Middle Class

Here are some of the calls we have received lately: "I'm calling about this so-called fire tax everybody's talking about. If anybody's even proposing to have a fire tax, I think the county has to have a strict plan on how, when, and where these companies, volunteer organizations, can spend their money. I know there's a lot of waste in these fire companies around the area. It's not fair to the citizens if they're gonna put a fire tax on and let these companies just waste their money.

As in 1776, it's time to dump this 'king' To the editor: You need to see what is happening here in America. It's the oldest ploy known to man. It's called divide and conquer. That is just what King George (George W.) is doing. His administration keeps us where he wants us by dividing us. He pits the pro-life against the pro-choice, the pro-gun against the anti-gun, the people who believe burning the flag is an exercise of free speech against the people who believe it is wrong to desecrate the flag, gay-marriage opponents against gay-rights activists and all the other issues that keep us divided.

"There were really a lot of nice articles in the paper Sunday for Father's Day. But didn't anyone know a month ago it was Mother's Day because it just seems like nobody remembers mother like they do father. And most of the time, fathers don't amount to anything. " "I completely agree with the person who called in about the rent in Hagerstown being so high. I live alone, I make about $9 a hour and my rent is $500 a month. You tell me how anybody is supposed to live on that with a car payment, utilities and other monthly bills that you have to pay. It's impossible.

tarar@herald-mail.com As Washington County begins studying rising property assessments and ways to make housing more affordable for low-income residents and senior citizens, some County Commissioners warned Tuesday that middle-income earners shouldn't be left out of the mix. Commissioners Vice President William J. Wivell and Commissioner Doris J. Nipps said the middle class also are struggling to keep up with climbing housing costs....