U.S. needs strong medicine to cure ills

America is badly wounded and must receive major surgery in order to survive. Gas is up more than 200 percent. Groceries are up more than 300 percent, and utilities are going up every few months. Our Congress only works a few hours each week and gets a full week's pay. Our president tries to bully the rest of the world while letting America's roads, parks, public transportation and economy go down the drain.

Nearly 150 years ago, we fought slavery and won. Now when the rich get enough riches, we will all be slaves to them again. Wake up, voters, and call, write or just be verbal about saving our country. Give America the medicine it needs and let it be strong again.

Remember, if you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.

David Hazlett

Huntington

Murals would be asset to Huntington

My wife and I drove to Point Pleasant, W.Va., recently. We were amazed by the murals that are being painted on their floodwall visible from the Ohio River. These murals are being professionally done by Dafford Murals of Louisiana, and they appear three-dimensional. They depict the Battle of Point Pleasant and Native American life on the Ohio River in the 17th and 18th centuries.

A resident of Point Pleasant informed us the city had commissioned this work through grants officials had applied for, and eventually the murals will run the full length of the outside wall.

Huntington's floodwall could greatly benefit from similar work. The scenes could be of Huntington's historical life: sternwheelers, Marshall University, the "We are Marshall" movie and many more ideas.

Huntington has the advantage of a very long floodwall as well as area on both sides of the wall that could be utilized on the river side as well as Veterans' Memorial Boulevard. We would not need an invisible floodwall; the murals would be a tourist attraction.

Terry Ballard

Huntington

Why are we funding al-Qaida's defense?

Sorry if I offend anyone, but I just read about Osama bin Laden's driver receiving a sentence of 51/2 years. Excuse me, but does anyone believe the guy just drove an automobile? He was a member of a group of terrorists who would like to see the entire free world destroyed.

I do not understand why these people are getting the best defense our country has to give them. Remember 9/11? Remember our quest to find and destroy the leaders of al-Qaida and the Taliban? They will return. I don't know why it hasn't happened yet.

We need to do more to discourage their actions. I don't want my grandchildren growing up in a society where they have to be afraid of living their lives to the fullest degree.

Okay, there I go again venting. Thanks for allowing me to have the opportunity.

Angela Harshbarger

Ceredo

 

Chief working hard to clean up the city

I was catching up on local news after returning from vacation and saw a letter in Voice of the People from a Barboursville resident downing Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook. I could not believe what I was reading.

First of all, you do not live in the city. If you did, you would see firsthand what I see. This man has gone above and beyond to clean up around this area. Second, do not say he does not care about Huntington because he does not live here. I personally have seen him out here arresting people and doing patrols. Last but certainly not least, we are proud of the work he has put into cleaning up our neighborhood and will continue to support his hard work and that of the entire HPD.

And to Chief Holbrook and the HPD: Keep up the good work, guys. Some of us do appreciate you.

Diana Hudson

Huntington