Letters policy

The News Courier encourages letters to the editor. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and should include a name, address and telephone number for verification. Submissions that do not meet requirements are subject to editing. Send letters by noon on Thursdays to P.O. Box 670, Athens, Ala., 35613, or e-mail to kelly@athensnews-courier.com.

Seniors must be heard

Dear Editor:

Obama wants to penalize senior citizens' Medicare by reducing its benefits by $500 billion to help pay for health care for illegal aliens who are costing the taxpayers billions of dollars in educational costs, unpaid health care bills, and law enforcement costs. Interestingly, there is no requirement, in the health care legislation, to be a citizen to qualify for the proposed government health care plan.

The multi billion dollar cash for clunkers incentive to trade in a one year old car for a new one, that gets two miles per gallon more, is contrary to the goal of the clean air proposal.

It penalizes taxpayers like myself who have a 14 year old car that gets 29 miles per gallon that can't be turned in, but my taxes will pay the cash payment to those who do. The clean air and energy bill will also heavily penalize our citizens and billions are needlessly spent for special earmarks.

Congresses spending spree will penalize generations to come and destroy our nation! They gave themselves another pay raise this year while their constituents were losing their jobs and homes. We have worked too hard, and bled on the battlefield, to develop and protect this great nation and don't want it all jeopardized. We must replace self-centered Congressional members who don't understand the term "balanced budget", or the necessity to enforce our federal immigration laws.

We need people in Washington that read what they are voting on, don’t spend what we don't have, and listen to the taxpayers on Main Street, U.S.A., not the people on K Street in Washington."

Every taxpaying citizen needs to make sure that his family and friends, nationwide, are making members of Congress aware of our intent to stop the spending spree through our vote next year. Don't stop speaking up and writing our president, and all our senators, and representatives regarding our very serious concerns on these matters. We must be heard over the administration's Acorn, Moveon.org, and SEIU, well financed, intimidating, voices.

Sincerely,

Quentin D. Anderson Sr.

Athens