Readers weigh in on fees, families and 'bag lady' clerks

After three straight columns dealing with tax issues, it's time to lighten up a bit this week — thanks to you.

Several readers have commented on recent columns, and I think they've made some interesting points. So I'm going to share a few with you today.

A reader named Danny responded to a column in which I talked about the financial roller coaster of everyday life, focusing on recent insurance changes at the Deseret News, a hand injury suffered by my wife and a well-timed mortgage refinancing.

"As a former French citizen, I can't help but be amazed when I read that, here, it almost takes refinancing a house to afford health care," he wrote. "Then again, in my 20 years spent in France, I have never had the opportunity to live in a house: The taxes were too high."

In other words, every financial system has its pros and cons. Good to remember.

A reader named Earl wrote in to comment on a recent column that mentioned the importance of proper attire to good customer service.

"I still think it is disgraceful that so-called professionals dress like a bunch of bag ladies," Earl wrote. "In the dollar store, my clerk had three earrings and six lip rings and full-sleeve tattoos. I walked out and commented (to the manager that) his employees looked like they were prison skinheads. He just laughed and said he could do nothing about it. I said, 'Oh yes, you can.'

"Once again, thank you. General dress decency is a thing of the past, but as long as I'm around I'm going to speak out."

Please do, Earl. You have every right to expect good service, and as I've written before, the only way it will get better is if we demand it — politely, of course!

Several readers also responded to a recent column on three weeks I spent without my family while they were on vacation in Texas, and the various costs and benefits — both fiscal and emotional — of my temporary single life.

In an online post, one reader said his wife went to a family reunion and he had to stay behind because he couldn't get time off from work.

"I called her the next morning and proudly reported to her that I had a vegetarian breakfast," the commenter wrote. "When she asked me what vegetarian breakfast I just had, I proudly said, 'Chocolate cookies.' "