Letters to the Editor

Growing our food

There is a growing awareness of the benefits of consuming local food.

Average Americans, however, have become a bit lazy. We no longer raise our own food, regardless of how much healthier it would be for us and our environment.

Americans do not even realize this is possible anymore.

Keeping chickens is a common practice all over the world, but not in the United States.

Raising chickens is a growing trend, and some cities have changed their laws to allow citizens to keep a small number of hens.

Growing vegetables and fruit is also extremely beneficial to the environment.

We do not think we have time in our lives to plant seeds or raise chickens.

I understand this is true for many people. However, I think if 25 percent of Americans grew one item of food we would have a healthier country.

Not only would people be eating healthier, it would be better for our environment if we had food in our own backyard.

A healthier nation can begin right in our own backyards.

Flora Boatwright

Morris Street

Charleston

Which country?

There is a country with over 50,000 or more homeless men, women and children. Most of these people are homeless by no fault of their own.

This country has at least 25 percent of its population living in poverty and at least one-third of its population has little or no health care.

This country had a natural disaster and one of its major cities was devastated and the population and infrastructure of this city are still in disarray.

What country is it?

Haiti, South Africa, or Mexico?

No, it is the United States.

Albert Robison

W. Robin Hood Drive

Charleston

Statue a joke

It isn't April, and we are not fools. Take your $150 million statue idea back to Peachtree Street in Atlanta.

But, hey, thanks for the great laugh.

D.S. Rowe

Forest Trail

Isle of Palms

Literacy priority

The Charleston County School District has been in existence for decades.

Yet this year the district adopts board policy that's key to its front-page march towards literacy?

Along with writing and arithmetic, reading is the most important stanchion of the three-legged stool. All three components are intuitively obvious, even to the illiterate.

Nothing more than an emotionally laden, money-grabbing ruse, this charade is another example of the ineptitude we get from 'professional administrators' who haven't a clue.

David Engelman

Julia Street

James Island

Estate tax

I am sure I am not the only one who thinks that taxing your estate upon your death is obscene. You or your relative have already paid taxes on the money they earned during their lives, but that's not enough. After you die, Washington comes to tax it again.

I guess the only way to avoid this is to go out like you came in, with nothing.

Sid Busch

U.S. Navy (Retired)

Bridgecreek Drive

Goose Creek

Not this car wash

In the past several months there have been at least three news articles about serious crimes allegedly committed by 'employees of a West Ashley car wash.'

These crimes have not been committed by employees of In and Out Car Wash. Most of our employees have worked with us for many years and are honest, hard-working men and women.

Our new employees are screened carefully by a management team with years of experience.

While it is not possible to have a perfect hiring record, the employees of In and Out Car Wash do not deserve the suspicion cast upon them as one of a small group of 'West Ashley car wash employees.'

This generalized approach to reporting is casting suspicion on businesses and individuals that is unwarranted.

Please take this into consideration when reporting any future incidents.

Sandra M. Ellett

In and Out Car Wash

St. Andrews Boulevard

Charleston