Winston-Salem Journal LTE TU 10/16/12

Trickle-down theory

For years pundits have been having the same debate: should we place regulations on the economy? Conservatives have, time and time again, responded with a resounding no. They support trickle-down economics, the theory that directing money used for health care and public education toward tax cuts for wealthy Americans will lead to job growth.

The problem with this plan is that it is proven not to work.

Under President Bush, wealthy Americans were given massive tax cuts, one in 2001 and the other in 2003, under the idea that this would lead to job growth. It did not. Under that same president, companies like Merrill Lynch, Citigroup and AIG didn’t have to abide by strong regulations and, as a result, their profits soared, but so did health-insurance premiums. When salaries did not rise with the skyrocketing premium costs, American families were denied medical help when they needed it most. Families bought homes they couldn’t afford, stupid bets were made with other people’s money on the line and our economy nearly collapsed. We had the slowest job-growth rate in 30 years under Bush.

Make no mistake: I believe that companies should be allowed to succeed and grow without constant monitoring. But I also believe that some regulations must be enacted to ensure the success of the nation as a whole. A strong middle class is the backbone of the United States, not the coffers of CEOs and brokers.

Trickle down doesn’t work. This shouldn’t even be an issue.

JOHN BELMONT

Winston-Salem

Time and effort

The Raleigh-based Voter Integrity Project says there are 27,561 dead people registered to vote in North Carolina; the State Board of Elections says 4,946 are verifiable (“County, group at odds over voter rolls,” Sept. 27). The numbers are too high, whether it is 27,561 or 4,946.

A lot of time and effort went into what the project asserts to be an accurate count of dead people, but it is unlikely this was truly an effort to prove there is a systematic scheme to defraud our voting system, or even an effort to improve it. The project's director, Jay DeLancy, who has ties to True to Vote, has found evidence of potential voter fraud. Whether dead people could potentially perpetrate fraud is unclear because DeLancy cannot say until the data is analyzed.

Coincidentally, the search for dead people led the project to find 1,165 people on the voter registration rolls who were non-citizens. Coincidentally, the impetus for voter ID comes from Republicans who accuse Democrats of touting Hispanic votes; somehow the charge has evolved to include illegal immigrants. Coincidentally, the Voter Integrity Project website says the group is non-partisan . Hmm.

The project can certainly claim success in removing 11 of 528 registered non-citizens in Wake County and 10 of 637 in Forsyth County. It is not apparent if those removed actually voted in past elections, but Republicans should be relieved to know that there will be 21 fewer votes for Democrats in the 2012 general election.

ANGIE MENDEZ

Winston-Salem

Fairly and impartially

I began my law-enforcement career in 1978 and I learned early on that one of the main reasons our great nation stands above all others is our belief in the rule of law. Our judicial system is not and never will be perfect, but I believe it is a model example for the world to observe.

For our judicial system to continue to be a shining example, it is imperative that the people within that system be of high moral character, unquestionable honesty and a willingness to apply our laws fairly and impartially. It is for these reasons I would like to offer my endorsement to re-elect Judge Victoria Roemer for Forsyth District Court. I have known Judge Roemer for many years and I know she possess these attributes.

I encourage everyone to vote to re-elect Victoria Roemer as district court judge.

DEAN A. CRAWFORD

TROOPER, N.C. HIGHWAY PATROL (RET.)

Kernersville

If what you want …

If we want to be less free, less safe and less prosperous, we should re-elect President Barack Obama.

If we want to change American culture — where dependency is noble and virtuous, and success is diminished and demeaned — we should re-elect Barack Obama.

If we want more people on the dole, we should re-elect Barack Obama.

If we want a national energy policy that begets increasingly higher gasoline, heating oil and electricity prices, we should re-elect Barack Obama.

If we want degraded medical care — particularly for the very young, the elderly and the disabled — we should re-elect Barack Obama.

If we want a hollowed-out military, selective enforcement of federal laws, suppression of free speech and a nullified Constitution, we should re-elect Barack Obama.

And if we want a new N.C. 5th District congresswoman who supports the backward transformation of our country, we should elect the self-professed “progressive” candidate, Elisabeth Motsinger, whose leftward positions are simpatico with Barack Obama’s.

I urge citizens to vote as if the country’s future depends upon it — for it absolutely does. As for me, I will cast my votes for Mitt Romney and Rep. Virginia Foxx — and for every candidate down the ballot who opposes Barack Obama’s march toward an America no longer characterized by liberty, but by tyranny.

DEBORAH S. “DEB” PHILLIPS

Lewisville

Standing up

Vote early, it's easy. I will vote for Elisabeth Motsinger because she stands up for the environment. Yes, we need jobs, but not at the expense of the planet. Elisabeth will stand up to big polluters and protect the environment.

DAN TYRRELL

Winston-Salem

Sad and frightening

My mother taught me many invaluable lessons. Two were, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have,” and “care for your belongings — they need to last.”

Regrettably, Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., our country's greatest path to our front door, has just been added to the most endangered landscapes list because of lack of maintenance and years of neglect. Additionally, our Capitol Dome has been seriously leaking for years and needs to be repaired quickly.

What a sad and frightening commentary of our country!

I believe that almost every American would be mortified to learn that these two symbols of our country are falling into such horrible states of disrepair. Yet we do know, and we seem either incapable or unwilling to do anything about it.

As a Navy veteran and a proud American, I want our leaders to do what my mother taught me; take care of our belongings and dress to impress. Pennsylvania Avenue and the Capitol Dome are both of these. We owe it to our Founding Fathers to ensure that they continue to represent us as they were intended, with respect, admiration and awe.

I want and demand that these and other symbols of our country are cared for and maintained into the future. On Nov. 6, I will vote for the one who I feel best understands these obligations. I want to move forward , not to keep cutting spending so that I am forced to continue to watch this painful and continual deterioration of our country.

GLYNIS JORDAN

Winston-Salem

Pollution plague

“Fracking” has become the latest buzzword to identify the latest pollution plague of our state. Gas producers have found a ripe grape ready to pick. North Carolina is not a petroleum-producing state so does not have the infrastructure and protections that such a petroleum-producing state would have. As I stated earlier, we are a ripe grape ready for the picking. The petroleum industry knows this and believe me when I say it will feast.

Those who don’t want to see wells pop up like cell towers and our underground water, more precious than oil or gas, polluted, need to get involved now. Start with November. See how our representatives voted on the fracking bill and the subsequent governor’s veto, and if he or she is up for reelection, let them know where it hurts.

I believe if we as concerned citizens of this state look at the record of fracking we will see it is not for this state.

JERRY HOLDSCLAW

Westfield