Happy new year?

What is there to be happy about, other than not living in Afghanistan or Iraq, or being one of the poor soldiers serving there?

Prices go up, taxes go up, new jobs are nonexistent and the public is getting abused with gas/oil prices while big business continues to get the best tax breaks.

Does anyone remember when we used to get channels (somewhat snowy) 6, 8 and 13 for free? How did we ever survive with only those three channels? My cable TV bill has gone up $20 in the past three months. For what?

Now, Sinclair and Time Warner are arguing over 10 cents. Paying another 10 cents to get the New England Patriots and some of the best programs on TV seems to be a mere pittance in the inflated cable TV industry.

Paying close to $8 in ancillary taxes is another joy of cable TV. Like many other older people, I find television to be my main source of entertainment. That may come to an end soon. I may have to find Uncle Wiggily, Chutes and Ladders and Candyland to fill my exciting day. Reading is also a 10-minute adventure in excitement before I fall asleep.

Does anyone remember the last time they had a happy new year? Think really hard.

I hope Santa put coal in the stockings of Sinclair and Time Warner. Anything else would just increase their profits while, as usual, the consumers suffer.

George A. Ferguson, Sabattus