AP
ASHLAND —
Huge rate hike can be repealed
First of all, I express my deepest regret to the people of Carter County for all the tragic floods they have had this year. It is almost unbelievable to think of the damage casused by by these terrible floods. I am sure that as in the past Carter Countians will come out of this stronger and more victorious than ever.
The major concern of mine is American Electric Power, a.ka. Kentucky Power Co. I have property in the Grahn area of Carter County. It is unacceptable that the Public Service Commission can vote to increase our electric rates by 12.5 percent when the economy is so bad and unemployment is at an all-time high.
I called the Public Service Commission, and whenc I asked the woman who alled me back if she thought the 37.5 percent increase that originally was requested was justifiable, she would not give me an answer. I asked her who approved of the 12.5 percent increase, she said the Community Action Agency, WalMart and Sam’s Club, to name just a few.
I urge Carter County residents to voice their complaints to Gov. Steve Beshear’s offIce at (502) 564-2611 and to Public Service commissioners David Armstrong, Charlie Borders and James W. Garner. They can be reached at (502) 564-3940 or toll free at (800) 772-4636.
I also think it is appropriate for all the politicians running for office this November to take a stand and to help revoke this outrageous rate increase. This increse can be repealed if we let our voices be heard. If no one complains, nothing will be done.
Karen Stewart, Englewood, Oho.
For more of same,vote Democratic
In February 2010, Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised the American people that approximately 400,000 jobs would be created because of the passage of the health care bill. Speaker Pelosi said, “It’s about jobs. In its life, it (the health bill) will create 4 million jobs — 400,000 jobs almost immediately.”
Oh really? I don't see any evidence of that. In fact, the opposite is occurring. Last month, King's Daughters Hospital let go of approximately 80 employees with another 50 going from full-time to part-time hours. Now, the AP reports that Thomas Memorial Hospital in Charleston, W.Va., is reducing employees’ work hours, slashing administrators’ salaries, curbing overtime and eliminating merit pay increases. Their spokesman said that a decrease in patient numbers and Medicare reimbursements, plus a significant increase in charity care, were the reasons for the cost-cutting measures.
The lesson of all this? If your goal is to reduce the availability of health care, plus you want more workers to be unemployed and you regard your grandchildren so little that you would allow them to be saddled with a federal deficit of $14 trillion, then there's only one choice for you this November: Vote Democratic!
Hugh Davis, Worthington
Writer’s words inspired him
I didn’t agree with James J. Kilpatrick on some of his ultra-conservative views, but I was so inspired by his defense of capitalism in the July 1975 issue of Nation’s Business that I wrote a letter to my son who was attending college. I re-read it this week and was amazed at how accurate it is today. It began, "I have found that the words 'businessman' and 'capitalist' are held in low esteem today by many young people.”
As scores of American students head back to college, they'll soon be debating the value of capitalism with professors. Negligent corporate giants like BP and Goldman Sachs have in fact caused incredible harm to the nation, but the economic recovery still depends on the jobs that successful businesses — especially small businesses — create. We can’t take them for granted.
In 1975 I wrote: “Businessmen who go out and either run or build a business are really making an investment that benefits many people — and they’re going to great risk and expense to do it … The businessman who works hard to run his business successfully is investing in many cases all of his money, time and energy. And he is by no means guaranteed success. Eighty percent of all new businesses fail within the first five years. If a businessman is able to overcome these odds, it usually takes him many, many years before he accumulates any wealth for himself. These businessmen, from the corner hardware store and bakery, to larger manufacturing plants, are the people who create to a large degree the standard of living we all enjoy in this country.”
As we enter an era where entrepreneurs face capital gains tax increases, other tax increases and horrible credit markets, I hope businesspeople today are writing their sons and daughters like I did in 1975.
David Mahmood, chairman, Allegiance Capital Corp.
Schools’ reunion will be Sept. 5
The fifth annual reunion for the Lowmansville and Meades Branch Schools will be Saturday, Sept. 4, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, which is in the former Meades Branch School building. Activities will begin at noon.
Hot dogs will be served. Please bring a salad or dessert and soft drinks. Bring your musical instruments also.
For more information, call (606) 297-4029, (606) 673-4478, or (606) 673-3331.
Bertha Davis, Louisa
Letters invited
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