Make sure to check out www.idahof35.com and sign up as supporter of bringing the F-35 to Idaho.

Dont forget the meeting on Feb. 9th 730pm at MHJH.

If you have a concern about your students education please voice it.

Mountainmiss.........

Something must be in the air this week I am Sick and TIred of trying to pay my bills. I wrote Idaho Heath and Welfare this week trying to get on the program I saw at the grocery store in Glenns Ferry this week. A young lady who could get a job but is to dang lazy too .... recived over $600.00 this month on food stamps ... we pay her rent and all her other bills..... she spent 1.99 ON sugar water for her kids that they kept spitting out to see how far it would go in the parking lot while she stood and scrached $ 50.00 worth of Lottery Tickets ..... I really want to get on the same program that she is on ...

A few years ago, I was required have a drug and alcohol screen and take a physical in order to be hired as a contractor for a federal job. I also knew that I would be required to submit to random testing during my employment. I am quite okay with that. I go to work every day, pay my taxes and don't break the law. Well, there was that one little thing when I was 14, but it doesn't count anymore.

So here's the thing - why is it that a completely able bodied person that has no good reason not to go out and find a job, or three if need be, can walk into a state office and sign up for unemployment, disability, food stamps, housing assistance, child care, medical care, transportation assistance, heating assistance, legal assistance, schooling assistance and NEVER EVER have to submit to a drug and alcohol screen like I do in order to recieve my paycheck.

And here is why I am so mad. Yesterday, I watched a couple in line ahead of me at a local superstore buying groceries. They both had on wedding rings so I am assuming they were married. The cart was loaded with cookies, Twinkies, chips, white Wonder Bread, etc. Three cases of Corona Beer, there was. Now, I try and not judge because I don't know the whole story but the man weighed at least a duece and some change and the woman went at least three bills. The cashier rang up their purchases and when she got to the beer, the man told her it was a separate purchase. Their food came to around 100.00. And guess what??? Yep, out came the food card. And guess what else??? The man shelled out three twenties to pay for the beer.

I payed for my items and followed them out of the store and watched them walk, without any assistance of any kind, and get into a pretty blue Toyota. They put their groceries in the back and squeezed in. Into the pretty blue Toyota that had a handicapped tag in the windshield, parked in a handicapped parking space.

It gets better.

I had one more stop to make and pulled up in front of the store. When I came out, there was that pretty blue Toyota with the handicapped tag in a handicapped parking space in front of the liquor store. The woman was standing out front smoking a cigarette. I got in my car and watched him come out with several brown bags. I am presuming that it was not groceries.

The icing on the cake was when she threw her cigarette butt on the ground, squeezed into the car and they drove away.

I hope I am not coming across as insensitive to overweight and handicapped people. I am not picking on them as a whole, per say. I am singling out two individuals that I think have learned how to abuse the system. Our country has allowed them to become needy, demanding and dependant on my hard work and the taxes I pay.

So here's my thought. If I have to be subjected to random drug and alchol screens in order to keep my job, then it is only fair that ANYONE that recieves ANY public assistance of any kind has to be required to do the same.

Any thoughts?

Homedog,

With all due respect - I don't think that anyone is whining about the WERCD. Rather, I think there are alot of concerned taxpayers, property owners and citizens of Mountain Home that are trying to put out to the public some concerns and complaints, and justifiably so.

The Mountain Home Newspaper only reports so much and I think this forum is an important and productive way of getting out information that not everyone would be made aware of.

If you think the Banter Box should be eliminated, then I feel you are one of a very few. We all have choices and if you care not to read the opinions published here, then don't. My question is - why are you still posting?

Freedom of speech is the definitive reason why we can voice our opinions and hold our elected and appointed officials to task.

Whining is for those that choose to stick their heads in the sand.

With all due respect.