Letters to the Editor

The following were published in the July 11 edition of The Current

To the Editor:

As I am sitting, watching Sunday Morning with Willie Geist, they are talking about small town heroes.

This would be our local newspapers, The Hickman County Times, and what is now The Current.

Believe it or not, not everyone has Facebook, internet, WiFi or satellite service.

Our local newspapers inform us about local community events, church activities, school events, sporting events, obituaries and news, past and present. 

The cost of the local newspapers ranges from 75 cents to a dollar.

So, the next time you go into a convenience store, for the price of a bottle of water, you can see what is happening in your community.

When you see Gaye Bencini or Becky Meadows, thank them for their service. 

Our Home Town Heroes.

Mayor Phyllis Campbell

Clinton

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To the Editor:

As of Sunday, July 1, the Republicans of Kentucky State Government imposed not one but three new taxes: on services; on cigarettes; and on non-profit organizations selling products and services.

Keep in mind that these are from the “conservative, no tax” party.

It is assumed that governments have the right to impose taxes. It is also assumed that the taxes on alcohol and tobacco are there to help defray the costs of medical care and policing that come from tobacco and alcohol.

At least the city of Fulton had the decency to list the actual expenses that come from alcohol consumption.

Let us move on to the second set of two’s: obesity and drug addiction. Both are considered to be epidemics: yet neither group pays extra taxes. However, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City had a tax on soft drinks when he was mayor.

“Clean” needles are provided are for drug addicts. State and federal governments hold conferences on drug addiction. But those who use tobacco and alcohol not only get taxed, but get taxed heavily. To my knowledge, there is no extra tax on: high-cholesterol foods; high-sodium foods; and high-sugar foods.

Though we won’t say that high-cholesterol, high-sugar and high-sodium foods are healthy, or that alcohol or tobacco is healthy, it can be said that drinks and smokers, by the taxes they pay, are doing “pre-paid” medical care and making “co-pays”.

Robert Drury

Fulton