Letters to the Editor 01-19-2000
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Credit Dangers - Freedom - Elian - Social Security - Residential Zoning - Firearm Training
Credit Dangers
Editor, Times-Union:Lending institutions seldom discuss the hidden dangers of the misuse of credit. The instant availability of easy credit is very tempting; yet frequently leads to failed marriages, loss of all credit, bills in excess of net income, high interest charges, fear of bankruptcy, loss of jobs and in some instances, suicide. Impulse buying has become the flagship of success for our retail industry. Nothing wrong with this IF the buying is done by those that can afford it.Retail sales are one of the reasons we have so many people working and plenty of jobs waiting for workers. The problem is, almost no one is SAVING money. The percent of income into savings in America is almost nonexistent. This spells potential trouble for millions of families at some time in the future. Let's look at an example of risky credit practices. Bill and Jane Doe have four credit cards; they also have a mortgage, two cars financed, etc. Both carry at least one active credit card. Because of impulse buying the credit cards have totaled up to large balances. Too much of their income seems to go to bills. Tough times for any family to cope with; then all at once Bill gets a notice from their bank.
Wow, Jane, we can get an equity loan and reduce our monthly bills by $400! We are saved. Sounds good, but in real life what happens is as follows. The only thing that has changed is that the payments are going to a different lender; and because Bill and Jane have not made lifestyle changes, they still have those credit cards in their pocket. The impulse buying continues and before long they once again owe against their cards. Net result, they are now much deeper in debt. Credit is great, and consolidation loans can be a lifesaver, but only if spending and saving habits are factored in and applied. Let's take one last look at that Equity loan. The banks love them, and many are set up to only require a payment to cover interest due. Sounds great! It's not! If you only pay the minimum interest, the loan continues FOREVER. A good rule of thumb: Never consolidate a group of bills unless you can afford to pay the interest, plus at least an equal amount to principle EVERY month! Then put your credit cards in a safe place at home. Use only in a true emergency. Give your bank a new payment every month to savings. Good Luck.
LarryÊHill
Pierceton
via e-mail
Freedom
Editor, Times-Union:The citizens of a country have no guarantee of freedom when their government has all the guns.
Wallace Huffman
Warsaw
Elian
Editor, Times-Union:Castro isn't the only one who would like to choke the politicians, so would I! Any court in the country would have awarded this little boy to his only living parent, had not the politicians used this as a political ploy and make a name for themselves. Think of this little boy. If you'd just lost your mother, wouldn't you want to be with your dad? You say he has more opportunities in this country, which is probably so.
Years ago, I had the privilege of caring for a 2-year-old Spanish girl from the Chicago ghetto when her mother was hospitalized. A year later her mother died and father wanted her back. We adored her,and would have loved keeping her. Would she have been better off in our spacious home with the big yard and great community of opportunity, rather than raised by a father living in a rundown tenement in a rough neighborhood? Without a doubt! But he was her father, loved her and took good care of her. Get my point?
It's more important that this little boy be with his parent at such a time as this. So the politicians should stop playing footsie with Castro and send this little boy home.
Vivian Frantz
Warsaw
Social Security
Editor, Times-Union:A few days ago I was watching a Republican debate in New Hampshire and the moderator informed the panel of hopefuls that today there are only two workers putting money into the retirement fund for each retired person. What would they do to make this fund safe? There was the usual answers which everyone has heard time and time again. Here is the real reason it is in trouble.
Why do we only have two workers supporting a retired person? It is simple. Let's list the companies that no longer have United States workers producing the products they sell to our USA workers. We have lost over a million jobs that paid into our Social Security system.
How many factories do we have that produce the following out of our country? 80 percent of our clothing with American trade names now made overseas in sweatshops for pennies and sold to us for dollars; 95 percent of our electronics; 70 percent of our heat ducting comes from Mexico.
Pick up a catalog and look at it closely. 90 percent contents in any catalog will be from foreign countries, bought for pennies and jacked up by our companies to reflect prices of an American-made product and we are dumb enough to buy it.
The next time you buy a gift for someone, make sure it is made in the USA by an American worker and not a worker in China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Guatemala, India, Pakistan, Africa, Mexico, etc.
Please stop buying Chinese-made products. Half of it is pure junk and the other half can be made in this country better and cost just a little more.
Jack W. Klinefelter
Winona Lake
Residential Zoning
Editor, Times-Union:I believe Warsaw residential property owners would agree it is important to keep commercial operations separate from residential neighborhoods. When we purchased a home in a purely residential neighborhood zoned R-1 only, we have a right to expect that neighborhood to remain purely residential. We shouldn't have to worry about commercial operations infringing on the beauty, safety and property values of our neighborhoods. LRC Products is attempting to do just that - store unsightly commercial materials at the entrance to Rolling Hills Subdivision - with a petition to the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals. LRC Products must not be allowed to proceed with commercial encroachment into a long-standing residential neighborhood. Please attend the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. to voice your opposition to LRC Products unfair petition.
Cassandra C. Stewart
Warsaw
Firearm Training
Editor, Times-Union:I never read "Dear Abby" but, of course, the headline on Jan. 14 caught my attention. By the time I'd finished it I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or scream.
It seems some young lady purchased a semi-automatic pistol to carry in her car for personal protection. She knew so little about firearms that she was not even aware that removing the magazine does not remove the round in the chamber.
For crying out the Pete, folks! If you're going to own any kind of firearm, you absolutely must become completely familiar with it! Safety first, if for no other reason, but at the same time I have no idea how she expected to protect herself with something she knew nothing about. Maybe she thought just having it would scare someone away. Well, sometimes that works and sometimes not. Hardened criminals can tell by the look in your eye whether you're willing and capable of using a weapon. You cannot depend on bluff.
If you're thinking about purchasing your first firearm, then do so from a dealer. He can go over all the fine points of the weapon and recommend someone to train you with it. It ain't TV folks! You can't just pick one up and become Dirty Harry. It takes a lot of time and practice, practice, practice. Firearms are like children and pets, if you're unwilling to make a commitment, you're better off leaving them alone.
Harold Kitson
Warsaw
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- Credit Dangers - Freedom - Elian - Social Security - Residential Zoning - Firearm Training
Credit Dangers
Editor, Times-Union:Lending institutions seldom discuss the hidden dangers of the misuse of credit. The instant availability of easy credit is very tempting; yet frequently leads to failed marriages, loss of all credit, bills in excess of net income, high interest charges, fear of bankruptcy, loss of jobs and in some instances, suicide. Impulse buying has become the flagship of success for our retail industry. Nothing wrong with this IF the buying is done by those that can afford it.Retail sales are one of the reasons we have so many people working and plenty of jobs waiting for workers. The problem is, almost no one is SAVING money. The percent of income into savings in America is almost nonexistent. This spells potential trouble for millions of families at some time in the future. Let's look at an example of risky credit practices. Bill and Jane Doe have four credit cards; they also have a mortgage, two cars financed, etc. Both carry at least one active credit card. Because of impulse buying the credit cards have totaled up to large balances. Too much of their income seems to go to bills. Tough times for any family to cope with; then all at once Bill gets a notice from their bank.
Wow, Jane, we can get an equity loan and reduce our monthly bills by $400! We are saved. Sounds good, but in real life what happens is as follows. The only thing that has changed is that the payments are going to a different lender; and because Bill and Jane have not made lifestyle changes, they still have those credit cards in their pocket. The impulse buying continues and before long they once again owe against their cards. Net result, they are now much deeper in debt. Credit is great, and consolidation loans can be a lifesaver, but only if spending and saving habits are factored in and applied. Let's take one last look at that Equity loan. The banks love them, and many are set up to only require a payment to cover interest due. Sounds great! It's not! If you only pay the minimum interest, the loan continues FOREVER. A good rule of thumb: Never consolidate a group of bills unless you can afford to pay the interest, plus at least an equal amount to principle EVERY month! Then put your credit cards in a safe place at home. Use only in a true emergency. Give your bank a new payment every month to savings. Good Luck.
LarryÊHill
Pierceton
via e-mail
Freedom
Editor, Times-Union:The citizens of a country have no guarantee of freedom when their government has all the guns.
Wallace Huffman
Warsaw
Elian
Editor, Times-Union:Castro isn't the only one who would like to choke the politicians, so would I! Any court in the country would have awarded this little boy to his only living parent, had not the politicians used this as a political ploy and make a name for themselves. Think of this little boy. If you'd just lost your mother, wouldn't you want to be with your dad? You say he has more opportunities in this country, which is probably so.
Years ago, I had the privilege of caring for a 2-year-old Spanish girl from the Chicago ghetto when her mother was hospitalized. A year later her mother died and father wanted her back. We adored her,and would have loved keeping her. Would she have been better off in our spacious home with the big yard and great community of opportunity, rather than raised by a father living in a rundown tenement in a rough neighborhood? Without a doubt! But he was her father, loved her and took good care of her. Get my point?
It's more important that this little boy be with his parent at such a time as this. So the politicians should stop playing footsie with Castro and send this little boy home.
Vivian Frantz
Warsaw
Social Security
Editor, Times-Union:A few days ago I was watching a Republican debate in New Hampshire and the moderator informed the panel of hopefuls that today there are only two workers putting money into the retirement fund for each retired person. What would they do to make this fund safe? There was the usual answers which everyone has heard time and time again. Here is the real reason it is in trouble.
Why do we only have two workers supporting a retired person? It is simple. Let's list the companies that no longer have United States workers producing the products they sell to our USA workers. We have lost over a million jobs that paid into our Social Security system.
How many factories do we have that produce the following out of our country? 80 percent of our clothing with American trade names now made overseas in sweatshops for pennies and sold to us for dollars; 95 percent of our electronics; 70 percent of our heat ducting comes from Mexico.
Pick up a catalog and look at it closely. 90 percent contents in any catalog will be from foreign countries, bought for pennies and jacked up by our companies to reflect prices of an American-made product and we are dumb enough to buy it.
The next time you buy a gift for someone, make sure it is made in the USA by an American worker and not a worker in China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Guatemala, India, Pakistan, Africa, Mexico, etc.
Please stop buying Chinese-made products. Half of it is pure junk and the other half can be made in this country better and cost just a little more.
Jack W. Klinefelter
Winona Lake
Residential Zoning
Editor, Times-Union:I believe Warsaw residential property owners would agree it is important to keep commercial operations separate from residential neighborhoods. When we purchased a home in a purely residential neighborhood zoned R-1 only, we have a right to expect that neighborhood to remain purely residential. We shouldn't have to worry about commercial operations infringing on the beauty, safety and property values of our neighborhoods. LRC Products is attempting to do just that - store unsightly commercial materials at the entrance to Rolling Hills Subdivision - with a petition to the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals. LRC Products must not be allowed to proceed with commercial encroachment into a long-standing residential neighborhood. Please attend the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. to voice your opposition to LRC Products unfair petition.
Cassandra C. Stewart
Warsaw
Firearm Training
Editor, Times-Union:I never read "Dear Abby" but, of course, the headline on Jan. 14 caught my attention. By the time I'd finished it I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or scream.
It seems some young lady purchased a semi-automatic pistol to carry in her car for personal protection. She knew so little about firearms that she was not even aware that removing the magazine does not remove the round in the chamber.
For crying out the Pete, folks! If you're going to own any kind of firearm, you absolutely must become completely familiar with it! Safety first, if for no other reason, but at the same time I have no idea how she expected to protect herself with something she knew nothing about. Maybe she thought just having it would scare someone away. Well, sometimes that works and sometimes not. Hardened criminals can tell by the look in your eye whether you're willing and capable of using a weapon. You cannot depend on bluff.
If you're thinking about purchasing your first firearm, then do so from a dealer. He can go over all the fine points of the weapon and recommend someone to train you with it. It ain't TV folks! You can't just pick one up and become Dirty Harry. It takes a lot of time and practice, practice, practice. Firearms are like children and pets, if you're unwilling to make a commitment, you're better off leaving them alone.
Harold Kitson
Warsaw
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