COLA is needed

to keep up with

rising prices

An article that appeared earlier this month in the News-Press’ Business section is misleading about propane gas prices.

I have paid as follows:

2007: $66.00 per month: yearly cost $792.00.

2008: $66.00 per month first three months; $124.00 per month second three months;$198.00 per month last six months; total year cost $1,758.

2009: $198.00 per month first six months; $157.00 per month second six months; (so far) total year cost $2,130.

In 2008, my Social Security COLA increased 2.3 percent — $23.00 per month, but propane costs increased $81.00 per month.

The $23.00 per month just barely covered everything else, leaving propane by itself with no money to pay. I had to stop paying on health costs — I’m about $1,500 in arrears now with no daylight ahead — and the 5.8 percent COLA increase this year is woefully short — especially with propane at today’s prices and catching up to pay.

Sen. Bond explained to me that COLA was designed to help senior citizens on Social Security to keep up with inflation, but it isn’t. What to do? Lower prices? Increase COLA? You tell me and several million senior citizens who would like to know.

Warren Morris

Mound City, Mo.

Look to VA for example

of government-run

health care

You need only two words to describe what Obamacare will do to America: Veterans Administration. Democrats have been excoriating the VA for years regarding its inefficiency, exorbitant cost, delays and low quality of treatment, lack of quality staff, service and facilities and on and on. It’s government-run health care — no more, no less, and what Democrat elected officials have now decided is good enough for all Americans, except themselves of course.

And about that, they truly believe they’re too important, are more worthy of life and valuable to society to have a lesser program than all-free-all, cases-for-life they have given themselves.

Does that mean they think the rest of America, especially anyone over 60, isn’t important, worthy of or valuable to life? Duh. Of course it does.

Len Stephens

St. Joseph

Hard-nosed coach

better known now

as parks director

In regard to football coaches holding practices during the heat of summer: When I played football in high school we had a strict, mean, hard-nosed football coach who made us practice and run in the heat of August and September until we almost dropped.

I still call him “Coach,” but most of you probably call him Mr. Bill McKinney, director of the parks department.

Clifford Seckinger

St. Joseph