I have been remiss in not noting the source of our conversational topics: The Winston-Salem Journal, as you know. Buy it, look at the ads online. It is kind enough not to mind my copying and pasting, and goes further, as one of the staff, whom I do not know personally, has thanked me for posting its LTE's.
Disappointed
The American people elect our representatives to Congress, and they should be mature leaders. These past several months, the present leaders that we sent to Congress have behaved like little children. It is apparent that we sent the wrong people, and I, for one, will exercise my right at the polls to send our representatives presently in Washington back home.
They apparently can't lead and vote the way their party wants. We don't need to pay these big salaries if they can't use some individual initiative and vote independent from their party leaders. They need to lead and solve the problems.
Yes, I know it is a tough job. They need to solve the tough ones or stay home and not represent the American people. I am very disappointed in Congress.
RICHARD HIGH
Pfafftown
Unsupportive Democrats
I feel conscience-bound to say upfront that I am a lifelong, card-carrying Democrat. But that does not prevent me from being critical of some Democrats and of a curious media lapse where they are concerned.
As the saga over the debt-ceiling crisis dragged on, we heard repeatedly how some Republicans associated with the tea party were willing to drive the country over a cliff rather than compromise their beliefs. They were portrayed as putting doctrinal purity above the welfare of the country.
The consensus seemed to be that Democrats would support the compromise that had been worked out by the president and the leaders of the House and the Senate, but some Republicans would also have to support it or it would fail and the country would be in real trouble. The burning question was whether House Speaker John Boehner could get his troops in line in support of the compromise proposal.
When the dust settled, the bill passed by a comfortable margin. But it was not Democrats who voted most heavily in favor of preventing the country from defaulting on its debt; it was Republicans. John Boehner got his troops in line; Nancy Pelosi didn't. In the House, Republicans voted 174-66 in favor of the compromise bill. Democrats split 95-95.
So why haven't the pundits excoriated those 95 Democrats for being willing to drive the country over a cliff?
RICHARD GROVES
Winston-Salem
An affront
The Aug. 3 David Fitzsimmons cartoon about the tea party and the balanced budget amendment is an affront to the intelligence of your readers. Your editorial board should take a step forward into the information age by relaying the truth about the amendment in that most lawmakers, scholars and experts indicated that any such amendment would include exemptions for war, emergencies and similar instances.
Fitzsimmons is a left-wing basher of the tea party, the Republican Party and Sarah Palin. Printed to the left of Fitzsimmons' cartoon is the mission statement of the Journal Editorial Board. The cartoon seems to be in conflict with the part, "But we will never hesitate in calling for what's best for Northwest North Carolina." The association within Fitzsimmons cartoon of the tea party, the balanced budget amendment, and a defeat by Germany and Japan in 1942 is absurd and would only appeal to left-wingers and illiterates. Anyone with common sense knows that government is out of control when hundreds of billions of tax dollars end up as waste and fraud, as reported by U.S. inspectors general, and the government keeps adding trillions upon trillions of dollars to the national debt.
Instead of calling up the likes of Fitzimmons, how about simply doing a good job at reporting the truth without any slants and without any hidden agenda on your editorial page — this would seem to be best for all of your readers.
BOB KELEMEN
Rural Hall
Fair tax
As a rock-ribbed Republican, I have to disagree with the prevailing thinking on increasing taxes on people who make more than $250,000.
I think a fair tax increase for the big earner is equitable. I also think, on the other hand, that all Americans should pay some income tax. At the present time, 47 percent of Americans pay no federal income tax. This just makes no sense. It is easy to cry for income-tax increases for others when you pay no tax.
It's every American's duty to help pay for governmental services. So let's not just tax the rich, let's tax everyone.
FRED S. HUTCHINS JR.
Clemmons
The American people elect our representatives to Congress, and they should be mature leaders. These past several months, the present leaders that we sent to Congress have behaved like little children. It is apparent that we sent the wrong people, and I, for one, will exercise my right at the polls to send our representatives presently in Washington back home.
They apparently can't lead and vote the way their party wants. We don't need to pay these big salaries if they can't use some individual initiative and vote independent from their party leaders. They need to lead and solve the problems.
Yes, I know it is a tough job. They need to solve the tough ones or stay home and not represent the American people. I am very disappointed in Congress.
RICHARD HIGH
Pfafftown
Unsupportive Democrats
I feel conscience-bound to say upfront that I am a lifelong, card-carrying Democrat. But that does not prevent me from being critical of some Democrats and of a curious media lapse where they are concerned.
As the saga over the debt-ceiling crisis dragged on, we heard repeatedly how some Republicans associated with the tea party were willing to drive the country over a cliff rather than compromise their beliefs. They were portrayed as putting doctrinal purity above the welfare of the country.
The consensus seemed to be that Democrats would support the compromise that had been worked out by the president and the leaders of the House and the Senate, but some Republicans would also have to support it or it would fail and the country would be in real trouble. The burning question was whether House Speaker John Boehner could get his troops in line in support of the compromise proposal.
When the dust settled, the bill passed by a comfortable margin. But it was not Democrats who voted most heavily in favor of preventing the country from defaulting on its debt; it was Republicans. John Boehner got his troops in line; Nancy Pelosi didn't. In the House, Republicans voted 174-66 in favor of the compromise bill. Democrats split 95-95.
So why haven't the pundits excoriated those 95 Democrats for being willing to drive the country over a cliff?
RICHARD GROVES
Winston-Salem
An affront
The Aug. 3 David Fitzsimmons cartoon about the tea party and the balanced budget amendment is an affront to the intelligence of your readers. Your editorial board should take a step forward into the information age by relaying the truth about the amendment in that most lawmakers, scholars and experts indicated that any such amendment would include exemptions for war, emergencies and similar instances.
Fitzsimmons is a left-wing basher of the tea party, the Republican Party and Sarah Palin. Printed to the left of Fitzsimmons' cartoon is the mission statement of the Journal Editorial Board. The cartoon seems to be in conflict with the part, "But we will never hesitate in calling for what's best for Northwest North Carolina." The association within Fitzsimmons cartoon of the tea party, the balanced budget amendment, and a defeat by Germany and Japan in 1942 is absurd and would only appeal to left-wingers and illiterates. Anyone with common sense knows that government is out of control when hundreds of billions of tax dollars end up as waste and fraud, as reported by U.S. inspectors general, and the government keeps adding trillions upon trillions of dollars to the national debt.
Instead of calling up the likes of Fitzimmons, how about simply doing a good job at reporting the truth without any slants and without any hidden agenda on your editorial page — this would seem to be best for all of your readers.
BOB KELEMEN
Rural Hall
Fair tax
As a rock-ribbed Republican, I have to disagree with the prevailing thinking on increasing taxes on people who make more than $250,000.
I think a fair tax increase for the big earner is equitable. I also think, on the other hand, that all Americans should pay some income tax. At the present time, 47 percent of Americans pay no federal income tax. This just makes no sense. It is easy to cry for income-tax increases for others when you pay no tax.
It's every American's duty to help pay for governmental services. So let's not just tax the rich, let's tax everyone.
FRED S. HUTCHINS JR.
Clemmons
LTE1: I essentially agree with this LTE, and have called the debt limit push-and-shove a sandbox fight. However, we need to pay more for representation, not less. As it stands, we're getting what we pay for. It is expensive to represent us in DC, so at the moment, we are "represented by the very well off, or by union- or business-owned trained seals, or by True Believers, with an admixture of other folk. Congress is also underrepresented with people from the real workaday world of producing, distributing, and selling goods and services, with one exception. With all respect to Bo Houff and others of similar character in his profession, there are too many lawyers in government. Or too many lawyers who discredit their profession, perhaps.
ReplyDeleteLTE2: The Dems who voted against the bill were casting protest votes, just as some Republicans were. No fan of the Dems, I, but they weren't going to be seen as derailing the bill. Had more Dem votes been needed, they would have been there, IMO.
LTE3: Cartoonists are frequently outre'. The "Journal" can publish what it wishes. I look at Fitzsimmons' cartoons from time to time. I also look at grafitti.
LTE4: Disagree with upping the high marginal rate on taxable incomes > $250? I do, too. But, how about $350K? No? Pick a number. At some point, taking an extra $30 or so out of every $1000 of income over some figure is not going to hurt to any real extent. As for the nefarious 47% or 51% or whatever number pay no Federal income taxes, THEY HAVE NO MONEY. They do pay sales taxes, excise taxes, fuel taxes, etc.
Greetings and long time no talk Staballoy and all,
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the dysfunctional circus otherwise known as our politicized budgeting process, I'm not even going to comment on it. The whole thing has been a mockery of democracy, an insult to private American citizens, and unspeakably dangerous to our economy and each of our personal stability. Congresspeople are behaving like morons.
I'm also not going to hop on the party-bashing bandwagon. They are all, but sorry the TPers in particular are using half-truths, half data-sets and unrealistic extremes for grandstanding and furthering their own careers to the detriment of the rest of us. Their behavior has now crossed the line into unacceptable, and I for one, am spitting mad.
Staballoy, great job on keeping this blog! I hope it's not embarassing if I say that I think your "perspective" is developing into that a very, VERY attractive public office candidate!
I hope everyone is doing well. Buffcoach, I saw your picture on the blog and my heart fluttered, you are so handsome, I hope you're feeling great. Dotnet, I saw V this weekend but didn't even have a second to talk to her outside of logistics for my f-i-l's 75th party! I hope you two have been able to talk via fb. Sorry I think this paragraph is more appropriate for the Leopard's Limb.
One comment on LTE4:
ReplyDeleteI think increasing the marginal tax rate on people who earn above $250K is fine. If you think about it, double income families even in the most expensive metro areas will probably bring in somewhere from $200 - 250K annually. Anything above that goes to highest wage earners, and I'm sure most can make it work.
Well, it looks like most of the people in this forum are smart enough to realize that we need a change in leadership, and now. However, just as in life, there are always a few knuckleheads.
ReplyDeleteI had the unfortunate experience of voting for the wrong president in one year past. It's wasn't pretty. The U.S. took a major nose dive shortly thereafter, just like it is doing now. I promised myself that I would not be persuaded by bunch of political promises and flowery rhetoric going forward. That I would look at the man's or woman's past successes or lack there of, and their qualifications in highly critical manner in the future. It's too bad some people did not do so in Obama's case.
With much regret, we have to look at what Obama has done already. He's shown that he is perfectly willing to ignore prior laws passed by congress. I'll list just a few:
1) Drug laws
2) Defense of marriage
3) Immigration
4) NCLB
He's even suing states that are trying to help the federal government enforce its laws. That's unprecedented.
I'll give him the fact that he inherited a bad economic situation, but he's making it worse. Not just a little, a lot worse, in his apparently quest to exact social justice on some people for others.
My blog friend, Stab, suggests that we do something. Sadly, I'm not sure what we can do at this point. Obama can do a lot of damage to the country in the coming months, especially through executive orders. Look at what he's done already by using executive orders by weaseling around things he doesn't like.
In short, we've got America's first socialist dictator on our hands. If we get out with just losing our money, we'll be lucky. Hang on, I think it's going to get even uglier.
A circus always has an audience.
ReplyDeleteGood morning all and especially to my good friend Gigi. I'm so glad you and Jason installed air conditioning.
ReplyDeleteGood grief...DC in August w/ no air conditioning. That's a scary thought.
ReplyDeleteGood AM, WW, Gigi, Bob, Bucky, and Arthur!
ReplyDeleteGigi: We have missed you, glad to see you. Thank you for your kind words. Some of my perspective comes from the things you folks write, from right to left. One of the nice things about the "Journal's" Forum was that it had some pretty well-informed and articulate posters, far more so than many sites. These folks laid out some pretty persuasive cases, that, even if I weren't fully persuaded, sometimes led me to change my opinion. We'll see about running for office, depends on family situation, among other things.
Changing circumstances also change my opinion.
PS, OT divergences here are fine. I use The Limb for bulk OT stuff and for my own editorializing. I try, not always successfully, to leave editorializing out of the actual LTE post above, not counting references to repetitive topics, etc.
Bucky/Linds: No fan of Obama, I, but as I posted last night, he is President till 01/2013, at least. We must work with him where possible, and deflect/block him where possible, especially in the appointment/executive order arena, where he and his minions are making law that should be reserved for Congress to enact. Thus, blog friend, we do need to do something.
And possibly sometimes nothing, as suggested in the Eugene Robinson column yesterday.
Arthur: I agree re DC and no AC. Whatever possessed the Founding Fathers to site the capital there?
Hello Stab,GG and Bucky. I thought GG had cashed in her sweeps and departed for the islands or something. Welcome back. I will go bottom up on the LTE's.
ReplyDelete-I have always been interested in a flat tax for individuals and biz...very low and very flat. Also, I can see a small national sales tax to boot to get at the "underground economy" as it is called. I do not approve of singling out any income bracket for special taxation. That only sets up a "go to group" everytime someone needs a campaign slogan.
-Left wing bashers like Fitzsimmons are welcome and are instructive to the political process. In this time of paradigm shift, he is helpful in explaining what is losing out and why. Even in the time we are in and as rough as it is, people of his persuasion are necessary players.
-The fact that the repercussions of the debt ceiling debate continue to reverberate is very instructive. We had a shrinking economy before the debate. Same thing during the debate as well as after the debate. Three things happened around this debate: A compromise resulted. America is now two trillion or so deeper in debt. The subject matter was finally debated so we could see the sausage made which has served to fix the issue in the publics mind. It is this third thing that has caused all the noise ever since. Governing elites are at risk and will be required to "do something" out in the open.
- And finally, we have a vigorous debate going on in Government. That is supposed to happen. We have so many problems partly because decades old ways of governing are no longer working. It can be an ugly mix when new problem solvers come to town and clash with established problem creators of both parties. Sure beats exchanging gun fire like some countries devolve to. I'll take more of this with a fresh round of new blood in 2012 just like 2010.
ooops! While typing two others entered the forum. Good am Arthur and Bob.
ReplyDelete(SORRY MASSIVELY OFF LTE TOPIC) Hi guys! We're halfway installed. They had to redesign a whole floor when they realized bulkheads had to be lower than originally thought. My 6'5" husband needs to walk upright in our house without knocking his head on the ceiling! Thanks to waiting for parts and work/vacation schedules, we're still dealing with window units, but we should be totally done within the next few weeks. Fortunately we spend the day in the office, and my cat seems to really enjoy being outside.
ReplyDeleteArthur, were you at JHU? I read you were in Ballmer a few weeks ago.
Buffcoach, I hope you're staying cool and feeling great! Did I tell you my other sister in law had a triple bypass a few months ago? Unexpectedly as you can imagine. She seems to be feeling a lot better, she said she didn't realize how super tired she was. I recall you saying something similar before your valve replacement.
WW! Hi! I read when I can but have to avoid posting because I notice a correlation between posting and getting behind on work! :-) I hope you and Mrs WW are doing well and staying cool.
ReplyDeleteI like your comment on the tax rate. I agree, and I think it should be on our long-term national budgeting goal. I don't think it's feasible in the short-term. As long as we don't eliminate the mortgage deduction I'm ok! (Although I think newly purchased second homes should not have a mortgage deduction....)
Since most of you know me anyway, I'm going to switch to my regular name, Sharon.
I'll just stick with Bucky. It seems to create more consternation.
ReplyDeleteBucky is ducky.
ReplyDeleteSharon, we are doing ok for a retired couple. thanks for asking. The mtg deduction is a sticky problem and will probably take a phase in period. I say that as someone who has no mortgage of course. I trust other matters in your life are as you need them?
ReplyDeleteQuack quack
ReplyDeleteTo ASL - I need more coffee. I should've written "A few weeks ago I read you lived in Baltimore for some time. Did you study at JHU?"
ReplyDeleteI need some more too!
ReplyDeleteYep, I did my undergrad time there. I liked it well enough...competition was fierce with the pre-meds and engineers, but I was history so I didn't care. And Baltimore's great; it has personality. Sometimes too much.
That's right, Sharon. I'm so glad for your s-i-l.
ReplyDeleteHi Whitewall, I'm glad to hear you and Mrs WW are ok. I will follow up with you on email for privacy, but your family has remained in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteJason and I have our good health, our extended families are doing well considering we always seem to have acute challenges. We've lately come to the conclusion that "uncertain chaos" is our new reality, so we must learn to accept it without letting it undermine us.
Business is good, but we always need an exit strategy and layered insurance policies. We juggle a lot on our backs, and Jason's hairline is starting to show it!
I used to let politics and current events get to me. I don't anymore.
I read JHLion's LTE last week +-. Is he participating here?
Wow, Arthur, that's really neat. What a fun undergrad experience that must've been. I've met a number of JHU grads in DC, every one I meet is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sharon. We are an eclectic bunch, that's for sure.
ReplyDelete"Wow, Arthur, that's really neat. What a fun undergrad experience that must've been. I've met a number of JHU grads in DC, ever one I meet is fascinating." -Sharon
ReplyDeleteI guess former John Edwards groupies don't have anything to do since he was indicted.
Unducky Bucky.
ReplyDeleteMucky Bucky.
ReplyDelete"Edwards groupies"? I missed something along the way.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: "These past several months, the present leaders that we sent to Congress have behaved like little children." - that seems to be the consensus. Cutting their "big" (it's really not that big) salaries isn't the answer. You have to have every district in play for either party to win so the reps have to listen to both sides instead of toeing to their party line.
LTE 2: Actually could have combined this with LTE 1 since they have the same solution. As Stab noted, those were most likely protest votes that were safe to cast since a passing vote was already assured.
LTE 3: The cartoonist hit another bulls-eye with Mr. Kelemen. Recessionary times with a high UR would have to be added to the BBA exemption list. Actually, once you add up all of the exemptions for having a balanced budget, the amendment falls apart because the vast majority of the time an exemptive clause will be taking place. As far as slants, providing a variety of viewpoints from all sides is as fair as the readers should expect. It is the EDITORIAL page after all.
LTE 4: The idea behind a progressive tax rate is to provide a "fair" tax rate. A 10% hit is much rougher on someone living paycheck to paycheck than it is on someone who socks over half his paycheck away each time. I think a natl sales tax is a viable idea provided it does not exceed 1 - 2%. I see it as alternative to raising income taxes, but not as a replacement for income taxes.
Hey Sharon!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a chance to chat with V yet on FB. We seem to have different FB schedules. I sent you an email on your regular email address (hope it didn't go to junk!). I'll probably be taking off for a few days the first week of Oct and I'll also be gone the whole day of the 29th for the UNC alumni game in Chapel Hill. Outside of that, I'm free.
Hi Dotnet! My afternoon just went haywire. I'll email you this evening, will fill you in on V's schedule.
ReplyDeleteI wonder where the 'Organism' is at today? I guess it's getting harder for it/her/him to get over drug/alcohol stupors from the night before.
ReplyDeleteDCGigi, in her first comment said "I'm also not going to hop on the party-bashing bandwagon.", but in 3 words no less started bashing the Tea Party! I guess the lifetime of her comments is 3 words. Just remember the only plan that would have met the requirements to keep our rating from being downgraded was cut, cap and balance, which was proposed by Tea Party republicans and passed by the House, with some democrat votes.
ReplyDelete