We don’t get our money’s worth from legislators

We don’t get our money’s worth from legislators

EDITOR:

Demand more from our legislators.

Oil prices are exorbitant. What does our government do? Hold more hearings, again resulting in no action. For the past few years, officials have held hearings and grilled oil Industry heads about extreme profits. Despite billions in dollars of profit and tax breaks for the oil industry, oil companies are laying off people. When are Americans going to stop being complacent and start asking our legislators to do their jobs?

In Florida, hurricanes caused lawmakers to enact laws to protect taxpayers against greedy price gouging. We are being pinched in the pocket book, at the grocery store and in daily life, trying to pay bills with shrinking reserves. Our legislators are being complacent. They haven’t enacted any protections or engaged in appropriate discussions with “Big Oil” and OPEC.

Health care needs to be put back in the hands of physicians and health professionals, rather than third party companies (insurance companies). Why is it acceptable for our legislators to allow health care to be reduced to a fund-raising activity for so many?

Americans need to stop being complacent about their own health and the reliance/convenience of a pill. Seventy-five percent of chronic diseases could be prevented/managed better by making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or engaging in a fitness program. In the U.S., we spend approximately a fifth of our GDP on health care.

Medicines here are the highest in the world. “Big Pharma” doesn’t create many of our medicines. Your tax dollars were used to fund labs and universities to develop many drugs. Pharmaceutical companies buy the license for drugs from public institutions (paid for by your tax dollar) and you then become a victim to exorbitant drug prices. Pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing/salaries than research. Look at the over-inflated CEO salaries.

The corporate world treats older workers as a throw-away commodity. Every minute, someone loses their job to downsizing as bosses “trim the fat” to pad their pockets, buy furniture for the new office, or to disguise poor performance. Today, employees are too old at 45, not ethnic enough because of over-litigation of racial issues, or “re-arranged” like furniture due to company takeovers. My husband lost his job. The company caused great personal injury to my family. Why are we responsible for their mess? Where is legislation to protect the middle class worker?

Congressman Wilson’s office has listened. However, I have had no success with Ryan’s or Boccieri’s office. I tried to meet with Hillary Clinton’s office. They “lost” my four requests. I couldn’t meet with Obama at our neighbor’s house. I didn’t get an invitation, nor had the $1,000 to $2,000 to meet with him.

Now is the time to listen and act; tomorrow is too late.

DORETTA DAWN HEGG

Boardman

Good deeds plant seeds

EDITOR:

The continued generosity of Anthony Lariccia and his wife Mary to our community reminds me of what my third grade nun, Sister Mary Lambert, often told our class which was, every good deed that a person does becomes another seed that continues to spread and grow.

Because of the Lariccias’ $60,000 gift, the Seniors Service program will continue to operate and provide continued enjoyment to the golden years of our Valley’s seniors.

Some angels use their wings to fly. Others, like the Lariccias, choose to stay, spread their wings and spread good deeds in our community.

MARY LOU JURINA

Youngstown