Letter to the editor
I'd like to comment on a few of Ms. Burleson's comments in her letter to the editor from June 1.
First, she wrote: "It would be nice if I could apply for food stamps."
You can apply for food stamps. It's not a military program, it's a federal
program. But, if you make too much money to apply, think about these military
folks—how do you think they're making it from paycheck to paycheck?
Second: "I would also like to be able to take advantage of the entertainment
that is available at military bases, such as swimming pools." Well, if
you're a civilian employee, you can. Just pay your entrance fee like everyone
else. By the way, you can also use the gym and golf course! Don't cry if
you've never checked into these things.
Third: "If the houses on base need fixing, why can't the people living
in them fix them?" Did you know that the people living in military housing
are actually renting these units? Don't you think it should be the landlord's
responsibility to maintain these units, just as in the private sector? Can
we really expect someone who needs to use food stamps to make it from payday
to payday to use what little discretionary income they have on house repairs?
Why should someone coming off of a 12- to 18-hour shift have to worry about
fixing his employer's faucets?
Allan Emerson
Air Force