Student loans
As a recipient of student loans, I understand the necessity of them. But in my day, those loans were manageable. The student loans of today are outrageous and can never be handled by a student straight out of school. Maybe that's why parents are now responsible for the loan instead of students. As a result, I can't see myself retiring when I reach 62 or 67, because I will still owe student loans for my son.
I expected to help him pay his loans; I didn't expect to own his loans. I will need loan forgiveness just so I may retire before I am found dead at my desk at the age of 80.
GAYLE SWAIN
Winston-Salem
No free market
There is no free market. There can never be one. The Haves, the advantaged wealthiest, always control the market.
Real competition without equal opportunity is not possible. Unless participants possess the health and education requisite for fair competition, competition is an exercise for dominance by advantaged participants.
When participants lack the capability of making responsible, rational choices, there can be no actual choice.
History, from monarchy and dictatorship through plutocracy and oligarchy, precluded the fair market, equal opportunity and meaningful choice that real democracy seeks. Democracy is only probable in the presence of universal health care and education — which is precisely the reason the radical wealthy few obstruct efforts at practical public health and education. They seek the monopoly of wealth, with power, which guarantees their victory in the fixed market with fixed competition and fixed choice arenas.
As the venerable Justice Louis Brandeis perceived, the democracy of all the people must control the wealthy few or die.
The 90 percent control of our wealth by the nation's top 10 percent wealthy few signals our death knell, unless we stop them.
MARCIALITO CAM
Winston-Salem
Just switch
In response to the Oct. 12 letter "No entitlement right," it seems to me that the letter writer is somewhat conflicted. He first states that Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan saying that the bank has a "right to make a profit" is wrong while in the next sentence he says that corporations exist to try to make a profit. Well guess what, it is every business's motive to make a profit; anything other than that is pure folly.
Thanks to the Durbin rule, the large bank fees for debit-card transactions were limited to 21 cents, about half of the previous rate, while the small banks carry on business as usual. This seems discriminatory to me. So the new fees are an effort to recoup some of these losses, which they are entitled to do.
The bottom line is the government should stop all the regulations and go about trying to create jobs, and the letter writer should just switch banks if he has a problem with the one he is using. Now, wasn't that simple?
EDWIN HALL
Winston-Salem
Beneficial move
Congressional passage of the trade agreements ("Congress OKs 3 free trade deals," Oct. 13), while a controversial move, will benefit the country.
Over the past several years, we have become more and more isolationist. This is a signal to the world that we're still in business.
The White House isn't going to brag about this for a couple of reasons. Primarily, the unions are against it as they believe it will cost us jobs. It may well cost the unions jobs, but jobs in the entire country should grow substantially.
The second thing is these were trade agreements that were negotiated by the previous (George W. Bush) administration.
We are a country that consumes a lot, and we are going to buy a lot of it from other countries. This will help level the playing field.
JIM MONROE
Winston-Salem
By far the best
The Oct. 12 PBS performance of "Oklahoma!" was excellent in every respect (" 'Oklahoma!' makes strong TV appearance," Oct. 12). It clearly defined the mission of the UNC School of the Arts, which is to develop young talent to the utmost degree.
I feel that I am qualified to make that judgment from having spent six decades as an opera singer and director, and 25 years as a teacher of voice and opera at UNCSA.
I have seen numerous "Oklahoma!" performances, and this one was, in every respect, by far the best. Each of the more than 400 students involved clearly demonstrated their excellent training and devotion to their art. Bravi to Chancellor John Mauceri and everyone who had the foresight to plan this production. Thanks also to the A.J. Fletcher Foundation for providing financial aid to produce this production for television audiences. This school certainly isn't "just a tippy-toe school" any longer.
WILLIAM BECK
Winston-Salem
As a recipient of student loans, I understand the necessity of them. But in my day, those loans were manageable. The student loans of today are outrageous and can never be handled by a student straight out of school. Maybe that's why parents are now responsible for the loan instead of students. As a result, I can't see myself retiring when I reach 62 or 67, because I will still owe student loans for my son.
I expected to help him pay his loans; I didn't expect to own his loans. I will need loan forgiveness just so I may retire before I am found dead at my desk at the age of 80.
GAYLE SWAIN
Winston-Salem
No free market
There is no free market. There can never be one. The Haves, the advantaged wealthiest, always control the market.
Real competition without equal opportunity is not possible. Unless participants possess the health and education requisite for fair competition, competition is an exercise for dominance by advantaged participants.
When participants lack the capability of making responsible, rational choices, there can be no actual choice.
History, from monarchy and dictatorship through plutocracy and oligarchy, precluded the fair market, equal opportunity and meaningful choice that real democracy seeks. Democracy is only probable in the presence of universal health care and education — which is precisely the reason the radical wealthy few obstruct efforts at practical public health and education. They seek the monopoly of wealth, with power, which guarantees their victory in the fixed market with fixed competition and fixed choice arenas.
As the venerable Justice Louis Brandeis perceived, the democracy of all the people must control the wealthy few or die.
The 90 percent control of our wealth by the nation's top 10 percent wealthy few signals our death knell, unless we stop them.
MARCIALITO CAM
Winston-Salem
Just switch
In response to the Oct. 12 letter "No entitlement right," it seems to me that the letter writer is somewhat conflicted. He first states that Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan saying that the bank has a "right to make a profit" is wrong while in the next sentence he says that corporations exist to try to make a profit. Well guess what, it is every business's motive to make a profit; anything other than that is pure folly.
Thanks to the Durbin rule, the large bank fees for debit-card transactions were limited to 21 cents, about half of the previous rate, while the small banks carry on business as usual. This seems discriminatory to me. So the new fees are an effort to recoup some of these losses, which they are entitled to do.
The bottom line is the government should stop all the regulations and go about trying to create jobs, and the letter writer should just switch banks if he has a problem with the one he is using. Now, wasn't that simple?
EDWIN HALL
Winston-Salem
Beneficial move
Congressional passage of the trade agreements ("Congress OKs 3 free trade deals," Oct. 13), while a controversial move, will benefit the country.
Over the past several years, we have become more and more isolationist. This is a signal to the world that we're still in business.
The White House isn't going to brag about this for a couple of reasons. Primarily, the unions are against it as they believe it will cost us jobs. It may well cost the unions jobs, but jobs in the entire country should grow substantially.
The second thing is these were trade agreements that were negotiated by the previous (George W. Bush) administration.
We are a country that consumes a lot, and we are going to buy a lot of it from other countries. This will help level the playing field.
JIM MONROE
Winston-Salem
By far the best
The Oct. 12 PBS performance of "Oklahoma!" was excellent in every respect (" 'Oklahoma!' makes strong TV appearance," Oct. 12). It clearly defined the mission of the UNC School of the Arts, which is to develop young talent to the utmost degree.
I feel that I am qualified to make that judgment from having spent six decades as an opera singer and director, and 25 years as a teacher of voice and opera at UNCSA.
I have seen numerous "Oklahoma!" performances, and this one was, in every respect, by far the best. Each of the more than 400 students involved clearly demonstrated their excellent training and devotion to their art. Bravi to Chancellor John Mauceri and everyone who had the foresight to plan this production. Thanks also to the A.J. Fletcher Foundation for providing financial aid to produce this production for television audiences. This school certainly isn't "just a tippy-toe school" any longer.
WILLIAM BECK
Winston-Salem
Student loans....just wait a while longer. From the looks of what is being written in the financial press, the college debt bubble is the next to burst. The college gets the money, the student gets the service and defaults, the taxpayers get the bailout bill. Maybe parents need to start "occupying" "Big College"?
ReplyDeleteNo free market...I have been wondering where Comrade Cam might be. I figured with his comrades and their complicit media in the streets, he would pop up. And sure enough. If I can just find where he lifted those paragraphs of jibberish from......
ReplyDeleteBeneficial move.....I doubt these trade agreements will help or hurt the US in any meaningful way. The best of the 3 as far as I can tell is the one with Columbia. They needed this after the years long war against the drug cartels. Columbia has become a good ally and should be rewarded.
ReplyDeleteUNCSA has always been an asset and will be even more over time. Well done!
ReplyDeleteJust switch....B of A has been selected as a target to demonize and focus misguided anger against because the people doing the "occupying" always need a villain. BofA is "big bank". Big Government on the other hand, is just fine. Corrupt as government is, there is simply not enough of it. Democrats will hold their convention in Charlotte next summer in the shadow of BofA. Might be an interesting event with the "whole world watching".
ReplyDeleteWW: Just read this interesting post after I read your 9:23AM comment here. I'm interested in hearing what you think. Will check back later.
ReplyDeleteLaSambra...thanks for the pass along. Frankly, I'm not sure what I make of this. Neoliberalism, classic liberalism, predatory mercantilism, terms are overlapping. From this brief article it seems the writer is talking about aggressive corporatism in the cyber age and blames it for much. Maybe this is anti globalism? Anti religion? Anyway, it helps to understand the macro economic and macro political circumstance the western world finds itself in, especially here in the States. Some are fighting the last gasp of an ideology born nearly a century ago--some people fer it, and some agin it. But this fight needs to be finished before we can change old systems for newer modern systems that will allow younger people to have any hope for a decent life.
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you, first, that there's nothing more that drives me BANANAS than a Conservative calling something they don't agree as a "Liberal" something or other. By the same token, if there's ANYTHING in life that is absolutely absolute, it's CHANGE.
ReplyDeleteWhat I take from this article is the blind allegiance to an ideology that is in constant change, the VERY THING that Conservatives resist or refuse to recognize.
Thanks for your input.
LaSambra....Change....sure. What kind? Change forward to a new economics or change backwards to an old and dead one?
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: Will student loans become the RE loans of the '10's? When there is so much debt being racked up by students who are having considerable difficulty getting jobs upon graduation, there is the possiblility for some major defaulting to occur once again.
LTE 2: Of course, the biggest players are always going to have the advantage, because among other reasons, they have the influence to create the rules. That doesn't mean it's impossible to succeed, especially if you have a good idea and know how to market it. I do agree an economy in which only ~10% can fully participate is not sustainable.
LTE 3: The swipe fees were cut due to complaints from retailers so who are you going to please? Switching banks is always an option albeit a serious pita if one has extensive online bill payments.
LTE 4: I also think the TA's are a good idea. Anything that can boost demand for our goods and services can only help. The global economy is here to stay.
LTE 5: I was going to watch it, but forgot that it was on :( Guess I'll have to check for reruns.
@WW's 12:41pm: Who knows, but who wants to go backward? I honestly don't think change for the worst is what ANYBODY would actually WISH for. Would you?
ReplyDeleteLTE1: My elder Miss Stabdaughter, who gets much less air time here than the frequently cited younger Miss Stepstab, is going to graduate with an MA from NCSU this spring, with much of the funding having come from loans. She will owe a lot, but she says she'll have the education and the skills, and no one can take those away, nevermind the loan.
ReplyDeleteAs for the LTE writer who sees herself dying in the saddle at 80, I believe she might appeal to the loans' recipient for some repayment as he advances in his career.
LTE2: Ah, Mr. Cam is manning the class war barricades, using the current tupid meme that it is the Evil Rich who are prosescuting a class war against the proletarians. His LTE is an example of incurable paranoia.
LTE3: The BoA monthly swipe charge is a stupid PR move, but the bank can indeed charge what it wants. A banking acquaintance, who did not work for BoA, once cracked that banks charge for breathing. If one doesn't like banks' charges, find one where the breathing is easier. As dotnet notes, there is some inconvenience in that, however, but I have done without too much difficulty.
LTE4: The trade deals were overdue. Unlike the LTE writer, I do not think the deals will really cost any union jobs. However, as with previous trade deals, jobs will actually be created, but they will not be union jobs. In the Bizarro Universe of unions, non-union jobs aren't real jobs. Some union members don't live entirely within that universe, though: the longshoremen, teamsters, and railworkers who move goods to and from ports might have a different take on the matter.
LTE5: This city is very fortunate to have the educational establishment that is present here. The benefits accruing from that establishment make all the keening over the ballpark seem petty.
Change is inevitable, true, but most people want to make things better, not worse, unlike the liberals want.
ReplyDeleteWe used to be a wonderful country until the liberals Democrats took over, now the car went through the ditch, and now it's about to impact the embankment and somersault to the bottom.
Let's get some new drivers, and throw the liberal Democrats out.