Too much to ask a kiss before paying?

The Mustang Ranch in Nevada is a well known establishment whose services are best left unaddressed in this article. However, later on I will get back to this establishment.

I dedicated nearly 25 years of honorable military service to my country, including a year in Vietnam. I live off of Social Security and military retirement.

Those in my category know we haven't received a cost-of-living increase for at least a year, aren't getting another this year, and the possibility for next year looks grim, as well.

Yesterday a letter from military finance came advising me I now get to pay an additional $40 per month in federal taxes. Apparently, when Congress extended the Bush-era tax cuts, they let the portion applying to federal employees and retirees expire. That's okay, because I just read that President Obama wants $68B to build high speed railways. Maybe he will build one from my house to the nearest super market and hospital because it's getting so I can't afford to buy the things that I expected to make me comfortable when I retired, including gas.

As to the Mustang Ranch referred to earlier, I imagine those who ask can at least get a kiss before parting with their money. Congress might consider entertaining the same policy.

Dean Hill, Sterling