I am writing this letter to remind everyone the benefits we all derive from buying locally. The businesses in our community care about our community and are accessible to us when we need them for a last minute mistake or when someone goofed. Gail was courteous at 6:35 a.m. and went way beyond the call of duty to meet Jim early on a Saturday morning even when they are not open. You would never get that same service from an internet purchase or buying from another city to 'save a few bucks.' Not a chance.

Support our local businesses every time you get the chance; they live, work and pay taxes in Grand Island and help when help is needed.

Thanks to T-Shirt Engineers for being a wonderful asset to Grand Island.

Nancy Bishop

2304 W. Anna St.

Nation must live within our means

I agree to a degree with what Mr. Hahn said about our country's spending habits being too excessive; however, this is not something that was just caused by our latest president, nor the war in Iraq. For years, our presidents and Congress, Republican and Democrat, have spent trillions of dollars helping the less fortunate in other countries. We have borrowed from other countries and they have from us. I believe the United Nations was originally formed to help each other. Many people even have gone to foreign countries and adopted children, while there are thousands of children that need our help here in the United States. Tax-free organizations are even created here in the U.S. to help those in other countries, while our needy are forgotten. I guess my point is that our nation's deficit is a problem for all of us, not just our leaders.

We also need to be held responsible for our actions. Whatever happened to living within your means? If you don't have it, don't spend it! Our society has forgotten about that way of life. With these homes that cost $300,000, who really ever pays them off?

And the cars that cost $50,000; a regular blue-collar worker cannot afford that, and if they are buying it, what else is suffering? Finally, I am not happy about our troops still being in Iraq, but I feel our duty is to support them. As far as President Bush, we may not agree with all he has done, but he is our president and he deserves our respect. We must remember that our national debt was not made in just these last eight years and will not just disappear overnight with a new president in office. We all must be willing to make sacrifices if we really want to pull our country out of this. My question is, what are you ready to give up in your life to help your country's debt?

Nancy Poore

508 West Ave.

Will legislature cure diarrhea next?

Isn't it ironic that our elected officials in the Unicameral have so much time to spend on the nonsmoking ban because it is harmful to our health.

Do they have plans for other things that are harmful? As I write this letter, three ads for prescription medicine are airing which may cause heart attacks, strokes and diarrhea. Oh, our beloved chocolate has caffeine which can be harmful to expectant mothers. Even the age-old sugar causes diabetes. Alcohol impairs driving, lost of mind blackouts yet it is available in every store, cafe, bar and shopping center. Teens, you look but don't touch.

Cell phones are a no-no for teens as they drive, yet older drivers can use them and have a five-year license to drive.

It is just another freedom we have lost as citizens of Nebraska.

What tax will they find to replace the one on tobacco products?

Maxine Thome

Spalding