Keeping Them in College
If our government, both federal and state, had any interest in making college more affordable for low-income independent students, they could take two very simple steps (see "A Matter of Degree," Jan. 7, 2010). On the federal level, stop charging 6 percent and 6.8 percent on unsubsidized federal student loans. On the state level, stop removing low-income students from the MassHealth ranks just because they are students.
Removing a low-income student from Mass Health forces the student to add $1,500 (the cost of the premium) to his/her annual student loans. In essence, the low-income student is forced to borrow money at 6 percent to 6.8 percent to purchase a bottom-of-the-barrel insurance policy that is useless. I've expressed these points to both our governor and Congressman, but they couldn't care less.
Francis Connors
Springfield
Halos and Horns for Advocate
After reading both the Between the Lines column trashing the Springfield Republican editor/publisher Larry McDermott and your Halos and Horns article, it's time to set the record straight. While I agree McDermott was a failure as a journalist, don't be so quick to state that your integrity is any better.
First, to call Obama's Cash for Clunkers program a success is a matter of opinion, and here is why. The fact that it ran out of funding so quickly is evidence that his projected numbers for his health care proposal will be way off as well. The Cash for Clunkers program would have been much better if it applied only to new cars built exclusively in the U.S.A. Using government (taxpayer) dollars to buy foreign cars is counterproductive to economic recovery.
Second, while it is true that 75 percent of Americans want health care reform, they don't want it this way, and there are plenty of polls that validate this.
Third, although Glenn Beck's presentation is a bit extreme, he is nearly always exposing the truth about the countless mistakes and misdeeds done by the left. He is no more venomous than your hero Michael Moore, who does not stick with the facts.
Fourth, you can pick on Holyoke's Anthony Scott if you want, but he is hands-down the best thing to happen to Holyoke in a long time. He has shown results that get undermined constantly by an incompetent judiciary.
Lastly, Ted Kennedy was a warrior for welfare people, not working people. I am personally familiar with several examples of multiple generations of recipients who, instead of teaching their children how to succeed, instead teach them how to milk the system, as this requires less effort than honest work. This tax tyrant had no guilt for picking the pockets of taxpayers for wasteful pork. His legacy is [the idea that] welfare is a way of life; wasteful spending; and hypocrisy, like advocating wind power, then fighting wind turbines within view of his estate. Not to mention the Kennedy family arrogance that the rules don't apply to them.
I will praise your trashing of Richie Neal and Governor Patrick; both are what I would call fiscal rapists. Please, readers, vote for Scott Brown on January 19 so we don't wind up with another failure in the Senate, as Martha Coakley seems to think it's okay for over 300K of taxpayer dollars to go to disgraceful former speaker Sal DiMasi's lawyers.
Bryan Dargie
Westfield
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In your December 31 article Halos and Horns, you accuse John Hite, Executive Director of the Northampton Housing Authority, among others, of "good old-fashioned hypocrisy." Your article proceeds to offer no further evidence of the assertion. Instead it focuses on the very real foot-mouth-disease antics of radio host Bill Dwight in an email circulated no doubt in poor judgment. Last I checked, Dwight is not employed by the Housing Authority.
So we are left with the conclusion that Hite must be a hypocrite because he had a preference in the recent mayoral election. Indeed, [mayoral candidate Michael] Bardsley, on Dwight's own radio show before the election, made reference to alleged discriminatory practices by Housing Authority staff while again offering no information on specifics.
Both the mayor and Hite have reached out to attempt to understand what the problems may be.This process continues. As one has who just finished my first year on the board of the Housing Authority, I have observed no such charges in the portion of the public meeting devoted to tenant issues. Other tenant concerns have been noted and dealt with in a timely manner where possible.
The Advocate has a significant role to play in our community, a role best served, in part, by avoiding painting with a broad brush.
Jeffrey W. Jones, Commissioner
Northampton Housing Authority
via email
