Saturday letters to the editor

Posted: December 26, 2008 - 11:30pm  |  Updated: December 27, 2008 - 8:02am

New sewage treatment plant in Port Wentworth would hike bills

After six years of controversy and the expiration of one draft permit to discharge treated sewage into the Savannah River, Pt. Wentworth has obtained yet another draft permit from the state Environmental Protection Division. The city has blown over $2 million of taxpayer funds for this project and has yet to turn one shovel of dirt.

The projected cost of building this treatment plant exceeds $20 million with an annual operating cost of close to $1 million. At a recent council workshop it was disclosed that the operating costs will be paid by the citizens of Pt. Wentworth to a tune of about $50 a month added to their water-sewer bills.

In essence, our water-sewer bills would double, on average.

During this time of economic crises and a deep recession, now is not the time to indebt the citizens of Pt. Wentworth. Elderly citizens on fixed incomes will be faced with a tremendous financial burden placed on them by the mayor and four members of council. With an annual water-sewer bill of about $1,200 per elderly citizen it would be like taking about one Social Security check a year from each of them. How many of our elderly will go without food or medication to pay for this project?

Young families faced with rising costs of living due to the recession also can't afford this drastic increase in their bills. A $1,200 anticipated annual water-sewer bill equals a house payment to some in the newly developed areas. What will these young families and their children have to do without in order to pay for this?

The problem is that the mayor and four council members want this plant built no matter how much it costs the citizens. Yet, they do not want to ask the people who are going to be forced to pay for the $1 million annual operating costs for their input or approval. These five people will make the decision to force the citizens to pay about $1,200 a year to the city without their approval. Once the plant is built, those excessive bills will be permanent.

In fairness to the people who are going to be forced to go without to pay for this project, the mayor should hold town meetings and ask the citizens how they feel and if they want the plant built. If the citizens tell him no, the project should be halted immediately

JODI L. HAWKS, Port Wentworth

Big Three bailout a socialist scheme

What, more tax-payer funded debt for another bail out? This time it's for overpaid United Auto Workers members, over-paid corporate managers that sign stupid contracts and for the over-reaching Democrat Party that told the Big 3 what kind of cars to make. Why follow a trilogy of mistakes with yet another incredible mistake?

We already have a Commissar of Credit "overseeing" the lending industry. Now they want a Commissar of Cars!

Whatever happened to the American capitalist economic system that produced the wealthiest country on the planet? Where is that system based on economic reality: The stupid, the greedy and the dishonest inevitably pay the price for their mistakes?

They are culled out, lessons learned and other risk takers take up the market and improve it. It is an honorable system based on risk-reward, honest work for honest profit and free market forces that always move the long-term economic curve up and thereby improve the wealth of all the people.

It's where free people build wealth as the honorable reward for hard work, not a sin to be taxed away. It is reality-based, incentive-based, not some socialist power scheme of the day.

BOB GLOVER, Savannah

Big spending on pooch preposterous

While I never aspire to being a killjoy, I cannot help but be one in order to reply to the article "Doghouse is a pooch paradise."

With all of the economic suffering that friends, family, and others are experiencing, I am wondering if this ridiculous article was meant to bring cheer to the masses.

For me, it was just another reminder of the lack of common sense prevalent in this country today. Why on earth would someone lavish so much money to clothe, decorate and house a couple of dogs, and why on earth would it be considered newsworthy?

To me, it is just sinful. Kind of like the movie stars who spend millions on their weddings that might just last as long as it takes for their upcoming movies to be released on DVD. I believe the dog owner's money would have been much better spent by donating to an animal shelter if she loves dogs so much.

Furthermore, your editor does a real disservice to the Empty Stocking Fund by placing such an absurd article full of shameful extravagance next to its advertisement.

I know it is the dog owner's money to do with as she wills, but give me a break. Dogs are dogs, and mine is perfectly fine, sleeping at the foot of a shared bed and being walked with a $5 leash.

MELISSA SMITH,Bloomingdale

Beach High freshman a good example

I am writing about Beach High School freshman Michael Henderson, who was showcased in the article, "Yes, Beach High can."

What an exemplary young man. If only more students would follow his example.

I know that his trip to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama will create a lasting memory for him and the other students.

Beach High need look no further than students such as Michael for hope. My hope is that Michael will be successful in reaching his goal of one day becoming president of the United States. He is definitely on the right path.

Kudos to Michael, and "yes Beach High can."


Presidential pardons send wrong message

It is one thing for President Bush to pardon a Thanksgiving turkey, but to pardon so many who have caused us harm would no doubt show the world and countless millions within our own country that this administration cares nothing about decency and justice.


Comments (2) Add comment
Door 12/28/08 - 12:54 am

Before you let your hatred get the better of you, it would be the intelligent thing to do and Google.
You might be surprised at who has pardoned a lot of real criminals.
Do de name Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton strike a familiar note?

Carter – 534 pardons, 29 commuted, 4 years in office, woo wee, that's a whole lot of criminals.
Clinton – 396 pardons, 61 commuted, 8 years in office, not as many as Jimmah but a boat load of criminals none the less.
Bush II – 171 pardons, 8 commuted, 8 years in office, looks to me like Prez Bush is a piker.

ducks4me2 12/28/08 - 07:41 pm
yes beach high can

One student does not change a school rife with thugs and drugs. One bi-racial man elected president does not cure the world's ills. Until the other parents, students and community leaders start focusing on the true problems instead of blaming everyone else, nothing will change and Beach High will remain the chaotic mess it has been for years.

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