If it were a rational amendment to the state constitution more material would be made available to the voters. When it is treated as confidential, the people it would benefit control who has the information to vote their way.
I am against lifelong careers for any elected officials. We have seen the evils the gridlock has caused in the U.S. Congress, most of which is triggered by the same people in the same elected office for years beyond their usefulness, which results in a lot of hurtful words passed back and forth and absolutely nothing accomplished for the people of this country. I believe that this Invincibility and eventual moral corruption of officeholders who have permanent job security and all that it conveys is hurtful to our country and will be for our great state if this bill is allowed to pass and become state law.
Bosses, whether in the public or private sector, who are given total control by their minions eventually succumb to a misguided moral responsibility to control the weaker members of our society when in fact they should be there to aid the downtrodden.
All elected officials should be contained to a definite time period in office to allow for the true spirit of our founding fathers, which was to have great participation in governing our country from a diverse group of people not the same ideas and people over and over.
Fred-Rock Priester
Farmington
Time to check your smoke alarms
Editor:
The Charleston Fire Department has a simple but powerful reminder for all members of our community this weekend. When you change your clocks for daylight savings time, change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and please remind your friends, family and neighbors to do the same.
Twenty-five years ago, Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) recognized a disturbing trend that many home fire fatalities were taking place in homes without working smoke alarms. So the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program was developed to help reduce and hopefully, one day, eliminate this number. Along with thousands of fire departments nationwide, Energizer and the IAFC have been reminding communities to check and change their smoke alarm batteries and to make sure their smoke alarms are working when they set their clocks.
Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fire structures in half. As a 22-year fire service veteran, I have witnessed first-hand the tragedy and devastation of home fires. It's even more heartbreaking when a young life is cut short. The tragedy of the Arlington Avenue fire back in March of this year still haunts me. We lost nine lives in that fire. We don't want to ever see this happen again.
Overall, almost 66 percent of home fire deaths in this country occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Considering that residential fire deaths peak in winter months, it's critical to check and change your smoke alarm batteries each and every fall. Remember to rely on smoke alarms to wake you up if there is a fire just as you rely on an alarm clock to wake you up to get ready for work. Smoke or the smell of smoke will not wake you up!
We hope you'll join the Charleston Fire Department, Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs in sharing this life-saving information with your readers and encouraging them to help make a difference in our city and across the country. Sincerely,
Charles E. Overstreet
Chief
Charleston Fire Department
Gov. Tomblin, Obama have gotten results
Editor:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- I have known Gov. Tomblin since the time he was senate president. Gov. Tomblin has helped me get some good bills into the Senate and get them passed, like the crossbow bill for veterans and handicapped citizens. These bills were signed by former Gov. Joe Manchin.
Gov. Tomblin tries to introduce bills that will benefit the citizens of West Virginia. For example, he is trying to make safety standard requirements better for our miners who risk their lives every day. There are people who make statements that Gov. Tomblin is trying to stop miners from working; however, this is not true. The EPA is setting standards that are forcing our miners to terminate their work both underground and on the surface. I thought we had them wiped out 10 years ago. If it was left up to EPA there would be no jobs in West Virginia.
Speaking of giving credit where credit is due, I don't think the people give President Obama credit for what he has done. I retired from General Motors, and if it had not been for President Obama bailing out General Motors there would be thousands who lost jobs and pensions. One thing for sure, he has done what he promised. He is bringing our soldiers back from Afghanistan and extended unemployment benefits. He has worked to make America a better place to live. We have got to get jobs back to America and stop outsourcing to other countries.
Ringo Nelson
Keyser
President has improved coal miners' lives
Editor:
I have read about expressions by coal companies and some of their employees against our sitting president.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the Century Mine in Beallsville, Ohio was closed on the day of the Romney rally. WWVA reported that Century employees were told that attending was mandatory. At least some of those expressions of opposition were apparently forced.
The coal companies indicate that President Obama has damaged the coal industry. The Wall Street Journal came to a different conclusion. It indicated that the coal industry was damaged not by President Obama, but by the market, which priced "natural gas" so low, based apparently upon recent discoveries in shale gas, as to undermine the value of coal as a creator of electricity.
Mining coal still causes black lung disease. The Republican budget plan takes aim at recent changes in federal black lung regulation. Prior to the new regulations coming out of the Obama regime, the success rate for some federal black lung claims was ridiculously low, well under 10 percent with others, like death cases brought by widows, much lower. Thanks to liberalized regulations, the success rate has increased. Republican plans seek to reverse this trend and return to a ridiculously low level of miners who get benefits.
In addition, Mr. Obama has appointed knowledgeable individuals in favor of coal mine safety, such as Joe Main, to positions of leadership of the federal coal mine safety program.
The president is no enemy of the coal miner. Instead, he improved the life of coal miners.
Tim Cogan
Wheeling
Politicians stay in office too long
Editor:
I would like discuss the amendment on the ballot this year that hasn't gotten very much publicity. It is the constitutional amendment to repeal the two-consecutive term limitation for sheriffs in West Virginia.
If it were a rational amendment to the state constitution more material would be made available to the voters. When it is treated as confidential, the people it would benefit control who has the information to vote their way.
I am against lifelong careers for any elected officials. We have seen the evils the gridlock has caused in the U.S. Congress, most of which is triggered by the same people in the same elected office for years beyond their usefulness, which results in a lot of hurtful words passed back and forth and absolutely nothing accomplished for the people of this country. I believe that this Invincibility and eventual moral corruption of officeholders who have permanent job security and all that it conveys is hurtful to our country and will be for our great state if this bill is allowed to pass and become state law.
Bosses, whether in the public or private sector, who are given total control by their minions eventually succumb to a misguided moral responsibility to control the weaker members of our society when in fact they should be there to aid the downtrodden.
All elected officials should be contained to a definite time period in office to allow for the true spirit of our founding fathers, which was to have great participation in governing our country from a diverse group of people not the same ideas and people over and over.
Fred-Rock Priester
Farmington
Time to check your smoke alarms
Editor:
The Charleston Fire Department has a simple but powerful reminder for all members of our community this weekend. When you change your clocks for daylight savings time, change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and please remind your friends, family and neighbors to do the same.
Twenty-five years ago, Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) recognized a disturbing trend that many home fire fatalities were taking place in homes without working smoke alarms. So the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program was developed to help reduce and hopefully, one day, eliminate this number. Along with thousands of fire departments nationwide, Energizer and the IAFC have been reminding communities to check and change their smoke alarm batteries and to make sure their smoke alarms are working when they set their clocks.
Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fire structures in half. As a 22-year fire service veteran, I have witnessed first-hand the tragedy and devastation of home fires. It's even more heartbreaking when a young life is cut short. The tragedy of the Arlington Avenue fire back in March of this year still haunts me. We lost nine lives in that fire. We don't want to ever see this happen again.
Overall, almost 66 percent of home fire deaths in this country occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Considering that residential fire deaths peak in winter months, it's critical to check and change your smoke alarm batteries each and every fall. Remember to rely on smoke alarms to wake you up if there is a fire just as you rely on an alarm clock to wake you up to get ready for work. Smoke or the smell of smoke will not wake you up!
We hope you'll join the Charleston Fire Department, Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs in sharing this life-saving information with your readers and encouraging them to help make a difference in our city and across the country. Sincerely,
Charles E. Overstreet
Chief
Charleston Fire Department
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