GLASGOW — Dear Editor,

We would like to congratulate the fiscal court for taking the first step in addressing the issue of property value protection. Passing the amendment to Ordinance 360 was a move in the right direction.

Ordinance 360 still won’t address existing problems, but if enforced, it should end the flow of uninspected and unpermitted, substandard mobile homes into or within the county as the ordinance originally intended.

Our thanks and appreciation to Shannon White for all his efforts in proposing and championing both the amendment to Ordinance 360 and the failed International Property Maintenance Code. Keep up the good work, Shannon!

With more willingness to negotiate, a more complete solution might be reached. Perhaps Mr. (Tommy) Matthews and those other magistrates who oppose the International Property Maintenance Code should provide an alternate resolution rather than simply striking down any proposal and thereby neglecting the problem. If you have a better idea, we’re all ears. As Mr. (Cleo) Hogan stated at the fiscal court meeting, we’ll continue to work with the court to find a solution that’s fair and acceptable. Surely we can find some common ground.

Bob and Donna Soper

Park City



Germany takes lead when America should

Dear Editor,

The electric car: When, where, how many?

I have read where Germany has plans to produce 1 million electric cars in the next 10 years. What is the design and practicality of these cars?

Think of the Volkswagen’s success over these many years. When that little “Bug,” nothing spectacular in looks, was mass produced for the volks (folks) and they could afford it and did by the millions. Why aren’t we here in America, doing it now?

Up in Michigan there are empty factories and expert men who could put together a simple version of an electric car and mass produce them. It would not need to be the most attractive vehicle on the road, but it would be affordable.

Start with a two-passenger, battery-operated one, designed somewhat like the two-passenger gasoline cars that are seen in abundance in Italy, Germany, Poland and other countries.

Years ago, an old uncle told me that the electric car would be the future one as oil got scarce and became high in price. It has happened, hasn’t it?

He predicted that we could develop battery stations, wherein you would stop when your batteries were getting low and have an attendant slide out yours and put in fresh ones and you would be back on the road faster than if you had to stop and fill up with gasoline.

I have read where Hawaii has 28 such stations now, whether they are charge stations or battery exchange type I don’t know. Of course my idea sounds simple, and would to some saying “Bob has reverted to the thinking of dinosaurs.” So be it.

A small heater would be necessary and on the first models, no expensive, power demanding air conditioner. Roll those windows down and enjoy the fresh air. Air that has far less monoxide gas in it. We did that in my first car, a 1934 Chevy, and we survived.

The small heater would be necessary and reminds me of an incident that happened to my father, Doug. He was driving his old car on a cold winter day with the heater going full blast and came upon a poor lady acquaintance walking in the cold. Dad stopped and offered her a ride which she gratefully accepted. She climbed in, lifted her long skirt a bit, and swung a leg over the heater. In a moment, she explained, “Doug, that heater sure hits the spot!”

A simple car, acceptable in design and at a price that most could afford. Get it mass produced just as Henry Ford showed the world years ago.

America, let’s get our auto industry back, and the well-trained unemployed back to work!

Bob Morrison

Glasgow



Revisit ‘Wake Up, Amurika’

Dear Editor,

There was once a radio show called “Wake Up, Amuricka.” A man in a backwoods dialect expounded on daily issues affecting people’s lives. This letter is one person’s attempt to address some of today’s issues.

When the recession hit last year, a price and wage freeze might have helped. I have lived through two such price and wage freezes. I survived.

Two weeks ago, I purchased a carton of margarine and a box of cereal. My total bill for those two items was $10.18. I could not believe my eyes.

Beware of gifts — The right hand gives and the left hand takes away. Last year, my supplemental health insurance premium actually went down. However, my co-pay on prescriptions increased a great deal. My eye drop prescription now costs me $50 for one ounce. This means the total cost must be around $250. Medicare picks up the difference.

Attention Seniors: Read your Medicare summaries — I received a pain shot for my foot. The summary read $25 for the medicine. I was not able to identify the additional $20 charge, so I called on the phone. The explanation I received was — There was a service charge for inserting the needle into my posterior (and Medicare paid for it). I always thought the office call covered the services of the doctor and the nurse?

For years, I used baking soda to sweeten the odor of my kitchen drains. The soda rotted the metal in my garbage disposal. At the same time, my kitchen faucet stopped working. Parts were not available for the faucet and I needed a new garbage disposal. Although my faucet was only 4 years old, it was classified “obsolete.” Total cost for faucet, garbage disposal and the plumber’s labor was $500.

Anyone can be clean? I grew up hearing my mother say, “Anyone can be clean, soap is cheap.” Not so today! The detergent I paid $5 for previously (January ’09) cost $20 in December ’09 (for the same amount).

Death and taxes — Even the cost of dying has increased. Prepayment of funeral expenses allows the funeral home to invest the money. The interest statements are sent to the “soon-to-be-deceased” for taxation. Old people may soon be forced to choose between the “cost of living” and the “cost of dying.”

However, my annual Social Security statement assures me there was no increase in the cost of living. So, on what planet do the cost of living committee members live?

Norma Luke

Glasgow