Why area has gone downhill
Editor, OBSERVER:
I think with all the misspent money with the city of Dunkirk, you need to look at the welfare department.
I think that if you have to take a drug test for employment, I think they should have to do the same. If you fail the drug test, you don't get the job. The same should go for the people on welfare because the working people are paying for that.
Just walk through Dunkirk and you will see the young having more kids to boost the Food Stamps and support services income for the kids. It must be nice to not have to work.
When I was a kid in Dunkirk, the city was beautiful. I moved to Florida for 26 years and moved back home.
I hate to say this, but it went to hell. Now I know why everybody is moving out.
That's why I am in Fredonia now, where it's not as bad.
D. SYSOL,
Fredonia
U.S. wastes energy, cash
Editor, OBSERVER:
There has been a lot news lately on water issues. Some good, but mostly bad.
Old and undersized mains, outdated plants and equipment.
Just think about the millions, even billions of dollars that were wasted on the president's green energy friends and their projects, many now bankrupt.
Putting that money in a pile and burning it would have made more energy than those failed companies did.
All of those dollars would have been better served on clean drinking water projects.
RICK MANZELLA,
Portland Keep funds in our nation
Editor, OBSERVER:
As I sit here reading, yet again, about politicians wanting to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in an effort to reduce government spending, I continue to wonder why there is never any discussion of cutting the foreign aid we so easily send to other countries. Many of those countries do not support us; why do we support them?
This is a great example of the "giveaway" programs that need to be slashed before our elected politicians cut programs that many of us have contributed to in the form of payroll taxes.
As a senior citizen who recently became eligible for Social Security and Medicare, programs that I was forced to pay into for 42 years, I resent the fact that I must fight for every penny I get back while we continue to give large amounts of funds to foreign countries.
LENNY CATALANO,
Dunkirk
