Letters to the Editor for the week of June 12

Reader sounds off on fair, college, dogs
After reading the news, I was glad to hear that the State Fair of Virginia has moved from the Richmond Raceway Complex to Caroline County and will be there for the September opening.

Also, it is exciting that the one of the Germanna Community College branches is coming to North Stafford in Aquia Park. I know that I will gain knowledge that will enhance my education and this will make things a little easier for me when I am writing short articles and looking to understand simple freelance writing.

Also, [in response to Laurie Williams’ recent pet column,] I do not think it is fair to leave your dog or any animal behind [when going on vacation.] My husband and I call around to see which hotels take dogs. In my case, our dog had been in a puppy mill for four years and had been abused.

Anna Victoria Reich
Stafford

Stafford resident comments on op-ed
I would like to comment about the op-ed piece "Stand Up for the Unemployed" by Alane Callandar (April 24-30).

Virginia will receive 4.8 billion dollars in stimulus money over the next two years. One-hundred twenty-five million dollars was allotted to expand unemployment benefits, a requirement for accepting the money.

That federal money will run out in two years. Our state government would have been forced to raise taxes on employers in order to sustain this level of support. Democrats would not allow a provision that would have lifted this requirement on businesses in two years. How can we expect to attract new businesses to Virginia if our government intends to burden them with more taxes?

There were two other stipulations for accepting this money: first, that someone could turn down a full-time job and still get unemployment benefits while working part-time; secondly, a person could collect unemployment benefits if he or she couldn't find "suitable" work. So, we have the potential for individuals to keep looking for that perfect job, turning down job offers, while working part time and getting an unemployment check.

As November statewide elections approach, we will hear and see attack ads by democrats accusing republicans of insensitivity to needy families because they voted against expanding unemployment benefits. I hope Virginians realize that we need to be grateful for the foresight of the Republicans who stood up and pointed out how unreasonable these federal requirements were for accepting this portion of stimulus money.

My husband has been unemployed, underemployed, and self employed. There were times when we could barely put food on the table. However, I think most people would agree that investing in the future of Virginia should not include the government forcing higher unemployment taxes on businesses to pay people while working part time, or waiting for the right job offer.

Carrie Tyer
Stafford

PETA seeks to ban fireworks
Whether they're ignited by individuals or launched as part of an official display, fireworks endanger both humans and animals. With Independence Day approaching, here are five reasons why it's time to ban fireworks:

1. Fireworks pollute the air with greenhouse gases, asthma-triggering barium salts, and fine particulate matter of the kind found to reduce life expectancy in a study published in “The New England Journal of Medicine.”

2. Groundwater is often polluted with substances released by fireworks, including perchlorate, a chemical known to impair thyroid function and cause damage to fetuses.

3. The loud noises associated with fireworks are devastating to our animal companions. Not only can they suffer damage to their sensitive ears, but, in their attempts to escape the frightening noise, animals often run away and become lost or injured.

4. Fireworks also impact wild animals — especially birds, who have been known to choke on the plumes of pyrotechnic blasts or to become so disoriented and frightened that they abandon their fledglings.

5. Humans are also endangered due to the greatly increased risk of fires and the frequency of serious injuries ranging from third-degree burns to blindness.

Please contact your local and state officials and urge them to ban fireworks and to replace pyrotechnic displays with equally dazzling—and more humane—alternatives like laser light shows. To learn more, visit PETA.org.

Jeff Mackey
Research Specialist
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Norfolk