Both sides have points
I've been following the discussion over raising the debt limit.
I understand the right's point: We can't keep spending. We've got to draw the line somewhere.
And then there's all the political talk that obscures the point or tries to make the other side look either incompetent or evil. And the public buys it; the rabid public is eager to assign blame.
The best solution would be to compromise — raise the limit, cut spending and raise taxes modestly. When the debt is paid off, then we can cut taxes. This is what pretty much any family in debt would do: tighten the belt and put more money toward loan payments.
Unfortunately, compromise doesn't seem to be possible. We've hired a bunch of children to run the country. Not that there's much alternative; you have to be some kind of nut to get into politics in the first place.
In light of that, as sad as it sounds, I think we need to default. I think we need to suffer a bad economy or whatever it takes to stop spending so much money. We've got to draw the line somewhere and it's never going to be easy, whenever or wherever we do it.
It's going to hurt. Let's pull the Band-Aid and get it over with.
SAMUEL F. MEADE
Winston-Salem
Nice town
I loved the story "N.C. town, population 117, has a fall election, but no one is running" (July 16). Imagine a city where no one is power-hungry or anxious to order other people around.
Wherever the town of "Tar Heel" is, I think I might like to live there.
JULES HOOPER
Winston-Salem
Teacher evaluation
Thank you for your recent support for changing the way teachers are evaluated ("There's more to it than test scores," July 15). You are so right when you state that evaluating teachers is not always straightforward. Our principals are in and out of our rooms throughout the week, so we are told very quickly, or should be, if there's something that needs to be changed.
I am a 19-year veteran and absolutely love my job, despite the fact that the money is much less than most professionals earn and the task at hand is very dependent on the student's attitude, parents' attitude and how the child is taken care of at home. So many of our children come to us from very poor home situations, so my love and caring in the classroom might be all they get in a given day. So many of our children come to school hungry for food and attention, so learning is not always a top priority for them.
I very much invite anyone to come into my classroom to see what I do with these precious babies. But please remember, there's so much more to it than just book-learning.
Those who have concerns should consider volunteering at a local school. There are never enough volunteers to help with some simple paperwork or just listening and reading to a child.
VICKI HOSS
Winston-Salem
The writer teaches at Union Cross Elementary School in Kernersville.
— The editor.
Financial stability
When we need strong leadership, the Republican Party is willing to cover its supposed assets, ceding power to the presidency in the process. Refusing to include increased revenues as a means of addressing our rising deficit merely passes this liability on to our children and grandchildren.
Continuing tax cuts last fall has had no measurable effect on unemployment — the same charge the Republican Party continues to make against the stimulus. It's time for sacrifice from all.
While the president has placed everything on the table, the Republican Party continues to deny the problem its ideology has created. The Republican Party promoted tax cuts while incurring the costs of two wars. It's time to accept the responsibility for those decisions.
The quickest way to achieve financial stability is to cut spending and raise revenues. That does not result in increasing the size of government. It does increase the likelihood that the future will not be as bleak for our children, regardless of their status.
RANDY IVIE
Winston-Salem
I've been following the discussion over raising the debt limit.
I understand the left's point: America cannot default on its debts and obligations. To do so will weaken our standing in the world and cause great financial distress for everyone.
And then there's all the political talk that obscures the point or tries to make the other side look either incompetent or evil. And the public buys it; the rabid public is eager to assign blame.
The best solution would be to compromise — raise the limit, cut spending and raise taxes modestly. When the debt is paid off, then we can cut taxes. This is what pretty much any family in debt would do: tighten the belt and put more money toward loan payments.
Unfortunately, compromise doesn't seem to be possible. We've hired a bunch of children to run the country. Not that there's much alternative; you have to be some kind of nut to get into politics in the first place.
In light of that, as sad as it sounds, I think we need to default. I think we need to suffer a bad economy or whatever it takes to stop spending so much money. We've got to draw the line somewhere and it's never going to be easy, whenever or wherever we do it.
It's going to hurt. Let's pull the Band-Aid and get it over with.
SAMUEL F. MEADE
Winston-Salem
Nice town
I loved the story "N.C. town, population 117, has a fall election, but no one is running" (July 16). Imagine a city where no one is power-hungry or anxious to order other people around.
Wherever the town of "Tar Heel" is, I think I might like to live there.
JULES HOOPER
Winston-Salem
Teacher evaluation
Thank you for your recent support for changing the way teachers are evaluated ("There's more to it than test scores," July 15). You are so right when you state that evaluating teachers is not always straightforward. Our principals are in and out of our rooms throughout the week, so we are told very quickly, or should be, if there's something that needs to be changed.
I am a 19-year veteran and absolutely love my job, despite the fact that the money is much less than most professionals earn and the task at hand is very dependent on the student's attitude, parents' attitude and how the child is taken care of at home. So many of our children come to us from very poor home situations, so my love and caring in the classroom might be all they get in a given day. So many of our children come to school hungry for food and attention, so learning is not always a top priority for them.
I very much invite anyone to come into my classroom to see what I do with these precious babies. But please remember, there's so much more to it than just book-learning.
Those who have concerns should consider volunteering at a local school. There are never enough volunteers to help with some simple paperwork or just listening and reading to a child.
VICKI HOSS
Winston-Salem
The writer teaches at Union Cross Elementary School in Kernersville.
— The editor.
Financial stability
When we need strong leadership, the Republican Party is willing to cover its supposed assets, ceding power to the presidency in the process. Refusing to include increased revenues as a means of addressing our rising deficit merely passes this liability on to our children and grandchildren.
Continuing tax cuts last fall has had no measurable effect on unemployment — the same charge the Republican Party continues to make against the stimulus. It's time for sacrifice from all.
While the president has placed everything on the table, the Republican Party continues to deny the problem its ideology has created. The Republican Party promoted tax cuts while incurring the costs of two wars. It's time to accept the responsibility for those decisions.
The quickest way to achieve financial stability is to cut spending and raise revenues. That does not result in increasing the size of government. It does increase the likelihood that the future will not be as bleak for our children, regardless of their status.
RANDY IVIE
Winston-Salem
LTE1: These LTE's are easy today, as I agree with them for the most part. This first one is pretty much on the money. With the deficit as high as is, some of it represents taxes that were not levied, as we voters permitted our elected officials to spend on a credit card. We will need to increase incoming revenue one way or another. The LTE writer is right about our legislators' childish behavior. They have behaved like quarreling kids in a sandbox. Perhaps the proposal of the "Gang of 6" Senators will gain traction and the sand throwing and kabuki dance will end in favor of resolving this matter. A lot of time has been wasted scoring empty political points.
ReplyDeleteLTE2: Interesting point of view, but does one want to live where no one will take responsibility for seeing that things get done?
LTE3: As might be assumed, I agree with this LTE, and thank Ms. Hoss for her service. Using tests for teacher evaluation weights things in favor of the teachers of the academically gifted. I'm not sure how one evaluates teachers, but a completely objective system appears unworkable. A subjective system has its own pitfalls, of course.
LTE4: This LTE is slightly off the mark in that it is not only R ideology that has contributed to the impasse, and the Administration has shown some obstinancy, also. There are few angels in this process, so far. The Gang of Six show promise. I hope common sense, uncommon in Congress so far, will finally prevail.
Let's not go ragging on Tar Heel. A pleasant little burgh on the banks of the Cape fear River in Bladen County.
ReplyDeleteI have a good friend who lives there. He says that the only office without a candidate is that of mayor. He also says that the only running that he does is on the softball field when, as he puts it, he "accidentally" hits the ball in fair territory.
He does like to brag that Tar Heel's population is exploding, up 57% from the 2000 census. That would be from 70 to 117, and without annexation.
Test
ReplyDeleteYay! You passed!
ReplyDeleteO.T., your friend's softball batting average is probably similar to what mine was.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I posted about Tar Heel and it disappeared?
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans are trapped by their own ideology, and have given themselves no room to negotiate. The government needs revenues to pay for desired services. You can't keep cutting taxes ad infinitum and expect the state to function properly. Nor is it appropriate to hold the American economy hostage just to get 100% of what you want.
ReplyDeleteThe senate GOP is showing a bit more sense, even if cutting $500 billion in discretionary funds in one year is a phenomenally bad idea...we'll see if anything comes of it.
Arthur...which services are you referring to?
ReplyDeleteDefense, social security, medicare, environmental protection, education, national parks, to name a few.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon folks and happy Exploration Day!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: Totally agree there needs to be compromise and also agree compromise is difficult with this lot because of their childish stubborness. Unfortunately, this is where the LTE goes badly askew from reality. There is across the board agreement that the US absolutely cannot default and that the US cannot continue on its spending pace without the revenues to support it. Defaulting wouldn't result in just a "bad economy" nor would it result in less spending. Defaulting will cause 2 immediate reactions: the US loses its AAA rating causing interest rates to soar and the world wide markets will collapse. The world markets fell ~2% on news that Greece was on the verge of default, so imagine what will happen if the US whose GDP is 48 times larger were to come to the edge of default. The soaring interest rates alone would kill the economy driving the UR skyward resulting in even larger spending and deficits due to the increased number of unemployed. Default absolutely, positively CAN NOT HAPPEN!! IT IS NOT PULLING A BANDAID!!! IT IS CUTTING OPEN THE AORTA!!!
LTE 2: Sounds like a nice town (great name!), but the article stated everyone realizes the need for tax increases to keep the services flowing and no one wants to be the bad guy to propose the increase.
LTE 3:Hey, I went to Union Cross. Always enjoy seeing LTE's from those "in the trenches" who know what the true reality is.
LTE 4: Bit of a rant. The tax cuts while fighting two wars were irresponsible. There also needs to be both increased revenues and spending cuts, but compromise is required from both sides.
Tar Heel is a neat little community like OT mentioned along the Cape Fear. I have family there who have raised tobacco for two generations. That soil grows some very good tobacco that easily stands chin high.
ReplyDeleteHi dotnet!
ReplyDeleteI read LTE1's Band-Aid comment as urging us to cut and tax as needed, not to go into default. I am absolutely opposed to default.
No matter what, who or how, America will not default. The notion has been sold like "tulips" of old but it is the fear-which we have heard before recently- that's used to satisfy "official" Washington's need for a deal. In other words, continue the status quo. This new "Gang of Squish" deal already has Obama support even before he knew the substance. Translate: he needs a deal.
ReplyDeleteHey Stab!
ReplyDeleteLast 2 paragraphs:
"In light of that, as sad as it sounds, I think we need to default. I think we need to suffer a bad economy or whatever it takes to stop spending so much money. We've got to draw the line somewhere and it's never going to be easy, whenever or wherever we do it.
It's going to hurt. Let's pull the Band-Aid and get it over with." - Could be misinterpreting, but it sounds to me like the Band-Aid being pulled in question is defaulting. It is beyond my comprehension how anyone can think that defaulting is the appropriate action to take, but the writer here apparently does. One of those times i'd like to contact the LTE writer and say "Are you out of your mind??" Shame of it is he made some very good points also.
Yep, I skimmed it too fast when I was setting up this site this AM, misread it. No default for me, TYVM.
ReplyDeleteTest Test
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it. I actually posted something. Spent so much time trying to get it to work that when it finally did, I didn't have anything to say. That's a first.
ReplyDeleteOK - The left-wing is back.
ReplyDeleteGood, welcome, AJV! Looks like we have a pretty smooth spread from left to right to center, looking for more to add to the mix.
ReplyDeleteCompromise? Not when democrats like Chuck Schumer say they like the "revenue enhancements"i.e. tax increases but cant go along with the spending cuts.
ReplyDeletemy brother robby boy is talking to himself again.
ReplyDelete