondhand smoke has been proven to be more dangerous than cigarette smoking. I know you love your children — smoke your cigarettes far away from them, if you must. I would favor a law to protect children from secondhand smoke.

Obsequious
I am disheartened that our president, when dealing with constituents, swaggers to the podium with contemporary aplomb; yet when he visits foreign royalty, he bows below their waists as if he (we) is (are) their supplicant(s). Which is it? Exceptional confidence or extreme obsequiousness? The American people should ask themselves this before they vote. Are we the leaders of the free world or not?

Flag
Personally, I would not be referred to as a "flag waver," but I do respect Old Glory. But I do ask the firm in Plattsburgh to consider the following rule for use of the United States Flag, from Public Law 94-344. "The Flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever." Please reconsider how you use our flag in your street corner. Thank you.

Rebates
To the person who "pitched a fit" about the binders ... let me guess, you yelled at an employee who has no control over it. I dislike rebates too, so I don't buy items with them. This all could have been avoided if you had just read the shelf label. All too often, people only read what they want to see. Oh, and it must be terrible to have such problems in your life.

Democrats
Democrats, in general, are soft on communism. Some of them, in fact, are so soft, they are practically crypto-communists. You decide which ones are which in November.

Caring
People that don't work are quick to complain about COs. Well guess what — the COs decided this year not to get new lunch bags and hats, but rather take the money the union would have spent on that and purchase 75 bikes for the Christmas Bureau. Yup, COs, they're selfish, all right. They are some of the most caring people you would ever want to meet. Your children might not have had a Christmas if it wasn't for them.

Etiquette
Time for some wedding etiquette. When sending out invitations, the names of the people you wish to invite need to be stated. If you are inviting children, you need to state their names on the inside envelope with "and guest" if they are adults, or print "& family" on the outside envelope. Recipients should not assume that everyone in their household is invited. Please return the RSVP since money has been spent on that stamp! A number of guests that will attend must be turned in. Also, please remember what you ordered for food. The kitchen can run out!

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