Take back our rights

To the editor:

Here are three amendments I proposed to the Charter Review Advisory Commission with some reasons they are needed and should be put on the ballot:

• Would restrict all taxes from being raised without voter approval in general elections. Fees should and could be added to this amendment.

Reasons: Sets rates every two years; puts tax increases in the voters hands and not five elected officials subject to corruption due to human nature and or greed; takes corruption or appearance of corruption out of  government; and restricts lobbyist ability to influence elected officials.

• Restrict any item being passed to take effect without full funding being in place.

Reasons: Stops all unfunded liabilities at county level; cuts down on corruption, kickbacks need not be applied; eliminates pet projects that are not in the voters best interest.; and forces elected officials that vote for a project to find funding for it and not put funding off to future elected officials.

• Major funding projects, like high speed rail and SunRail, to be approved by the voters in general elections.

Reasons: stops poor decision-making by elected officials because they think it is in the best interest of the voters, when it is not; lets voters make that decision about how to spend their money; stops lobbying that could make promises for future employment for family or friends of elected officials or need for kickbacks and or corruption; and gives voters the ultimate in rights about how their money is to be spent.

These items were put before the advisory commission on Jan. 5. They are mostly for the purpose of stopping current elected officials from spending the hard-earned wages of the working poor and others in Osceola County without their approval in a general election.

The items also are designed to stop lobbying by special interest groups. It gives the elected officials the power to spend the money the voters have given to them and not what they have decided to take from the voters. They are also designed to stop the fleecing of our children and grandchildren. Our children will benefit the most as they will not be paying for our and our elected officials’ greed and wants.

We, the people, can and should take back our rights from all elected officials.

My opinion is that any commissioner who would not vote for these items to be put on the ballot are not worthy to call themselves “for the people,” “of the people” and “by the people” representatives.

I would hope if you read this, you would contact your county commissioner and ask him to put these items on the ballot for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Our economic future will be in the voters hands. Please help me protect the future of the children of tomorrow.

David Searcy

St. Cloud

What goes into success?

To the editor:

As we prepare for the next round of testing and school grades, it seems like the perfect time to remind the community about our district and what goes into success.

There are many aspects that go into a successful school district: successful students; a caring faculty and staff; strong program achievement; creative learning choices; and supportive parents.

These factors are not limited to one site, but rather they are common to all of our nearly 60 school campuses across Osceola County. The Osceola County School District is working hard to provide close to 54,000 students with the best possible education, as student achievement remains the district’s top priority.

As parents, your involvement in the educational process of your child is critical. You play the most important role as you emphasize the value of learning, set high expectations, act as a good role model and discuss your child’s progress in school.

Parents can be actively involved with their child’s education by:

• Stressing the importance of education and doing one’s best in school.

• Expressing to your child that he or she has the ability to be successful.

• Help your child set short- and long-term educational goals.

• Celebrate your child’s academic accomplishments.

• Read to, as well as with, your child.

• Assure that your child has a consistent time and place to do homework.

• Ensure that your child has materials needed to complete assignments.

• Regularly ask to see work that your child is doing in school.

• Attend workshops and/or parent events at the school.

• Teach and reinforce positive behaviors at home, such as respect for self and others, hard work, and responsibility.

• Ensure that your child is in attendance and on time to school each day.

• Promote your child’s participation in extracurricular and after-school activities.

• Communicate regularly with your child’s teacher.

• Volunteer in the school setting whenever possible.

Please contact me directly for more information about parental involvement or if I can be of assistance at 407-462-5781 or hartigc

@osceola.k12.fl.us.

Cindy Hartig

School Board Chairman

District 3

Kissimmee

Minimum wage needed

To the editor:

I would like to reply to a recent letter “Minimum wage lie.”

As I read this rant, I was reminded of something my father taught me: When looking at a law or rule, find out what need does the author of the law seek to remedy.

As a working person, I looked at the history of minimum wage legislation and discovered that the only thing really wrong with this law is that it is necessary. I would replace the minimum wage law with a living wage law. Any person laboring for a business should be compensated enough to have a fair standard of living.

I listened to all the anti minimum wage arguments: Going to bankrupt the country; $5 hamburgers etc. And it all boils down to one thing and that thing is human greed.

I suspect that the author of this article owns a business and does not want his employees to share in the success of the business even though they helped create the business.

Some people spend too much time listening to conservative talk show hosts and letting them do their thinking for them. Most people make more then the minimum wage and rightly so. The minimum wage is necessary to keep the scrooges of the world from exploiting working people.

Jim Cronover

Kissimmee