Tell It To George is a collection of thoughts from here and away, from people who want to get their two cents worth in, without using their names.

Speaking of salt, no man worth his salt would expect his neighbors to pay for building his own damn salt shed.

The IRS confirms it will cost about $42 million to mail out rebate check notices.

An expensive, self-congra-tulatory letter from the administration touting how they will soon - not now, but soon - be sending money we're borrowing from China - and can't afford - to people who are being asked to take that money and rush over to the nearest WalMart to buy goods made in China - to help our faltering economy - which they are denying is faltering.

What's wrong with this picture?  Who in Hell is running things in Washington, Mr. Magoo?

First of all, when reading the March 6 issue, what came to mind was the time last fall when the Wiscasset High School students had a "walkout" onto the field with the TV news station present in support of the teachers' contract.

We were told the teachers could not be involved because they are members of the teachers' union, so they had to remain in the classrooms (which is where our students belong). Then I was told it was rallied and organized by the student council. My next thought was how convenient - one of these student council officers has a mother that teaches at our Wiscasset Middle School.

I am sorry, but I didn't see that action as, "isolating our students from the ugly negotiations process." I saw that as using our students to benefit teachers' needs. It will be very refreshing to see some real compromising so this can all come to a closure for both sides, students and citizens of this community. If you are keeping our students out of any of this, we thank you all, please continue.

In response to last week's note on the salt shed I'd like to know one thing… If Dennis has nothing better to do but sit around, "play with his computer and count his money," why doesn't he spend a little of that money on his own salt shed? You don't have to be a WLYG member to see who stands to benefit most from a town-owned salt shed. I'm sure the next thing coming will be WLYG's rationale that the town needs to buy a $100,000 loader to put the salt into Dennis' truck.

This is a blatant attempt to use taxpayers' money to put a locally owned and operated business out of business. If you do not agree then ask yourself this: If Dennis had the only state-approved salt shed on the island and he controlled the plowing contracts, would we be asking the taxpayers to raise a quarter of a million dollars so that off-island contractors could bid competitively against him? I don't think so.

I think we should call a spade a spade and come right out and say it. "Let's build Dennis a salt shed with taxpayer dollars."

It's not just Wiscasset teachers who are getting all their health benefits paid for - a lot of other Maine teachers get the same deal. I think people in Wiscasset are just tired of the idea that this certain select group of people, some of them making over $50,000 a year, get all their benefits paid for when that's just unheard of in the private sector - check out BIW or Central Maine Power, Shaw's or any other big company - all the employees are expected to pay for part of their health premiums.

And how about the little companies - they've had to either stop offering health insurance altogether or get their employees to pay as much as half the cost or more.

Teachers make more than the average Maine salary and they get a better deal on their benefits than the average Joe. Great real, teachers.

And you guys get how many days off? A week in April, a week in February, 10 weeks in the summer and every other holiday you can think of? You guys have it made. Try it out here in the real world for a change.

I am a taxpaying parent of two Wiscasset school students, and though I appreciate and am thankful that well-qualified teachers "chose" the profession to assist in educating our children of the future, I do not agree that all these teachers should get full health benefits at no cost to them, but much cost to the taxpayers who also pay their own health cost premiums. That is, if they are even fortunate enough to be offered this benefit through their employers.

My husband and I both work fulltime year-round with two weeks vacation only, and health and dental benefit premiums of $251.94 a month is deducted from our paychecks. Yet through our tax dollars the school staff request 100 percent health coverage at our expense, so we are actually paying twice. Once for our family, and twice for the school system's benefits. Is this really fair? This sits sour with me! I am one parent that supports any committee that can level this unfairness and have everyone be responsible for their own health benefit premiums.

Remember once signed it means three or more years of tax dollars at work! Let's be reasonable with fairness.

Send "Tell It To George" entries clearly marked (this way, we won't use your name) for the "Tell It To George" column, by mail at P.O. Box 429, Wiscasset, ME 04578.

Or hand carry them to our office on at 47 Gardiner Road (don't mail them to Gardiner Road, because they will be sent back to you by the post office); just put them in our mailbox right next to the front door.

Or, walk right in and give them to us.

Or, send them to us by E-mail, at wiscassetnewspaper@verizon.net.

Or, fax them to us at 882-4280;

Or, if you're not good at writing, leave us a voice mail on our answering machine after hours, at 207-882-6355 (speak slowly and distinctly). Please make sure your entries a r rive by noon on Tuesday for publ i cation in Thursday's issue.