March 15, 2013: Our readers write

What will happen to the post office?

I do not understand why more is not being reported on the attack the United States Postal Service is under from Congress.

To start, the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act mandates the postal service to fully fund the cost of retiree health and pension benefits for the next 75 years.

Another issue that reinforces the “attack” is the requirement that upon hiring military retirees, USPS is obligated to fully fund the retirement of that postal worker who is a veteran, relieving the military of any responsibility for that veteran’s pension.

And remember, the post office’s only source of income is from the postage it sells. It is not funded by the federal budget.

The media has let the American public down by not reporting on the fiscal situation of the post office in an in-depth way. So it is up to us as citizens to ask our members of Congress, before it is too late, to overturn these unreasonable rules before we lose the post office as we know it and rely on it.

Phinis V. Hundley

Hodgenville

Government should stay put

“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” The current setup works fine. Why change it? Parking is not an issue, folks can easily walk from office to office to conduct related business. A majority of law offices also are in walking distance. It simply fits and works, and has worked fine for several decades.

Whatever happened to the idea of buying the older Herb Jones property? Isn’t that a more viable option? Can we revisit that idea?

I can think of several ways to spend $12 million. How about a community center YMCA-type facility with an indoor pool, weight room, public meeting center, etc? Maybe a partnership with Hardin County Schools could be arranged for this project. The local schools and the entire community would benefit.

There are several options; $12 million goes a long way toward several projects.

Maybe use part of the $12 million to help fund and run facilities at the sports park that we’re still paying a tax on. Don’t get me going on that one.

On one hand the elected officials are trying to pump some life into a struggling downtown Elizabethtown. Meanwhile, the other hand is trying to pull the plug on the life-support system. It makes absolutely no sense at all.

Folks like me feel powerless and think government is going to do what it wants anyway. We simply shrug our shoulders and shake our heads.

Given the tough economic times, we need to ask a few simple questions.

1. It the current situation that bad?

2. Do we really need this right now?

3. What happens if we don’t make the move?

4. Can we modify the plan and meet in the middle? Maybe purchase Herb Jones property and expand in place.

5. Can we spend the money elsewhere on something that would benefit the community in general?

6. Will downtown Elizabethtown prosper as a result?

7. Can we put the “vote to move” on the next ballot and let the people really decide?

I think I know the outcome of that already.

Mark W. Adams

Rineyville