To the Editor:

President Obama is once again trying to scare the elderly by saying to Scott Pelley of CBS News that he cannot guarantee that Social Security checks, Veterans checks and disability checks will go out as planned if Democrats and Republicans don’t raise the debt limit.

Our Government collects over $180 billion dollars in taxes each month. That is more than enough to pay the interest on our debt, insuring that our country does not default, with enough left over to pay social security benefits, veterans benefits, and other entitlement programs with no problem. Why, then does the President say that he “cannot guarantee” that Social Security checks will go out?

According to law, if there is a Government shutdown Congress and the President will still be paid. My question to the President is “if the military and senior citizens will not be paid, whom would you choose to pay?”

Connie Lapham Perrinton

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To the Editor:

Is there a reason why local stores have to have their air conditioning on so high? It’s like walking into a freezer locker.

I realize they try to keep it comfortable for both their employees and the public, but get real. I, as well as a lot of the public have arthritis and it’s too cold in these stores to shop even with a jacket on.

I don’t shop locally because of this. I do all my shopping in Mt. Pleasant, at least I can find stores that I can go in and take my time shopping in comfort.

Madalyne Houseman St. Louis