Firefighters protect all
I want to let everyone know how well the Charleston Fire Department protects all of us.
Many of us have seen firefighters responding to medical emergencies to help with immediate care or manpower, but a recent incident was the first time I witnessed them dealing with a home fire.
Painters working on prepping the wall of my neighbor’s old South of Broad home noticed smoke coming from the walls.
As I walked outside, I smelled burning material and saw smoke.
I dialed 911 to let the emergency service know there was smoke coming out of an old wooden home, but I didn’t know much more.
It was shocking to see how fast the firetrucks arrived, and with plenty of engines, since they had no idea what they were up against.
It was like watching a choreographed scene with well-trained firefighters and a captain.
They gained control of everything, and most of the trucks just moved back to their stations to await the next call as this threat was eliminated.
It’s one thing to move out of the way for firetrucks on the road, but another to witness these professionals at work. We should all be grateful they are here to protect all of us.
They have my respect and admiration and gratitude.
RAND CUTHBERTSON
Charleston
Elections expensive
The real cost of presidential elections is being paid by taxpayers, not by the candidates.
The last time our country had a budget surplus was under Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Since then, the yearly budget deficits have averaged $878 billion a year under Barack Obama; $1.4 trillion under Donald Trump; and $1.8 trillion under Joe Biden.
With Congress having difficulty passing budget bills, almost every year unused funds are being pulled from one department and doled out for some giveaway for something that will attract votes.
Executive orders are used to spend money without congressional approval. Forgiving student loans costing billions of dollars is just one example. The amount of interest on the debt of more than $34 trillion is higher than the nation’s defense budget. Congress also is ignoring the fact that the Social Security and Medicare programs will not be able to make full payments in just a few years. And because of politics, it never comes up for discussion.
The longer that leaders wait to take action, the more serious the shortfall will be. Don’t be fooled by the Biden administration when it says that it has reduced the budget deficit. Instead, it has reduced the annual increase in the deficit and the budget is still out of control.
Candidates running for federal office should be asked two questions: First, what is their plan on how to get the budget to where revenue exceeds expenses so that the deficit can start to be reduced?
And second, what is their solution to avoid cutting Social Security and Medicare payments?
ROGER STEEL
Seabrook Island
Immunize us
Instead of granting former President Donald Trump immunity, perhaps the U.S. Supreme Court could just order the rest of us vaccinated against him.
ROBIN CURRIE
Charleston
