Published: November 19, 2008 10:12 am            

READERS' FORUM 11/20 | Higher cable bills – a rite of winter

This is the time of year I’ve learned to dread. Not only because of winter and being in the house due to weather, but of all the increases that come with it.

The increase that really caught my eye was from my cable company (Comcast). I not only have to pay for programming technology and service improvements, which haven’t improved since the last increase, I now have to pay for gas prices and the best one of all is health-care costs.

If I have to help pay for Comcast employees’ health care, who do I charge for my husband’s increase in health care?

Comcast is giving its digital classic package 14 new channels. The standard package is getting nothing and contains channels I don’t even watch.

Don’t you think cable companies could offer a package of channels in which customers could choose the channels they wanted?

Thanks a lot, cable companies. This letter is from a World War II veteran’s wife who now lives on a fixed income.

Happy belated Veterans Day to all the vets.

Donna Jamison

Robindale Heights



Manager: Breakfast club was city retirees

(Regarding the Nov. 14 letter, “Employee layoffs won’t happen in city,” in which former city Councilman Joe Gallo wrote that he had reported to the city manager that city workers regularly ate breakfast at a Westmont restaurant during work hours:)

I just wanted to let everyone know that city officials did check on Gallo’s phone call, and the breakfast club was made up of retired city employees.

I also wanted to make sure The Tribune-Democat collected that $50 after the final budget (in Gallo’s letter, he bet The Tribune-Democrat that there would be no layoffs).

Curt Davis

City Manager, City of Johnstown



HB 2525 a voice for defenseless animals

I felt compelled to respond to the article in Sunday’s Tribune-Democrat regarding puppy mills. Gov. Ed Rendell signed HB 2525 into law, and for that he should be commended.

Puppy mill owners have a reputation of abusing their animals. Of course, I’m confident that a large majority of owners breed their dogs humanely – but for those who don’t, HB 2525 is a blessing.

Dogs, like all other animals, deserve respect. Can you imagine starving a dog or forcing it to live without adequate exercise?

Many dogs in puppy mills are mistreated, and thanks to HB 2525, some of that suffering will end.

When it comes to large and illegal puppy mills, I wonder how much love these dogs are given when they are being used only to make a profit. I thank the puppy mill owners who do not mistreat their dogs; they certainly set an example for the heartless owners who care more about money than innocent lives.

If it were my decision, more bills would be signed into law that would severely penalize those who find it acceptable to abuse a harmless, defenseless animal.

Since animals do not have the voices to speak for themselves, it is our responsibility to speak for them.

Hopefully, HB 2525 will prevent the abuse that often occurs in puppy mills.

Thank you, Governor, for taking the necessary precautions to ensure that man’s best friends are treated with the love and respect they deserve.

Kayla Pongrac

Stoystown



Rising pet food prices taking toll on animals

I recently saw on the news that people were having to get rid of their pets because they can no longer afford them. This has to hurt the people who have to do this, unless they didn’t want the pets in the first place.

Why did pet food go out of sight in price, just like people food? The companies are complaining now.

Well – duh – why not lower the prices of food and treats? Maybe then people can afford to buy products, thus helping the public to keep their pets, helping the groomers, the veterinarians, the shelters and most of all the companies making the items.

Doggone it – pets are always the ones to suffer.

Mary Puricelli

Windber



Our world going over to the dark side

I bet a lot of people are wondering what is going on in this country when our so-called intelligent government is giving these scam artists (financial industry) $700 billion to bail them out of debt and then these CEOs use hundreds of thousands of dollars for pedicures, saunas and dinners.

Then $6 billion went for bonuses to the executives. Now I’m wondering if the ones who gave the $700 billion got a kickback.

I wish I was more intelligent so I could look into this bailout issue.

I heard that 14 other countries are having the same problems as us. Are we going to wake up too late and find out there is another Hitler in power?

I heard some of the people in our government want to take our guns. Remember, that’s how Hitler took over Europe.

Satan is starting to rule the world.

Dorothy Ford

Mineral Point

        

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