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Letters to the Editor
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Letters to the Editor - August 18, 2010 |
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To the editor:
I received a campaign mailer from Rob Wittman today. Now, I like Rob enough personally, but I am so frustrated by his incompetence in Washington, D.C., that I want to scream every time I hear him talk or see his letters and mailers. He is clueless.
Mr. Wittman writes that without taking action, total federal spending will reach 50 percent of GDP by 2054. Really? 2054? What is so significant about 2054? Nothing is significant about 2054, and we can’t assume that the government will not take action before 2054. In fact, action will come far sooner than 2054. The president is already working on a deficit reduction plan.
Rob argues that Washington, D.C., spent $21,000 per household annually through the 1980s and 1990s, but this year the projection is $31,000. Really? I am surprised the number is that low. We do have two wars going on, and we are trying to kickstart a failing economy, aren’t we? When the wars are over (and we have made more progress toward the end of those wars since January 2009 than we made during the previous six years), and the economy recovers, does Rob believe that the number will remain at $31,00 per household? If he does, he’s wrong.
Next Rob complains that the deficit will be 62 percent of GPD by 2035. Once again, he applies superficial reasoning. The deficit always increases as a percentage of GDP in recessions. This particular deficit has the double whammy of occurring while we are fighting two wars. When we finally get this economy moving again (before 2035), we will see the deficit decline (just like we did under Bill Clinton).
So, what does Rob want to do get the economy going? He wants to give a new business start-up tax deduction. What will this achieve? Nothing. Small business can already deduct $10,000 in start-up and organizational expenses. Most small businesses do not have $10,000 in startup expenses, and even fewer have profits to offset with the deduction. A grant would be a better way to stimulate business startups.
He wants to reduce capital gains taxes. Republicans will always tell you that lowering taxes is the only solution to any problem. Capital gains tax rates are 15 percent. If you think a 15 percent capital gains tax rate serves as a barrier to investment, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. And, don’t even get me started on the effect his cut might have on the deficit he wants so desperately to reduce.
He wants to “eliminate bureaucratic red tape to help small businesses thrive.” What does that mean? Is all red tape bad, or just some red tape? Would he support elimination of the pollution controls established to help restore the Chesapeake Bay?
But, the biggest shock to me was Rob’s claim that he wants to “help the unemployed.” You see Rob wants to end the taxation of unemployment benefits. This would help people who receive unemployment benefits, but Rob voted to terminate unemployment benefits for millions of people. How much would Rob cut the tax rate? 30 percent? 40 percent? 50 percent? He could cut it 100 percent, if he wanted to, because 100 percent of zero is still, well, zero.
Rob is a smart person. He just has bad ideas. The biggest problem with the economy isn’t taxes. It isn’t government spending. The biggest problem with the economy is confidence. Corporations have record cash on hand. Banks have money to lend again. The problem is, corporations are holding their cash out of fear, and individuals aren’t borrowing. The only way to get private spending going again is to kickstart it with government spending. When Rob and his Republican buddies almost successfully derailed unemployment extensions and aid to the state governments, confidence that was building fall again. How are people going to get confidence back when it takes last minute votes to pass desperately needed economic legislation every time?
Rob needs to know that if he’s not part of the solution, he’s part of the problem. We should tell him that by voting against him this fall. Show him we aren’t as stupid as his mailer supposes we are.
Nicholas Smith
WDC Chair
Montross, VA
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Feeling helpless in the face of this disaster |
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Since the pelican story appeared in the paper I’ve been receiving phone calls and e-mails from people asking me what they can do to help. I’m not sure why they called me except I’m the most opinionated person I know so maybe they thought I would have some ideas. I do not. I feel helpless.
I’ve watched this mess on TV. I’ve talked to lots of folks, some here and some in Alabama. I have done research on the Internet. I’ve read everything I can find. I already knew a lot of stuff, because I know the area. I know some fishermen. I know folks who work on the rigs. I know the people; I’m related to a bunch of them. I know the wildlife. I could be related to some of them too. I know the water. I was raised in it. Still I have no idea what to tell people when they call me. Since there is not enough room in this paper for me to elaborate on all the things I don’t know, I will just tell you a few things I have learned.
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letters to the Editor - May 26, 2010 |
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To the editor:
The recent negative publicity about the state of the King George School system athletic playing fields has been very embarrassing. There has been quiet debate for many years about whether to build a new football field at the new high school or renovate the Thomas Lomax Hunter Amphitheater.
I believe that while many were waiting for a new field to be built at the new high school, maintenance of the existing field became almost non-existent. Combined with too much use by too many organizations has lead to the current state of disrepair.
It now appears that the emergency situation created by sanctioned officiating organizations declaring Hunter field unfit for play due to safety concerns, has caused the School Administration to re-visit whether to renovate Hunter field or build a new facility at the new high school.
To me, the answer is extremely clear. Hunter field could be one of, if not the very best high school football fields in Virginia. The natural bowl shape is irreplaceable. When you build a football field on a flat parcel of ground; especially if there is a track around the field, the angle of viewing is very poor. Hunter field provides the best viewing for spectators of any field in the Fredericksburg region.
The negatives of Hunter field are easily remedied. The existing visitors’ bleachers should be eliminated. The hillside bleachers on the home side should be extended to follow the natural hillside shape of the bowl and a section should be designated as the visitors section. We would be treating our guests very hospitably with a much better opportunity to watch their team and keeping them from having to make the walk around the field. Before others suggest that it is not good to have opposing teams sit next to each other, it is done in every college and professional stadium in the country. They would also be closer to concessions and restrooms.
Move the bus garage and buses to a new state of the art maintenance facility. The need for an improved garage for maintaining the fleet of buses is long overdue. Pave the area and make it parking.
Tear down the existing concession stand and press box and build a modern facility. The current wood frame and galvanized metal building was built by members of the now defunct Quarterback Club in the early 1960s and has served the schools well through the years. It is time for it to be replaced. Restroom facilities need to be addressed as well.
Obviously the field and turf require upgrading. A watering sprinkler system needs to be installed and the field needs to be properly crowned. New/improved lightning needs to be installed as well as a new scoreboard.
While the thought of a new field is appealing to many, I don’t believe they realize what they would be losing in the process. We don’t need to pay a company $250,000 to do a feasibility study. That money would be better spent on a portion of the renovation. The new high school is a beautiful school, but I don’t believe they set aside adequate room to build a proper football stadium. They also didn’t build a single trophy case for athletics or build a storage room for the football equipment — $42 million just doesn’t go as far as it once did! There is a general lack of leadership concerning athletics and providing facilities for our students and the community.
While everything wouldn’t need to be done at once, experience shows that if you don’t do it all at once, it won’t get done later. So, do it now and do it right. Once it is done, access needs to be limited so it is not a victim of over use. A good turf surface needs limited foot traffic.
Please, do not move the football field. In the words of Joni Mitchell and the Counting Crows, don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone! Thomas Lomax Hunter is a treasure that is in need of renovation. The end product could be something so special that all of King George could be proud. A new field at the new high school would be just another field.
Gary Butler |
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Why businesses are restricted in bay improvements |
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I have a private business, so I pay taxes. As a company that sometimes does business with the State, I get paid with tax money, so I figure that is all fair enough.
But here’s the thing. Except for a few precarious lines of financing, my firm (like any other private firm) is excluded from contracting for the vast majority of Chesapeake Bay restoration funds. Money that the State or federal government makes available for Chesapeake Bay restoration must first flow to either another government agency, a not-for-profit, or an academic institution. Private for-profit firms are not generally eligible for those funds, except at the end of a long line of sub-contracts.
Is there some fundamental reason why this should be the case? What is the difference between a not-for-profit and a for-profit firm that should bar the latter from serving Chesapeake Bay restoration goals for pay? For-profit firms pay taxes, and not-for-profits don’t. Could it be that the government wants to avoid recycling tax money by only providing funds to the non-taxable not-for-profits?
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Dear readers,
Hello! My name is Joshua C. I am a fifth grade student at West Ridge Elementary School in Harlan, Iowa. My class is studying the geography and history of the United States. I would appreciate it if you sent me souvenirs, postcards, brochures, or any information on Virginia. I was born at Fort Belvoir in Virginia but moved when I was two.
My teacher would be grateful if you sent a car license plate for a school project. I would enjoy information on sports teams and Army bases in Virginia. I appreciate your time. Thank you!
Joshua C.
Mrs. Newlin’s SS class
West Ridge Elementary School
1401 19th St., Harlan, IA 51537
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