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I couldn’t help but agree with "Poor COLA decision" (letter, Jan. 26), in regard to the cost-of-living allowance decreasing in Germany.

I would like to take a look at the pocketbooks of the people who make these decisions.

We are charged 19 percent interest in (German) taxes to have phone service, 19 percent taxes if I have to purchase any items off post that the commissary is continuously out of. I am also charged the 19 percent tax if I need to buy anything off post that the post exchange is out of. We are not provided with value-added tax forms for these items. The forms are for furniture and large items, which I would never even think of buying in this pricey country. The dollar has been low for quite some time and the euro overall continues to climb, yet our COLA continues to decrease. Oh yes, and did I mention [we have to pay for] the tax forms [if we use them]?

What about the banking surcharge that Andrews Credit Union charges?

We have been going broke since we were transferred here two years ago. The military has no business transferring soldiers with families if they are not given the compensation to do so. I cannot wait to return to the States. I might be able to afford a bicycle to ride to my second job!

Lori GarciaSchweinfurt, Germany

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