Wednesday, January 14, 1998

Rats in heaven?

We awakened this morning to another international outcry: "Justice has not been served. Another killer escapes the gallows.”

I must admit I feel somewhat the same way. But deep down inside I feel this haunting question: Which is worse? Death in the chair or a life of eternal torment?

I think O.J. Simpson is going through that torment now. His latest statement confirms it.

What satisfaction is there in vengeance? The first thing in my memory as a kid was the hanging tree outside the little town of my birth. Then there was (still is) the glass-enclosed gallows in the jail in Sabine County where I grew up. A hanging was a public event. But I remember so well the reactions of the viewers. There was no real satisfaction, just a mixture of sadness and frustration and hatred.

Those of us who believe in God also believe God is aware of and will judge us on everything we do and think. Jim Flamming told a story in the first sermon of his long ministry to our church here. It goes like this:

"This little boy found and killed a huge rat in the family barn. He grabbed the rat by the tail and ran for the house to show his parents. He was not aware that the preacher had just arrived for his customary visit. The little boy held the rat up, shouting, ‘I hit him, I stomped him and ...' At that point he saw the preacher in the living room. He dropped his head, held the critter up and stroked his head and said, ‘And then God called the little fellow home.' ”

NORMAN GOOCH

Abilene

1 percent return

I enjoyed Ken Hargis' comments about Social Security in the Jan. 11 Readers' Forum -- a masterpiece in misdirection.

While I and most Americans agree that the billions of dollars Social Security reserves should be invested, Hargis, a Social Security administrator, forgot to tell us the interest rate the federal government pays for the "loan” of our money. The rate is one percent -- less than inflation. Yes, every day that you and I pump our tax money into the Social Security system (hoping against hope that Social Security will be around when we retire), the federal government takes the money to "balance ” the budget and gives us a one percent return on our money. We lose money every day.

Is it any wonder Hargis didn't mention the interest rate? Is it any wonder the fund is in trouble and the payout at 65 (or will it be 67 in a few years?) is so meager?

If we privatize Social Security, separating the fund from the federal "free lunch” program and invest in areas that can generate a decent return on our money, there will be a Social Security fund in the future. And as an added bonus, your monthly Social Security check amount will be much higher.

Ensure your future. Write your representative today.

MIKE McGAUVRAN

Abilene

Via e-mail

Child support blues

Once again I am writing about the problems I have been having getting my child support checks.

In September 1997 the Texas Attorney General's office got a new computer system that the federal government had mandated to all Child Support divisions. We all received letters saying there would be at least a month delay.

Well, I believe the delay has been extended. It is now January 1998, and I have not yet been able to get one child support check on time or even in a reasonable amount of time. The phones in Austin have been busy for two months now. I know because I call every day!

If anyone from the Abilene or Austin offices can answer my questions or at least give me a reasonable explanation, I challenge you on this. But from my experience, I am sure not one soul from either office could do this.

Last but not least, Jim Mattox, please take up gardening or stamp collecting. Been there, done that!

NICHOLE CHEVRIE

Abilene