Try calling the Social Security office in Port Richey and see how frustrated you get.
"Here's a thought. ...''
That's the lead-in to a recorded message that tells you about a Web site you can visit for general information about Social Security or to obtain forms to fill out. No claim or appeal assistance is available from this site.
When you call this number, this message plays four times with on-hold silence between and then it clicks and cuts off your call. No matter which selection you chose, the same thing happens.
Apparently, the next available person to help you is never available because after trying for 14 working days straight, eight to 10 times each day, there has been no way to get anyone to answer the phone. This is the response my friend has received while trying to obtain information regarding a Social Security disability claim appeal. The appeal was mailed return-receipt requested on May 10. There is a time limit of 60 days for filing an appeal of this nature, so time is of the essence.
Not being able to get an answer from the Port Richey office, my friend contacted the 800 phone number for Social Security to see if they could be of assistance. Their response was that nothing had been entered into the main computer files regarding this appeal and that her only recourse was to contact the Port Richey office.
My friend has subsequently learned from the Social Security office that claims are processed in the order in which they are received and that there is only one person assigned to process these claims. This person happens to be on vacation at this time, so not only are these claims being put into a pile, according to when they were received, but that pile is going unprocessed because of a vacation.
It is understood that processing these claims takes time; however, it is not understood why it should take such a long time to get them put back into the system for processing. It has already been one month since the appeal was sent.
Lives are being put on hold. Is this how the government responds to helping a disabled citizen who has no other source of income or any other source of assistance? These citizens certainly did not put the government on hold and then cut them off repeatedly when paying into Social Security for so many years and their contributions did not stop while they were on vacation.
Here's a thought: How is it that such a huge and powerful government can assign only one person to control thousands of claims and do it in a timely fashion?
Here's another thought: Someone with the authority to intercede on behalf of these poor individuals with the Social Security Administration should step up and do so on behalf of these citizens.
Gary Morrow, Hudson
Insurance fee adds to residents' burden
We recently received the invoice for our home insurance and were appalled to find an extra $163.06 charge titled "Citizens Insurance.''
We have dealt with State Farm insurance for a while and we have seen the cost of home insurance skyrocket over the years, to the point that some residents are not covering their homes anymore.
We have nothing to do with Citizens Insurance and I don't see why we should be paying for the mishandling of Citizens Insurance by the state of Florida. Home insurance is high as it is and we definitely don't need additional charges imposed by the state.
Yolanda DeMarino, Spring Hill
Shoot-first law is showing results: bodies
Pasco has some catching up to do.
The Orlando Sentinel reported June 11 that 13 shootings in Central Florida were tied to the NRA's new shoot-first law. Six were killed and four were injured. All but one person were unarmed.
Pasco recorded its first shoot-first victim when Jacqueline Galas gunned down Frank Labiento June 11 in Port Richey.
Now that gun owners are beginning to understand what they can do legally with that gun in a self-defense situation, the body count is sure to increase.
In November 2005, Gov. Bush signed into law the NRA's law, which he called a great crime-fighting tool. It passed the Senate by a unanimous vote and 94 to 20 in the House. Could one not reasonably assume, with such an endorsement from our state government, that this law not only represented the right thing, but the legal thing you can do with that gun?
If you are not doing anything illegal, and if you are in a place you have a right to be, you do not have to retreat, you can meet force with force, and if you feel reasonably afraid for great bodily harm or death, you can use deadly force. Be sure to use a gun and not a club or knife, because the NRA will come to your defense only if you use a gun.
The language of this new law is the kind of bravado the NRA hopes will hide the real problems with this new law. In a shooting, before this law was passed, the shooter had to prove the act was justified.
Now with the NRA law, law enforcement and prosecutors have the law turned on its head; now they must prove the shooting was not justified!
How can prosecutors do that when there are no witnesses?
All the shooter has to do is repeat the NRA's magic words, "I felt threatened.''
How can prosecutors prove otherwise?
In the case of Galas not all the facts are in, but it appears she was in a place she had a right to be, did not a have a duty to run out the door and retreat from the danger, could meet force with force, and because she expressed fear of great bodily harm or death, she had a right under the NRA self-defense law to employ deadly force, which she did with Labiento's gun.
People have already started to get away with murder in Florida, and when more understand no retreat is necessary, even if it makes good sense to do so, and that the state must now prove the shooting was unjustified, the body count will continue to climb.
Arthur C. Hayhoe, Wesley Chapel
Alligators, yes, but manatees, no?
So, manatees are not protected, but gators still are. Makes perfect Florida sense.
I see the inmates are still running the nuthouse here.
Roger F. Lind, Port Richey
Be ready for storms but don't be a pig
The June 13 picture in the Pasco Times just shows how a gas shortage happens in storms.
The man in the picture is hoarding gas and not thinking of others. He is probably making the next in line very mad. So now the gas station will be out of gas and we will have pump rage.
I just hope people think before a bad storm comes along. You are not the only ones here. Last year showed us how gas will run out if you do this kind of thing. Fill your vehicle and one or two gas cans.
Leave some for the next person.
Jeffery Kiphart, Spring Hill
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