Farmer’s markets need more support

My family and I recently moved back to the area and are shocked at the lack of support our local farmers are getting. We've been to three of the farmer’s markets in the area — Flatwoods, Ashland, and Boyd County — and are disappointed that they are rarely busy and are lacking farmers.

Where are people getting their food this summer? Grocers spend lots of money bringing in produce from all over the world, which produces pollution through packaging, shipment, and unsustainable farming practices.

Buying from farmers in our community not only supports our local economy, but it can instill values in our children that have long been forgotten by our parents’ generation. We care about healthy foods that taste good, not genetically-modified foods that lack the full nutrients and flavor heirloom plants do.

We care that foods presented by our farmers are minimally processed, if at all, and are usually grown in sustainable ways. We care that someone in our community is taking the time and hard work to grow delicious food for us to eat.

I urge you to show your local farmer appreciation by shopping at the farmer’s market in your area. I also urge the extension officers to spend more time on advising these resources. I ask local schools to use local food in their cafeterias and I ask local grocers to carry our farmers’ produce.

With the rich culture we have in farming surely this can be done. In fact, it is being done in communities all over the U.S., especially in Athens, Ohio, just an hour and a half north of us.

Contact your local extension office to find out where there is a farmer's market in your area and let your grocers know you want them to carry local food.

Bethany Deborde, Russell



Kirk Street project would not be safe

The safety and risk issues surrounding the proposed Kirk Street development are not receiving enough attention. The increase in car and foot traffic resulting from any new development would only exacerbate current safety problems.

Even at existing traffic levels, area residents have occasional near misses in their automobiles. And because of the blind hilltops and nonexistent sidewalks on narrow Kirk and adjoining Stewart, it is always dangerous when cars pass a pedestrian. While physically fit, solitary walkers can leap over a ditch, those pushing a baby carriage or riding a bicycle cannot.

Unconvinced? Try walking from Blackburn to Morgan Avenue during the morning or afternoon rush hours. As a car passes, consider how you would feel if a second oncoming car suddenly appeared from over the hilltop. How and where would you — and your dog or baby — jump off of the roadway?

Until these streets are widened and sidewalks added, no development of any type that results in more traffic should be considered in this area.

David Gillespie , Ashland



Dissent in nation growing rapidly

In his Aug. 15 letter. Ed Edwards claimed to be “shocked at the level of anger” of “older uneducated white conservatives” showing up at Town Hall meetings exercising their First Amendment right that happens to guarantee freedom of speech and the right to voice grievances against our government.

America’s seasoned citizens, regardless of party affiliation, may have been politically silent in the past but are certainly not stupid or “uneducated.”

For those who just can’t seem to comprehend the degree of mounting dissent throughout our nation, start by understanding that nearly 70 percent of Americans are perfectly content with the health care coverage they currently have and realize the only way Obama can accomplish what he wants is to destroy the health care system as we know it.

In so doing, it will not only dismantle an industry that happens to be the envy of the world, but the resulting rationing of available care would effectively put an end to the medical advances and procedures that enhance the quality of life for many millions of elderly Americans.

Obama clearly has a misunderstanding of what surgeons do and is proving to be a demagogue of the worst order as he demonizes any group that doesn’t fit neatly into his political template. Never have I seen any one person so under-qualified for the job they hold than this man, whose radical agenda and ultra-liberal ideology is the sum of his interests.

I'd like to suggest that Mr. Obama take advantage of his health care coverage and immediately undergo a foot-from-mouth removal procedure and, while they’re at it, they can surgically remove that big chip on his shoulder.

Randy Webb, Ashland



We are paying for universal care

In a recent letter, Ron Thompson claimed we cannot afford universal health care. We should look back to 1993 when Bill Clinton told us if we didn't control health care insurance premiums, it would absorb all our disposable income and ruin our economy.

Over the last seven years Americans have seen their premiums double and they’re expected to double again over the next seven years. At that pace, most Americans will pay twice as much for their insurance as they do for their mortgage. How much disposable income will they have then?

We are already paying for universal health care. Everyone with insurance pays an average of $1,200 annually to cover people coming to emergency rooms without insurance. Consumer spending is what drives our economy but people won't be buying anything when they are paying $1,600 a month for insurance.

Mr. Thompson stated no one is denied care at an urgent care or ER, but you can’t get chemotherapy at the ER and urgent care doesn’t give people their blood pressure meds or do the blood work required to monitor patients with chronic diseases.

Mr. Thompson stated “the only way the government makes money is taking it from you and me or borrowing it and this will cripple our economy.” Our economy is crippled by eight years of George W. Bush and government giveaways to the insurance lobby.

Bush's medicare prescription bill made it illegal for states to bargain for cheaper drugs. Bush created one of the largest government programs since medicare without a word about how he was going to pay for it. We just added it to the national debt while fighting two wars and without a peep from the tea baggers.

Anthony R. Savage, Catlettsburg



Maybe grandma won’t be hooked up

I think I’ve finally figured this out. President Obama intends to partly pay for National Health Care by taking $500 billion out of Medicare.

Medicare will be bankrupt in less than 10 years with all the Baby Boomers about to hit retirement age. All of these retirees have paid into Social Security and Medicare for their entire working lives. I don't see any way this can happen without raising taxes or rationing care for seniors.

Now President Obama says his program will not “pull the plug on grandma.” Could it be what he isn’t telling us is grandma isn't going to get hooked up in the first place?

Mike Stewart, Ashland